I've been out of the game for awhile, set up my first HTPC in the Mark Rejhon days (pre-2000) here in the HTPC forum. I'm amazed that people are still making these! In short, why?? This should be a sticky. Pardon my ignorance if that sort of thing is relegated to a FAQ outside the sub-forums, or something.
I'm not completely stupid. My guess is that the reasons for building an HTPC have changed. Originally it was mainly because of the video card. An ATI / Nvidia / Matrox and (*gasp*) 3dfx card had better hardware scaling than the early DVD players, and buying a dedicated scaler was cost prohibitive. Now it is probably Internet streaming, cheap upgradable storage, easy upgradability etc. that take center stage rather than image quality -- but what do I know? A sticky could address this for people stumbling on the forum, or returning to it.
Cost has always been a big reason of course. Excitement at the possibilities of what can be done in a weekend with a few parts from newegg and some coding skills. Software is usually free because a programming whiz can make a name for him/herself producing a utility to implement, say, a new 3:2 pulldown algorithm brainstormed by the community, and that's an enormous feeling of pride that rivals any money-based motivation, for many.
So I guess I answered my own question. But once in awhile it is good to step back and say, can I just buy a $99 box that does 90% of what I want? But HTPC will always be providing that last 10%-- innovation that some old rich guy can swipe and patent and burn into the firmware of tomorrow's $99 box!
I'm not completely stupid. My guess is that the reasons for building an HTPC have changed. Originally it was mainly because of the video card. An ATI / Nvidia / Matrox and (*gasp*) 3dfx card had better hardware scaling than the early DVD players, and buying a dedicated scaler was cost prohibitive. Now it is probably Internet streaming, cheap upgradable storage, easy upgradability etc. that take center stage rather than image quality -- but what do I know? A sticky could address this for people stumbling on the forum, or returning to it.
Cost has always been a big reason of course. Excitement at the possibilities of what can be done in a weekend with a few parts from newegg and some coding skills. Software is usually free because a programming whiz can make a name for him/herself producing a utility to implement, say, a new 3:2 pulldown algorithm brainstormed by the community, and that's an enormous feeling of pride that rivals any money-based motivation, for many.
So I guess I answered my own question. But once in awhile it is good to step back and say, can I just buy a $99 box that does 90% of what I want? But HTPC will always be providing that last 10%-- innovation that some old rich guy can swipe and patent and burn into the firmware of tomorrow's $99 box!
