Power down Mac Mini

1. Rob - 1 September 2007

   I use an Intel Mac Mini with a bus powered HD as a music centre.

   It all works fine, but powering down is a bind, having to switch the TV back on, 'backing out' of Front Row, and using a mouse or kb to prompt shut down. I realise the remote can sleep the Mini, but the HD stays on.

   Being a bit of a lazy sod, I recently taken to pressing the power button for a few seconds instead of going through the above. Does this do any harm?

   Thanks

   Rob

2. Jaimie Vandenbergh - 1 September 2007

   Potentially yes, since any data being written at that point will be borked. It's just a matter of time before it's something important.

   I'd suggest trying to get a cleverer HD case, myself. I know that the Mini-shaped ones that Iomega use sleep with the Mac fine. Not cheap, but pretty and well cooled.
   http://www.span.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=19_1302_1323&products_id=5947

   Alternatively use an ethernet connected one elsewhere on the network,

   Cheers - Jaimie

3. Rob - 2 September 2007

   That looks good, thanks, and I'll look into it when the portable drive fills up. I would be a little concerned about noise, yet another power supply, and (to a minor extent) power consumption. I'm trying to get to the point where I can switch off all the standby devices at once without harm.

   Alternatively use an ethernet connected one elsewhere on the network,

   Yes, I'd looked into that, but I want the 'audio solution' to be self-contained.

   Rob

4. Ian Robinson - 2 September 2007

   On Sun, 2 Sep 2007 16:35:40 +0100, Rob wrote (in a previous article):

   Yes, I'd looked into that, but I want the 'audio solution' to be self-contained.

   Replace it with an 160GB Apple TV?

   Ian

   Ian Robinson, Belfast, UK
   <http://www.canicula.com/wp/>

5. Rob - 2 September 2007

   Ah yes, and sadly I've looked into that as well. I'd still end up daisy chaining HDs (or would it be NAS on a TV?), I think they're a bit pricey, and it's nice having a complete net-connected computer in the living room for the few occasions I use it as such.

   Rob