Intel-based Macs have digital audio outputs

While investigating using a mac-mini for a media server I came across an article describing the digital audio capabilities of intel-based mac.

"the audio-out ports of recent Intel Macs like Macbooks, Macbook Pros (with the exception of the Air, I think; I can’t get it to work, and I wouldn’t be surprised if that’s one of the things they took out) and others are actually also Digital Audio-out ports as well - all you need is to tweak a setting and use the proper digital audio cable known among audiophiles as the Toslink cable, which is used to connect AV receivers to digital media players and monitors. With it, connect your Mac via the jack to your system. (Yes, it’s that same little earphone port you use to connect your iPod buds to - all you need is a different cable.)"