Guys

Just wanted to ask about your experiences with a HTPC.....ease of use, playback, picture quality (HDMI) etc...and the sort of software you use. Can they be set up so you switch on, point your remote and play a movie?


something like this....

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Antec-Fusion-Silver-Media-Center-HTPC-HDMI-System-5200_W0QQitemZ170192294721QQihZ007QQcategoryZ179QQssPageName ZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Cheers

K

http://www.avforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=706988

If you want to spend the rest of your life tweaking/configuring/upgrading then get a HTPC, been there, done that and would never go back

http://www.avforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=706988

If you want to spend the rest of your life tweaking/configuring/upgrading then get a HTPC, been there, done that and would never go back

Yeap...that's what I thought....cheers

K

I considered building a HTPC, but after reading about all the niggling little problems folks run into on the HTPC forum, I decided to build myself a server, and get a media player to go with it. My time is far too valuable to spend it "fighting" with my PC.

SirWired

I agree with what has been said so far and I personally would not own nor advocate HTPC....but there is one thing that is tantalizing about an HTPC and that is its flexibility. Theoretically there is no limit to what video/audio file type you can play and it can do something that no networked media player can do natively...and that is view a TV guide and select what you want to record right from your couch.

For folks who accept the technical challenge and desire maximum flexibility; HTPC may be a good choice. There are certainly a great many folks out there that are very satisfied with their HTPCs. In fact I have serveral acquaintances and friends that have been running HTPCs for years and they are quite happy with them.

I agree with what has been said so far and I personally would not own nor advocate HTPC....but there is one thing that is tantalizing about an HTPC and that is its flexibility. Theoretically there is no limit to what video/audio file type you can play and it can do something that no networked media player can do natively...and that is view a TV guide and select what you want to record right from your couch.

For folks who accept the technical challenge and desire maximum flexibility; HTPC may be a good choice. There are certainly a great many folks out there that are very satisfied with their HTPCs. In fact I have serveral acquaintances and friends that have been running HTPCs for years and they are quite happy with them.

You make a lot of sense.....my biggest issue is this - if I need my server running in my study for streaming anyway...then, a HTPC makes sense. Me....I have 1 cimema room, and thats where I watch all my films. Media streamers are good, but they can be limited with regards to how much local space you have and supported codecs. I'm looking for at least 8-10 TB of local space (all HD)....but, after all that, I really would prefer a plug and play device..

K

Set up a server in a place that will not bother you... This cost me only $180 + disks, and required no special skills. (Though mine maxes out with 6-8 drives... a small case and PSU upgrade could increase that.) Then use a network connection to get the files to a streamer.

If you try and set up a 8-10TB HTPC in your cinema room, you will have BIG problems keeping it cool and quiet. That is just a lot of disk any way you slice it, and will require cooling that is unlikely to be silent.

SirWired