MacBook and Front Row

June 4th, 2006

Apple MacBook Pro MA463LL/A 15.4\

Amazon Link

AppleThe MacBook comes with Front Row, a media center option with remote. It allows you to access iTunes, iPhoto, and iMovie content. Since the MacBook can be connected to a television, there is potential to use it as a “media center” PC. Streaming music is easy enough, but I was curious about videos, and this MacWorld article provides some useful information.

Ripping DVDs is easy enough using Handbrake. Since it’s a Universal app, I found I was able to copy a DVD and encode to MP4 in little over half an hour. Pretty darned fast compared to my iMac G4.

The next step is to get the movies to stream which the MacWorld article outlines. The last piece is the annoying part: over an AirPort connection the movies don’t stream. Front Row requires a wired Ethernet connection between the two Macs. Bummer. So ultimately the easiest solution may be to buy a Mac Mini instead.

Disclosure: I own a tiny amount of Apple stock.

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