Help: do i really want an Apple TV or a Mac Mini?

Question

Hi,
I have an iMac and Airport Extreme base station upstairs in the den. Downstairs in the rec room I have a 46" LCD HDTV.
I'd like three things.
1. I'd like to rent movies from iTMS (can't in Canada); and buy/rent American TV shows from iTMS (can't in Canada)
2. I'd like to be able to watch video files in the rec room that are on my iMac. (Currently I burn them to a DVD and watch them on my DIVX-capable DVD player, but the image quality ain't great.)
3. I'd like to be able to browse the web from my rec room
Trying to decide if I want an Apple TV or something else (like a Mac Mini). Here's my thinking:
Apple TV, PROs: awesome interface, HDMI out, can stream video files from my iMac or a hard drive on my Airport Extreme base station.
Apple TV, CONs: no movie rentals in Canada yet, no American TV shows in iTunes store in Canada yet, have to convert DIVX files to Apple TV compatible format, cannot browse the web with it
Mac Mini, PROs: can use Front Row to watch video files, can use Safari to browse the web in my rec room
Mac Mini, CONs: more expensive, no HDTV and 5.1 audio out
So my questions are:
Q1. is there any chance that Apple TV will provide me with access to the Safari web browser any time soon?
Q2. is the video output on a Mac Mini to my 46" LCD good enough; or is it crap compared to the HDMI out on Apple TV?
Q3. will iTunes store sell America TV shows in Canada soon?
Q4. will iTunes store rent movies in Canada soon?
Q5. will Apple TV support DIVX files soon?
Q6. if I buy an Apple TV will I regret getting the 40Gig version?
Q7. if I buy an Apple TV will I regret it because there's going to be a new PVR version of Apple TV next year?
ANY HELP OR OPINIONS ARE GREATLY APPRECIATED! THANKS,
slegge
Message was edited by: slegge
Message was edited by: slegge

Answer 1

Here are my stabs at answers
1) Probably not. This can be done but you'd have to hack it which isn't suggested.
2) It's the same output. The only difference between HDMI and DVI is that HDMI carries audio as well. A mini outputting at 1920*1080 will look as good as an ATV outputting over HDMI.
3 + 4) Who knows. My guess - unlikely.
5) Not likely. You'll need to pick up something such as Visual Hub to convert files to ATV format. On the other hand, a mini can play these files already.
6) That depends on how often your computer is on. In my case I own the 40 and don't mind it a bit - my mac mini is always on so it can stream anything from my mini to my Apple TV over my network. Streaming movies takes about five seconds to get started but after that I've had no trouble.
7) That's a possibility given that they've submitted patents for an idea such as that - but remember many patents never turn into anything.
Basically I think the mini vs. Apple TV comes down to $$$ and how badly you want to rent HD movies. A mini (via Front Row) can do anything an Apple TV can do plus a whole lot more (play many more formats, higher resolutions, etc.). The only thing it can't do is rent HD movies. I would have sprung for another mini if I could have afforded it.