If you want a Mac that plays medicine and movies , you could buy one of the unexampled iMac G5s and trick it out , as Christopher Breen did . But if you ’re not in market for a new computer , or if you want features that the iMac does n’t offer , you may build your own media center out of almost any comparatively up - to - particular date Mac .
SpeakersThe loudspeaker Christopher used to expand his iMac will act with child for anyone with a Power Mac G5 or an iMac G5 ( both sustain multichannel audio output)—you could hook up a 5.1 - groove verbalizer system to either system . Although there are several pick , I thinkthe Logitech Z-5450system that Christopher chose is one of the best .
If you have a Mac miniskirt or a laptop , and you ’re special to the received audio occupation - out jack , then speakers that use a minijack connector — such as the $ 250Altec LansingFX-6021 or RSL Digital Fidelity One;Playlist)—will do just fine .
DisplayIf you do n’t have an iMac , you ca n’t bank on a built - in video display . ( And if you do have one , you may not want to rely on it . ) For see motion-picture show and tv set shows , Apple ’s 30 - column inch Cinema HD Display (; March 2005 ) is undeniably beautiful — but at $ 2,500 , it ’s beyond the reach of most people . Apple ’s 23 - inch all-encompassing - sieve Cinema Display (; March 2005 ) and several corresponding LCD monitor offer 1,920 - by-1,200 - pixel firmness of purpose — enough to display every pixel of 1080i ( 1,920 - by-1,080 ) High - Definition ( HD ) video — and are therefore more - sane options .
In a recent review of 23 - inch display , our top selection was Hewlett - Packard ’s $ 1,400L2335 show ( ) , which provides composite , component , and S - Video remark ( in addition to DVI and VGA ports ) . Since that review , several promising big - screen displays have appeared , includingDell’s$1,200 24 - inch UltraSharp 2405FPW (; February 2006 ) . All are supported by the standard video card in Mac miniskirt and Power Macs .
Plextor ConvertX PVR
TV TunerTo view and record TV from parallel cable or transmitting aerial sources , any Mac owner can use the Elgato EyeTV 200 (; July 2004 , which Christopher chose . The Plextor ConvertX PVR be $ 100 less than the EyeTV 200 and come with Elgato ’s excellent EyeTV software , but it uses USB 2.0 rather of FireWire to colligate and does n’t come with a remote ( the EyeTV does ) . For masses who have upgraded to a immense HD presentation , Elgato ’s $ 350EyeTV 500lets your Mac receive and display free , over - the - zephyr ( ATSC ) digital signals in both SD and HD , as well as unencrypted ( absolved QAM formatting ) digital cable . For 1080i HD signal , however , you ’ll need a two-fold - processor or dual - core Power Mac G5 .
Remote ControlWhile Apple ’s wireless outback control is one of the new iMac ’s boastful merchandising points , there are other , better way to operate your Mac from afar . TheBelkin MediaPilotthat Christopher pick out is blemished but tolerable . For more - basic control , Keyspan ’s 17 - buttonExpress Remote($60 ) includes primal maps for iTunes , QuickTime , and DVD Player , as well as computer software that let you configure the remote for other apps . Macally’sKeyPoint($49 ) admit a mouse pointer - lodgings with two buttons , and a build - in laser cursor .
RadioAs Christopher says , the good way to receive local radio programme on your Mac is withGriffin Technology ’s $ 70 Radio Sharkcombined withRadioTime’sterrestrial and cyberspace receiving set guide and read programing .
Hard DriveNo matter what form of Mac you want to turn into an amusement center , you may also want to consider flummox an additional hard driving . medicine and photos take up a pot of room . Throw telecasting into the intermixture , and your depot requirements go up quickly .
With Power Macs , there ’s room for at least one extra inner drive , and you’re able to add together a 500 GB Serial ATA force for around $ 360.Pricewatchis an excellent situation to search for and equate unvoiced drives .
With other Mac theoretical account , you’re able to either kick upstairs the internal drive or grease one’s palms an external FireWire or USB 2.0 drive ( for reviews of FireWire hard drives , see our Buyer ’s Guide ) . Even if you have space for an internal drive , you might opt the portability of an international one .
