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OT: Home Theater PC
orion:
I've had a Home theater PC since 1999, my first setup featured an ATI all in wonder card and Sony Vega. Over the years I have certainly developed my opinions on them. First the case is important, mwong168 couldn't be more correct about the non standard power supplies in them.... most of them suck! This is the case I have had for about the last 6 years and the power supply is way under powered at 300 watts. http://www.pcper.com/article.php?aid=104&type=expert It looks cool though and is pretty rugged and well construed. What always always has let me down about the HTPC's is the DVR aspect to it. Grated I haven't looked into this for several years now but I can tell you if you are with say directv such as myself, than you can pretty forget it all together. The best keyboard and mouse I have ever found for a home theater PC are the Gyration products http://www.gyration.com/index.php/us/home.htm I tend to just use the mouse to play light gun games (not the best solution.. but it does work)
AcidArmitage:
--- Quote from: Ginsu Victim on December 09, 2009, 11:08:31 am ---
--- Quote from: AcidArmitage on December 08, 2009, 06:02:25 pm ---i just tryed navi-x last night and i must say its pretty awesome! thanks to whoever suggested it. Anybody know if there's "How it's made" episodes hidden somewhere on the servers though? ;D
--- End quote ---
Use the search function.
--- End quote ---
yea my dumb ass just found that
bkenobi:
The primary concern for me is the DVR. I have a pair of Tivo's that I was hoping to move away from. They work ok, but I'm getting fed up with the amount of ads they have started placing in my menus. I pay for the service, so why do I have to see their ads?! Also, they sell my usage data. WTF!
But, if Tivo still works better than an HTPC for regular DVR usage, my wife will never let me switch. :hissy:
DillonFoulds:
+1 for XBMC. Can't be beat, and there's a new beta out as well!
+.5 for the Antec Fusion 430. Decent looking case, I've got it in black, with the blue LCD. The LCD is pretty much useless unless you're 2 feet away. The IR sensor is TOTAL garbage. I'm using a harmony 550, and it works fine, but only when pointed EXACTLY at the IR eye. If you're not pointing directly to it, you're wasting your cash.
nipsmg:
+ 4billion for XBMC
You can get an original xbox infrared eye with remote ($4.99 on Buy.Com), wire up a USB cable to it, and use it along with event ghost to completely control it via remote (works with any universal remotes recognizing "microsoft dvd player") (Note: Read AVS Forums for specifics)
Boxee has promise (the new beta might be better) but for a beautiful interface, great media management, and overall ease in use, XBMC on PC is amazing.
(NOTE: Look at Ember Media Manager (free) for managing metadata. It can be done from within XBMC, but I personally think it's easier to just do it in ember then click a button have have XBMC suck in the metadata, fanart, posters, etc).
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