Apple MacMini M1 for TV streamer

[Californio]

So the M1 chip is a screamer. I am thinking about the above with 16g memory and 512g SSD. We stream most stuff from an old MacBook Air, TB2 to HDMI and it works well. The new OS Big Sur will run iOS apps. The Mini has a HDMI 2.0 port up to 4K.

Thoughts or something I am missing?

[brassburnz]

I'm interested in the M1 processor as well, but in a laptop. Mini is the least expensive entry point followed by the MacBook Air. I don't like buying 1st gen Apple products but there is always a first time. Waiting for more product to get into the hands of end-users for feedback.

I was thinking about the 16GB and 512 SSD configuration as well. I was wondering if it would be cheaper to buy the 256 SSD and upgrade to a larger SSD later. Do you know which type of SSD they are running in the new machines? I couldn't find that info on the Apple site. I opened up my Lenovo the other day and it has a 512 stick with an empty drive bay.

If your TB2 to HDMI works, you would imagine HDMI to HDMI would be even better, but who knows.

[Californio]

The teardown I watched said and showed everything is soldered on the MB, no user upgrades.

I'm interested in the M1 processor as well, but in a laptop. Mini is the least expensive entry point followed by the MacBook Air. I don't like buying 1st gen Apple products but there is always a first time. Waiting for more product to get into the hands of end-users for feedback.

I was thinking about the 16GB and 512 SSD configuration as well. I was wondering if it would be cheaper to buy the 256 SSD and upgrade to a larger SSD later. Do you know which type of SSD they are running in the new machines? I couldn't find that info on the Apple site. I opened up my Lenovo the other day and it has a 512 stick with an empty drive bay.

If your TB2 to HDMI works, you would imaging HDMI to HDMI would be even better, but who knows.

[Robotron2k84]

M1 is basically a SBC shoved in an enclosure. No upgrades.

What streaming do you do that requires a full-on PC to effect?

AppleTV / Roku not good enough?

[brassburnz]

The teardown I watched said and showed everything is soldered on the MB, no user upgrades.

I was afraid of that. I bought a MacBook Air with 2GB of ram soldered to the board. Can't upgrade that either.

[Californio]

Browsers, play movies of the kids that I converted to digital, play my underwater videos, create a media center, download Netflix movies to play while at sea.

M1 is basically a SBC shoved in an enclosure. No upgrades.

What streaming do you do that requires a full-on PC to effect?

AppleTV / Roku not good enough?

[vmonkey]

What do you use as a “remote”? Wireless mouse?

I am thinking about a MacBook Air in the future. My Intel based one ran fine on 8MB RAM. I would guess the M1 systems will too.