With the introduction of the Mac mini in January 2005, Apple opend up fascinating new possibilities for using (MacOS-based) computers in places aside the work desk. Since then, people have built the mini into their cars, into their stereo systems, or are using it as the ultimate digital hub at home.

I also couldn't resist: this super-cute little machine (basically the size of 5 CD cases) comes stacked with everything you would need in your home media center and is virtually silent. The decision was clear: the mini was the perfect living-room-compatible replacement for the aging hardware (a beige 300MHz G3 PowerMac) of the Gensch-Net's companion server: the Moab Media Server. In April 2005, a 1.25GHz mini took over the moab web and ftp server.

 
Since then, the mini also got a monitor that matches the mini's mini dimensions: a 7-inch touch screen from Xenarc. The touch screen perfectly matches my black stereo system and flawlessly serves as as a high-res display (800x480 native) and ultimate mouse input. Text is input via a tiny IceCAD graphics tablet in handwriting (another big thanks to Apple for the cool built-in handwriting recognition Inkwell!) -- no keyboard or mouse needed.

With Apple presenting an Intel-based update to the mini that FrontRow and sports this little cute infrared remote, it was clear that my mini needed an update. Since March 2006, the mini is now a 1.67GHz Intel Core Duo model, with Airport Extreme and Bluetooth, a Superdrive, and 80GB harddrive. In combination with FrontRow, the remote control, the small touchscreen and an adapter to connect to my big TV, the mini now really is the ultimate home media center!

With the last update to the Moab Media Server, I switched to the 2.0 GHz Core 2 Duo model in February 2008. While most things didn't change, it's now a little speedier, has a bigger harddrive, and is hooked up to my new full HD LCD TV via HDMI. A brilliant outlook!