Toby Atkin-Wright

New computer for Christmas. Very exciting — took me right back to my technology-filled childhood Christmases. A mighty little machine, much faster than the 2007-vintage Mac Mini it replaces.

Beth half built her Lego vampire castle today, had fun with an electronics set, and is in bed cuddling a microbe soft toy.

Apple Mac Mini for sale, model A1176. The spec on the underside reads MAC MINI 1.83/2x512/80/COMBO/AP/BT — GBR.

Includes the Mac Mini and its 110W power supply (model A1188). The Mac works with standard USB keyboards and mice, and has a DVI port for video. Adapters are available for connecting VGA, HDMI, etc.

Good condition, works well.



( System Profiler info )

Apple Mac Mini for sale, model A1176. The spec on the underside reads MAC MINI 1.83/2x512/80/COMBO/AP/BT — GBR.

Includes the Mac Mini and its 110W power supply (model A1188). The Mac works with standard USB keyboards and mice, and has a DVI port for video. Adapters are available for connecting VGA, HDMI, etc.

Good condition, works well.



( System Profiler info )

I picked up a second-hand Mac Mini yesterday. It is pretty much the same spec as the one Beth uses (same generation, manufactured late ’08, slightly slower CPU, less RAM, smaller HD). I had intended that Beth’s computer would serve as a media player; she would use it with the TV for her web browsing (mostly the CBeebies web site), and then we would use it in the evenings for iTunes and for downloaded progs. However it turned out that she relishes being able to use it in her own room, so she can play with it (and watch DVDs on it) while Kate and I watch the TV downstairs.

So a different solution for media playback was in order. I’ve been using my MacBook Pro with the TV recently, but it is a hassle doing all the plugging and unplugging. I considered an AppleTV, but the Mac Mini does a good job and will be more versatile. I think we’ll use it for a lot of Spotify listening too. I decided to call it “Haloumi”; we greatly enjoyed some haloumi at the BBQ last Saturday.

I’ve connected it to the TV with a DVI->HDMI cable, and to the amp with Mini-TOSLINK->TOSLINK cable. Had a minor hassle getting a decent picture out of it — spent ages faffing with the Mac’s video settings before finding an undocumented setting deep in the TV’s menus that makes it use “actual pixels”.

We now have four Macs in the house — the two Mac Minis (Haloumi and Stilton), my MacBook Pro (Shropshire Blue, which desperately needs a new battery) and Kate’s PowerBook 12” (well, actually Andrew’s old one, as Kate’s PowerBook — Boursin — has dead video hardware). I think a new computer for Kate will be the next priority.

I picked up a second-hand Mac Mini yesterday. It is pretty much the same spec as the one Beth uses (same generation, manufactured late ’08, slightly slower CPU, less RAM, smaller HD). I had intended that Beth’s computer would serve as a media player; she would use it with the TV for her web browsing (mostly the CBeebies web site), and then we would use it in the evenings for iTunes and for downloaded progs. However it turned out that she relishes being able to use it in her own room, so she can play with it (and watch DVDs on it) while Kate and I watch the TV downstairs.

So a different solution for media playback was in order. I’ve been using my MacBook Pro with the TV recently, but it is a hassle doing all the plugging and unplugging. I considered an AppleTV, but the Mac Mini does a good job and will be more versatile. I think we’ll use it for a lot of Spotify listening too. I decided to call it “Haloumi”; we greatly enjoyed some haloumi at the BBQ last Saturday.

I’ve connected it to the TV with a DVI->HDMI cable, and to the amp with Mini-TOSLINK->TOSLINK cable. Had a minor hassle getting a decent picture out of it — spent ages faffing with the Mac’s video settings before finding an undocumented setting deep in the TV’s menus that makes it use “actual pixels”.

We now have four Macs in the house — the two Mac Minis (Haloumi and Stilton), my MacBook Pro (Shropshire Blue, which desperately needs a new battery) and Kate’s PowerBook 12” (well, actually Andrew’s old one, as Kate’s PowerBook — Boursin — has dead video hardware). I think a new computer for Kate will be the next priority.

Andrew joined us for breakfast this morning, then helped attach brackets to Beth’s bedroom wall. Now her Mac Mini and monitor are hanging on the wall behind her table, giving her more space to work and play. We had fun cutting down one of the brackets using my Dremel; there is something very satisfying about dremelling away at a bit of metal. We got through several cutting discs; one disintegrated and nicked the end of my nose — a tiny cut, but painful like a paper cut. Gosh how I suffer.

Kate and I watched a great British political film this afternoon: Carry On At Your Convenience. A biting satire on workplace relations, it accurately captures the idiocy of union disputes. With its resolution involving the wives and mothers of the striking men overriding the inane union rhetoric in order to end the strike, it foreshadowed by more than ten years Thatcher’s reformation of union law, which removed union action as an impediment to the success of British industry. Oh, and it had lots of lavatory humour.

This evening we watched Sweeney Todd. A fine and mesmerising film. Depp gave an excellent performance, as did Rickman. Not so sure about the women, but maybe I’ll revise that on repeat viewing. There was an almost amusing quantity of blood — nearly at Sam Raimi levels. I was mildly familiar with the music; will have to find some old cast albums on Spotify.

Andrew joined us for breakfast this morning, then helped attach brackets to Beth’s bedroom wall. Now her Mac Mini and monitor are hanging on the wall behind her table, giving her more space to work and play. We had fun cutting down one of the brackets using my Dremel; there is something very satisfying about dremelling away at a bit of metal. We got through several cutting discs; one disintegrated and nicked the end of my nose — a tiny cut, but painful like a paper cut. Gosh how I suffer.

Kate and I watched a great British political film this afternoon: Carry On At Your Convenience. A biting satire on workplace relations, it accurately captures the idiocy of union disputes. With its resolution involving the wives and mothers of the striking men overriding the inane union rhetoric in order to end the strike, it foreshadowed by more than ten years Thatcher’s reformation of union law, which removed union action as an impediment to the success of British industry. Oh, and it had lots of lavatory humour.

This evening we watched Sweeney Todd. A fine and mesmerising film. Depp gave an excellent performance, as did Rickman. Not so sure about the women, but maybe I’ll revise that on repeat viewing. There was an almost amusing quantity of blood — nearly at Sam Raimi levels. I was mildly familiar with the music; will have to find some old cast albums on Spotify.