Power down Mac Mini

I recently taken to pressing the power button for a few seconds instead of going through the above. Does this do any harm?
Rob wrote on :

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

Jaimie Vandenbergh replied on :

On Sat, 01 Sep 2007 14:13:08 +0100, Rob patchoulian@redacted.invalid wrote:

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?

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
Rob replied on :

Jaimie Vandenbergh wrote:

On Sat, 01 Sep 2007 14:13:08 +0100, Rob patchoulian@redacted.invalid wrote:

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?

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.

Ah, thanks. I'd sorta hoped the power button initiated some sort of power down sequence. With that in mind, I'd better not do it, and I guess it explains the 'recovered' folders in trash.

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

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

Ian Robinson replied on :

On Sun, 2 Sep 2007 16:35:40 +0100, Rob wrote (in article RaedndQQZ6fORUfbRVnygQA@redacted.invalid):

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

Replace it with an 160GB Apple TV?

Ian

Rob replied on :

Ian Robinson wrote:

On Sun, 2 Sep 2007 16:35:40 +0100, Rob wrote (in article RaedndQQZ6fORUfbRVnygQA@redacted.invalid):

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

Replace it with an 160GB Apple TV?

Ian

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