I have never used a Mac, so my response is mostly about using a PC as a HTPC.In your opinion, which makes a better HTPC? If I am not mistaken, iTunes/Apple Music on PC is limited to lossy audio whereas on Mac you get lossless and hi-res lossless audio.
Yes, HTPC as in movies and music.HTPC as in movies or music?
Apple Music is lossless on Windows too.
Listen to lossless audio in Apple Music on Windows
If you subscribe to Apple Music, you can play and download music encoded using the Apple Lossless Audio Codec (ALAC), which makes files smaller while preserving all the original data in the file. In Apple Music, lossless music is available in two formats:
Albums and songs available in lossless have the Lossless button
- Lossless: Up to 24-bit, 48kHz
- Hi-Res Lossless: Up to 24-bit, 192kHz
next to them.
Note: Apple Music and lossless aren’t available in all countries or regions.
How well is Apple Music running on Windows now? I tried when it first came out. They called it a preview version and they were right.Play lossless audio in Apple Music on Windows
In Apple Music on Windows, play Apple Music in lossless audio or Hi-Res Lossless format.support.apple.com
I have Windows on my work computer. It is too bloated, in my opinion, and frequently requires reboots. Thus, I would not be inclined to use Windows in a HTPC.
Yeah, I did think of that as well. So, for the purpose of movie and music playback (via Apple Music and playback of MKV files via Infuse), an Apple TV 4K will fulfill the purpose just as well as a Mac?Don't know what you have in mind for use cases. Would an Apple TV 4K device do what you want? Maybe better than having an HTPC.
which makes a better HTPC?
Also on old Macs - handy when Apple have stopped supporting them.Linux can be run on a PC or a Raspberry Pi
This is not accurate at all just more AI nonsense. I use Apple music on Windows 11 and have no issues with lossless streaming. In fact I only run Windows for this purpose and ordinarily use Linux.Yes, HTPC as in movies and music.
Are you sure Apple Music is lossless on Windows too? I sold my PC last December but when I used iTunes/Apple Music to stream music it was lossy. On my Mac, I get lossless and high-res lossless music.
If it means anything, I also asked ChatGPT for fun and got the following answer:
View attachment 389082
Don't confuse the two, they are not the same.iTunes/Apple Music
I don't have an IT department. I only installed the plain version of Windows Professional with the apps I use for work. Initially it was Windows 10, and after installing it I went through and de-bloated it. At some point I upgraded to Windows 11, and bloat came back. I have again removed apps I don't want but, frankly, it is not something I would want to deal with on a HTPC. I only deal with it on my work computer because there are apps I need for work that are Windows only."Bloat" depends on what crapware the IT department at your workplace has installed on the PC's. The PC's I have at work are all ancient computers with insufficient RAM and take FOREVER to do anything basic. In contrast my minimalist PC I use for audio has next to nothing installed on it and it is absolutely stable.