I just returned my dish PVR, and cancelled my subscription. No cable or satellite for me any more. I will live off a combination of Netflix (incl bluray), Hulu, and OTA (PBS). I have a PS3, but have never been particularly happy with its user interface/lack-of-remote. (It works ok, but we would have use for it elsewhere.)
so, I am now thinking of building a HTPC. It could be win, osx, or linux. (I know all three reasonably well, but I hate fiddling too long.) TIVO is out, because their subscription cost is too high for my taste. I also happen to own an HDHomeRun, even though I have not yet done much with it.
I figure that the software would be my first decision. I am ok shelling out $100 for good software (and $20/year for a programming guide) that really does it all. alas, there seem to be about 30 choices over the three platforms ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compari...tware_packages ).
Alas, the software may not do everything I need. Yet, thinking about my needs, they should seem pretty standard. Optimally, the software would integrate all. The first screen would give me plain options:
[1] blu-ray playback (in 5 ch, not 2 ch sound---and not a different program);
[2] hulu;
[3] netflix;
[4] View Saved Shows;
[5] Schedule Recordings --- this should be real easy and good (aka like TIVO)
[6] Watch Live TV
Alas, what kind of program does all of these? I could not see any software that nicely integrates everything. did I miss one? I dislike the idea of a keyboard needed for control (should be optional), a separate browser with click and type to find in hulu/netflix, a power dvd for blu-ray, yet another program to watch live TV, yet another to talk to the HDHomerun, etc.
Advice appreciated.
PS: [I also need to stream over an 802.11 wireless network, so I hope that hulu and netflix are sufficiently buffered by the software so that they are not likely to stutter.]
PPS: If Mac, I will get a current mac mini. If PC, I will get a Shuttle with more horsepower.
so, I am now thinking of building a HTPC. It could be win, osx, or linux. (I know all three reasonably well, but I hate fiddling too long.) TIVO is out, because their subscription cost is too high for my taste. I also happen to own an HDHomeRun, even though I have not yet done much with it.
I figure that the software would be my first decision. I am ok shelling out $100 for good software (and $20/year for a programming guide) that really does it all. alas, there seem to be about 30 choices over the three platforms ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compari...tware_packages ).
Alas, the software may not do everything I need. Yet, thinking about my needs, they should seem pretty standard. Optimally, the software would integrate all. The first screen would give me plain options:
[1] blu-ray playback (in 5 ch, not 2 ch sound---and not a different program);
[2] hulu;
[3] netflix;
[4] View Saved Shows;
[5] Schedule Recordings --- this should be real easy and good (aka like TIVO)
[6] Watch Live TV
Alas, what kind of program does all of these? I could not see any software that nicely integrates everything. did I miss one? I dislike the idea of a keyboard needed for control (should be optional), a separate browser with click and type to find in hulu/netflix, a power dvd for blu-ray, yet another program to watch live TV, yet another to talk to the HDHomerun, etc.
Advice appreciated.
PS: [I also need to stream over an 802.11 wireless network, so I hope that hulu and netflix are sufficiently buffered by the software so that they are not likely to stutter.]
PPS: If Mac, I will get a current mac mini. If PC, I will get a Shuttle with more horsepower.