the bandwith isn't the issue (USB vs Firwire). Encoding takes all the CPU you've got and if you're trying to do something else like watching HD content, which takes a lot of power, well, you will notice it. Firewire or Fiber isn't going to help because the burden is on the processesor which is why Apple Tv and a hardware encoder make a lot of sense. You use the Apple TV to decode and watch up to 720P HD and a hardware encoder for the dirty work and now all you have to have is a mini for the rest.
This product coming out helps me believe the rumour that Apple plans to include hardware encoding the future Macs.
The thing that I'm concerned with is how much involvement I will be allowed in the encoding process.
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the bandwith isn't the issue (USB vs Firwire). Encoding takes all the CPU you've got and if you're trying to do something else like watching HD content, which takes a lot of power, well, you will notice it. Firewire or Fiber isn't going to help because the burden is on the processesor which is why Apple Tv and a hardware encoder make a lot of sense. You use the Apple TV to decode and watch up to 720P HD and a hardware encoder for the dirty work and now all you have to have is a mini for the rest.
This product coming out helps me believe the rumour that Apple plans to include hardware encoding the future Macs.
The thing that I'm concerned with is how much involvement I will be allowed in the encoding process.