Hardware Reference
In-Depth Information
A Home Theater PC (HTPC) or Media Center is a convergence device that com-
bines a personal computer with a software application that supports video and
music playback, and
sometimes digital video recorder functionality
.
The emphasis is ours. Sometimes, indeed. A couple of years ago, media
center systems were all the rage. Best Buy featured several models in every
Sunday supplement section. The Dell and HP home pages had media center
systems splashed all over them. NewEgg carried a couple of dozen models.
Even Sears sold media center systems. And the focus was always on record-
ing TV programs.
Nowadays, things are very different. We searched the Best Buy website for “me-
dia center” and “HTPC” and got no results. The Dell site lists no media center
systems, and only one third-party add-on box to provide media center func-
tions when coupled to a standard PC. The HP website lists nothing, nor does
the NewEgg site. You can still buy dedicated media center systems, but only
from “boutique” vendors. What happened?
First and foremost, media center systems were simply much too expensive for
what they do, ranging in price from perhaps $800 at the low end up to $2,500
or more. You could accomplish much the same things with a $150 DVD re-
corder or a $300 TiVo, or you could simply rent a PVR from your satellite or
cable TV provider for a few bucks a month. Furthermore, TiVo, DVD record-
ers, and satellite/cable PVRs are reasonably reliable appliances; ordinarily, they
Just Work. Media center PVR systems tended to crash, fail to record scheduled
programs, and otherwise fall down on the job.
Brian Bilbrey Comments
As long as the TV provider PVR works
just fine. My wife Marcia hardly ever
watches “live” TV, but has many
hours of programming recorded
each week that can be easily fast-
forwarded through the mercantile
segments of each program.
So, why bother to include a chapter on building a media center system? Be-
cause PVR functions were never anything more than a distraction from the real
purpose of a media center system: centralizing your home media storage and
making your media easy to access from anywhere in your home.
But what if you also want to record television programs? In that case, our best
advice is:
•
If your television service is delivered by digital cable or satellite and you
want PVR functions, rent or purchase a PVR box from your cable or satel-
lite provider. If your cable or satellite receiver provides dual outputs and
your television has dual inputs, you can instead use a DVD recorder, with
or without a hard drive for extended recording time. Current U.S. law
mandates that any television device that includes a tuner must include
an ATSC digital tuner, so a DVD recorder may have no tuner, only a digital
tuner, or both analog and digital tuners.
•
If you have analog cable TV service, you'll probably be happy with a DVD
recorder, but those are becoming increasingly harder to find. Inexpensive
cable/satellite PVR boxes are driving them from the market.
•
If, like an increasing number of people, you have “cut the cable” and de-
pend on over-the-air DTV, purchase a DVD recorder with an ATSC tuner.
