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I just got a new ROKU which supports PLEX. I have a Mac Mini 2010 with only 2 GB or RAM and probably a weak video card. I have both the Mini and the ROKU connected to the same TV via HDMI.
Should I use the mini to store and play some videos (I do have a remote for the mini). Or am I better off with installing PLEX sever on the Mini and use Roku to play the videos?
Also PLEX seems to be free, right?
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Space,
Are you using the Mini as a media and backup server? Not that this will change my suggestion but just something I'd like to know as it brings to mind some other ideas. That aside, I'd install Plex Media Server on the Mini for a few reasons:
A. If Plex is on the mini it can send content to the Roku (and TV) as well as other devices on the network, i.e. iphones and ipads. The Plex App is only a few bucks. I just gave it a try and it works very well. Better than Apple's iTunes Home Sharing surprisingly enough. While iTunes Home Sharing is great to send content to other computers with iTunes and the AppleTv, I found it balks somewhat for ipads and iphones. Plex doesn't balk on those devices.
B. It can send content to other devices via the Internet, i.e. iphones, pads, computers, etc. This is free and done via MyPlex.
C. The Roku isn't going to be as cumbersome to use as the mini for playing videos and such. Definitely doable on the mini but a nuisance when tryign to open/close apps and run thngs via the remote. Less inconvenient with an airmouse such as the Gyration AirMouse but far from as easy as with a roku. It's one of the reasons I no longer have my Mac Mini server connected to my living room TV.
FWIW, unless you actively use the mini, it's easy to make it headless and then use Apple's Screen Sharing to access it and control/make changes/etc from another computer.
Currently, I have a Mac Mini sitting on a desk next to the monitor I use with my Mac Pro. I could easily run a cable from the Mini to a spare port on the monitor and change inputs as necessary to use it. Instead, I activated screen sharing on the mini and access it from the Mac Pro. Works great.
Robert
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I agree with Robert M, but headless OS X can be a pain. The interface isn't accelerated and it causes weird redraw problems and occasional black screens. Frankly, it stinks. If you are making basic changes or mostly using the command line, it is fine.
The good news? You can access the Plex Media server interface via a web browser from another device on your network.
Edit: I've been using a Mac mini as home server, almost always headless, for six years now.
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The Plex app on a Roku is pretty limited (from what I understand, that's more an issue of the Roku APIs than the Plex devs, but still).
Going direct via HDMI you should be fine for playback. Install Front Row (if you're running anything newer than Snow Leopard on that mini) and Perian and you'll be golden.
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Plex Media Server (on my Mac) doesn't seem to be displaying my library correctly.
how do i blow out the database and start fresh?
i have the latest version running on OSX 10.6.8
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Are you accessing the media server through the web interface? You can try to rescan the specific problem libraries from there or you can delete the library and add it again.
