Questions...

[dkrees]

I am studying design, and am looking in to designing a new media package. I would be gratefull if you could answer just 5 questions and give me any opinions you may have. you can send the reply to:
dkrees(at)hotmail.com

thanks

Please mark your option clearly.



1. Would you like to be able to control your TV, TV recordings, DVD, Music and similar/other media from a single PC and remote control?

YES / NO



2. Which would you prefer to do?

Buy a complete Media PC with a media package already installed such as Microsoft Windows Media Centre Edition 2005.

OR

Purchase a hardware/software package for an existing PC that suits your requirements.



3. What types of media do you wish to be able to control?

CD (All Formats)
Terrestrial TV (digital/analogue)
Cable/Satellite
DVD (All Formats)
Photo Viewer
MP3
Radio

Other (please specify):



4. Would you like to be able to customise the software to suit your requirements?

YES / NO



5. How much would you be prepared to pay for such a package (US$)?

Under $50

$50 to $100

$101 to $200

$201 to $300

$301 to $500

over $501



Any other comments or suggestions would be appreciated.






Thank you.

End of Questionnaire.

[spankers]

I'd build my own with off the shelf parts and utilize Debian Linux for the OS and MythTV for the application layer.

[ECA]

I'd build my own with off the shelf parts and utilize Debian Linux for the OS and MythTV for the application layer.

Smoother, faster, and ALOT less overhead, then windows..

[ECA]

Show me a Video card that will ouput HDTV FULL view.. and thats REALLy all you need..

[spankers]

Oh... many will provide a 16:9 or 16:10 widescreen display. My laptop (vpr Matrix 185A5) uses an Nvidia Geforce4 420Go and supports 16:10 widescreen (1280x854).

The problem for me is that my HD capable projection TV only has component video in (no VGA or DVI). Most video cards do not support component video directly and you have to use an outboard converter. ATI makes an adapter for some of their video card but I have no idea how well they work.
http://www.ati.com/products/hdtvadapter/

[dkrees]

thanks for the advice.

[ECA]

The sound, from your computer can be routed, and there IS a wireless control, with trackball.
there IS a video input card(no tuner) with 4 inputs, so you could have SAT input from converter, Cable, VCR, DVD...And watch ALL at once even...
Then send OUTPUT(converted to a TV)...
I would rather have components then ALL in one system...
Watch computer, and ANY input device EASY.

[k2]

going with mythtv can be a pain in the ass if you don't use a well supported pvr card. rtfm before you start or you'll be in for a major hassle.

1. Yes

2. Purchase custom package

3. TV (terrestrial/digital/sat) / DVD (1080i scaling) / Photo / MP3 / Radio / All video formats (compressed / retail codecs) / Shoutcast stream list (KISS Network)

4. Yes, being able to skin all aspects is nice (like XBMC)

5. Depends on the package. If it were just software; under $30usd. If it's multiple hardware/software packages i'd say the price should reflect a value add for what you're getting - ie highend audio / hd card + great software for $300usd is more than reasonable.

[spankers]

rtfm before you start or you'll be in for a major hassle.
:) Always good advice!

It'll be awhile before I build a system... gotta get myself employed again first.

[ECA]

AGREE,
a, multi remote controll with computer controlls would be wonderfull..

Custom system, prefer my OWN design..

Multi inputs for video, and audio outputs to current systems.

HAVE to be able to ADD software, and test NEW software..

Price, has to be resonable..

[dkrees]

what do you think of the Myth TV, Windows Media Center Edition and ShowShifter interfaces?

[k2]

mythtv is great, mce is crap (i run this on my home pc), i'm curious about showshifter.

if you're going to model a media app; use xmbc as your template and just fill in what they haven't done yet (or can't - aka tv input); it owns everything.

[k2]

showshifter looks pretty nice. most of these media apps lack decent codec support; such as flac, ogm, etc.

[GeekFunk]

1. yes, already setup.

2. I elected to buy an OEM copy of Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005, and built a new system.

3. The WMCE system I ended up with can play, record, and copy all the media you listed.

4. I'd like to do some customization, but you know how Microsoft is about such things. However, there are some independently developed plug ins for WMCE that are nice additions.

5. In the end, if I had to buy and built my WMCE system with new parts at list prices, it would cost me about $4,500. But, I was fortunate in that the biggest part, a 30" HD ready LCD TV, cost me only $800 when it lists for as much as $2,700 at some stores. Also, I am a good shopper, so the net I put into it was about $2,100.

This is my WMCE system:

Ahanix Devine D4 MCE case
Asus K8N motherboard
Athlon 64 3000+
1 GB generic DDR memory
ATI Radeon 9800 Pro AGP card
2x Western Digital Caviar 200GB SATA drives
Samsung 16x DVD Dual burner
ATI HDTV Wonder TV tuner
Hauppauge WinTV PVR-250MCE analog TV tuner
1394 PCI card
Windows XP Media Center Edtion 2005
Syntax Olevia 30" LCD TV

Connected to the Olevia TV: (1.) WMCE pc via DVI to DVI; (2) XBox via special XBox HD component cable to YPrPb connection; (3) DirecTV STB via svideo; (4) Sony VCR via composite; and (5) roof antenna to terminal to dual analog TV tuner in the Olevia.

The WMCE box with the ATI HDTV Wonder picks up local HD tv signals.

[ECA]

you ALSO have to understand...
Most of these system DONT come with a monitor..

[gary_hendricks]

MythTV looks absolutely wonderful. Check it out:

http://gallery.greatestjournal.com/albums/up4/873/891873/normal_bluetvmenu.jpg