Shirly an HTPC really should have optical drive for BluRay? The one I have does BluRay, HD-DVD, and DVD/CD. The HD-DVD in particular I thought was pretty cool, because I bought a bunch of my favourite films in that format really cheap.
Looks like my WDTV will remain in place for a while longer. I don't really understand the infrastructure behind HTPC - surely you're better following uPnP/DLNA and having dedicated servers/renderers on the network?
Originally Posted by Cleggmeister Looks like my WDTV will remain in place for a while longer. I don't really understand the infrastructure behind HTPC - surely you're better following uPnP/DLNA and having dedicated servers/renderers on the network?
I agree. I have a WDTV, a PS3 and have played with WMC and XMBC on a home built HTPC. Of all of them, the WDTV is probably the simplest to setup and easiest to use, especially for my kids. I am still using the PS3 however as it is there for the kids to play games and I don't need yet another box under the TV. All my media is already on a NAS.
If we didn't need the PS3, I would use the WDTV. The setup and maintenance of a home built HTPC takes time I don't currently have, despite being much more customisable and powerful.
Had one of the earlier ones of these in my bedroom as a HTPC with a small SSD it is virtually silent and performance is very good. For the price it's a great bit of kit.
The thing with an HTPC, don't most people use components they have kept after upgrading their main PCs? So building one this yourself removes a lot of the cost.
Originally Posted by dolphie Shirly an HTPC really should have optical drive for BluRay? The one I have does BluRay, HD-DVD, and DVD/CD. The HD-DVD in particular I thought was pretty cool, because I bought a bunch of my favourite films in that format really cheap.
If you live in one room, yes.
We've got XBMC clients in 5 rooms (plus several laptops). Discs go into my desktop and out via the server in the loft.
We've got aging acer revo (Nvidia ION) based in a couple of rooms (lossless FLAC but not DTS-MA), but switched to AMD E350 type boxes where HD audio needed. The other clients are laptops (Intel SB/IVB).
It's amazing how much baking happens when you stick a TV and XBMC in the kitchen to keep the girlfriend occupied ;) ...
EDIT: Basically my point was small and quiet is 90% of what I look for (Cat5 in, HDMI out) cost is 10% .. tried the old bits approach but the solution is always big and clunky.
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ReplyD'oh! Can't believe I forgot to put that in. Derp. Windows 7 Home Premum 64-bit, adding it in to the article now.
I agree. I have a WDTV, a PS3 and have played with WMC and XMBC on a home built HTPC. Of all of them, the WDTV is probably the simplest to setup and easiest to use, especially for my kids. I am still using the PS3 however as it is there for the kids to play games and I don't need yet another box under the TV. All my media is already on a NAS.
If we didn't need the PS3, I would use the WDTV. The setup and maintenance of a home built HTPC takes time I don't currently have, despite being much more customisable and powerful.
If you live in one room, yes.
We've got XBMC clients in 5 rooms (plus several laptops). Discs go into my desktop and out via the server in the loft.
We've got aging acer revo (Nvidia ION) based in a couple of rooms (lossless FLAC but not DTS-MA), but switched to AMD E350 type boxes where HD audio needed. The other clients are laptops (Intel SB/IVB).
It's amazing how much baking happens when you stick a TV and XBMC in the kitchen to keep the girlfriend occupied ;) ...
EDIT: Basically my point was small and quiet is 90% of what I look for (Cat5 in, HDMI out) cost is 10% .. tried the old bits approach but the solution is always big and clunky.
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