Michael Graham Richard
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I recently moved to a small apartment, and I didn't have much to use for the entertainment center in the (small) living room, so I decided to look for the option that would allow me to do the most with the least.
I ended up choosing the Mac Mini (model with Core 2 Duo at 2.0 GHZ, 2 GB of RAM, nVidia video) to become the heart of my system, because after some research I realized that it could replace many other electronic devices while actually giving me more functionality. Doing more with less.
Here's How I Did It
The Mac Mini is connected to the TV via a DVI to HDMI adapter and cable. It is connected to a stereo that I already had via a standard 1/8" jack and cable, and I got a bluetooth wireless keyboard (wireless mouse soon to follow) to be able to use the Mini from anywhere in the room.
The software that I use is Plex, a 100% free and open source media center software for OS X (won't work on Windows). It has a very nice interface, and allows me to listen to music (from my iTunes library), watch video content (including some streaming videos from the New York Times or the TED conference, or from Hulu if you are in the US), view photos from my iPhoto or Aperture library, etc.
And because the Mac Mini is a full-featured computer with a DVD drive, it can replace not only a DVD player and CD player, but also a whole computer (many people have a computer in the living room, so why not combine it with the TV?).
Why It's (Relatively) Green
The Mac Mini uses about 13 watt of power when idle, which is lower than many laptops, and it's very easy to put to sleep when not in use for a while. Apple has also made some efforts to make the Mac Mini relatively green (BFR-free, PVC-free, Highly recyclable aluminum and polycarbonate enclosure, Meets ENERGY STAR Version 5.0, Rated EPEAT Gold).
It's not a setup that will work for everybody, but if it sounds like it can meet your needs and you don't already have a home entertainment system, I think it's worth a look. I'm quite happy with it.
Read more about green gadgets:
What's Your e-Waste IQ?
How to Go Green: Gadgets
How to Go Green: Home Electronics
Go Green With Ubuntu
Set Your Computer for Energy Savings
Did You Know? Beware of Phantom Energy
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