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Htpc

Do you have one?

Started by fo_sho_man · 8 Nov 2005 · 18 posts survive (16 recovered from printable/lo-fi copies) · Wayback

fo_sho_man
HTPC - Home Theatre PC

I know Morph has one, now I want one laugh.gif

Anyone else have one? What do people think of them? Is it the next big thing for the PC or the way to enjoy your TV watching experience?

Windows Media Centre was designed just for this and seems to do a great job. Linux fans also get something similar with MythTV and Freevo.

Lets hear your thoughts smile.gif
Ravvyr
im thinking if you have a spare i'd like one...
or if you have a spare few grand that'd help too...

tongue.gif
Jutsinr
Can you describe more of what makes your computer into a HTPC, that way I can properly answer smile.gif
foonjir
mythTV pwns windows media tongue.gif

but yeh, if i had the cash i'd be building one
fo_sho_manr
well, HTPCs compose of your normal hardware, sound card (with AUX-Out preferably), video card (with TV-Out), CPU (fast one), motherboard, lots of memory, huge hard drive, and then you add the key ingredients, TV tuner card, either SD, or HD. You can also have a DVD burner, USB ports, etc

it will allow you to record from TV, watch TV with time split, play DVDs, listen to MP3s or normal audio CDs, view pictures, upload from camera, can use it on the Net, and even play games, up to you..

you can stick them in HTPC cases which makes them look like your AMP for example.. real cool smile.gif
Jutsinr
I can do all of that except watch TV directly/record TV.

This is why I simply download TV shows I'd rather watch .. so I kinda get the same effect .. kinda.

I think the addition of a comfortable chair is needed as well, something that can be slept in.

One of my favorite past times is to fall asleep while watching tv. That wouldn't be possible if I was in front of the PC.
fo_sho_manr
this thing wouldn't look like a PC if you get a HTPC case, and can be controlled using just a remote.

hook it up to your AMP, and it will just be a whole heaps of different entertainment units in one, eg DVD player/recorder, HD receiver, stereo and picture viewer in 1..

then hook it up to a HUGE TV and your laughin..
PaulHamonr
dav's the man... he's got 509834058 of them one for each room and 2 in the toilet smile.gif
fo_sho_manr
QUOTE(PaulHamon @ Nov 9 2005, 01:13 AM)
dav's the man... he's got 509834058 of them one for each room and 2 in the toilet smile.gif
*



laugh.gif laugh.gif no points for guessing what he does with the ones in the toilet tongue.gif
DeLr
i just have a chipped XBOX with 120 gig hdd a surroudn sound systen connected .. it plays divx mp3s xvid etc.... does the job for me....
Davinr
I've got a Hauppauge MCE250 hardware tuner/capture card, plus an MSI USB High definition TV tuner, on top of the normla standard def digital set top box.

A PC and LCD monitor in most rooms, plus a chipped XBox feeding a projector to do the biz in the loungeroom. They all dump to and playback from a dedicated file server with about 800GB of drive space.

And that's all total bullshit about the one in the toilet! I'm just annoyed I didn't think of it first laugh.gif

Seriously though, I'll be stuffed if I watch shows when the TV stations say I can. Their programming after midnight is shite, so I record what's local and download the other 90%....allowing me to watch it when I want to
DeLr
bastard... jealous.... majorly.....




any spare CRTs flaoting round wink.gif
crIs Pr
dav you suck. no wonder you dont sleep.....
morpheus
my media center PC only cost me about $800 in hardware. i bought a standard el-cheapo box from GRX. its a celeron 2.4, 256 meg ram, 40 gig hard drive and a dvd reader. i use the onboard sound using its 5.1 output, i bought the cheapest video card that would work with MCE and the cheapest TV tuner. i recieve the TV through a digital box and hacked MCE 2 download the TV guide as microsoft dont have it working in australia yet. and a microsoft MCE remote. my plan was 2 make a MCE pc as cheap as possible, and i think i did pretty well. i dont have the best one on the earth, but hell. if u go buy 1 ot costs about $2500, so i did well for what $ i spent, and i enjoy using it. i definately believe its the way of the future and helps your lounge not get sluttered up with individual components like dvd player, stereo, VCR, cd player, and 50 remotes.
missvixenr
yeah there isnt one in the toilet here




i only moved in cos i heard the rumours



jipped!!
Fulcrumr
you can get a good HD tv tuner (usb) box for $80-$100 nowadays, i'm going to attempt to build one when i get back home.

My laptop has got WMCE on it, was considering just using it for the job... have just ordered the remote too smile.gif
DeLr
ive seen morphs and im impressed!!!


i got the HDTV 32" LCD in my room now with a divico Fusion Hybrid high def digital card, plus teh surround sound system in my bedroom, few [people have seen it. it works quite well, but i still havnt recorded etc

would still love a HTPC in the lounge after seeing morphs! my chipped xbox just doesnt cut it compared to that!
BOOSTINGr
Yeah i've seen Del's screen its quite impressive and best of all he uses it to its potential. Someone like me hahahahaha i'd never use it like that might have to check out fulcrums once its done to see what all this hi tech jargen is on about haha.
I guess in a way i have already started using my lappy for this purpose i already have it hooked through the surround sound and have watched dvd's through it and also have all of my music stored on here. Use it for updating and syncing my ipod too. Am thinking of an external hard drive next so i can have all my music stores and not be bogging down my comp with zillions of files. smile.gif My dad used to have this lappy hooked through the tv some how will have to ask hime how he did it and what he did.