Home Theater PC? Media Server?

[Tom Slick]

Anyone have one set up?

I'm thinking of getting rid of Dish Network and getting my TV fix from online sources. I'm pretty sure I can get the programming I want through Hulu.com and Netflix.

Input from someone who's done it?

[pacwind3]

we were thinking of the same thing, but we are still in contract.
Personally: I'll be using a mac mini. Especially since they just upgraded it and it now has an HDMI out. Couldn't be much easier to hook up to a new TV.

[burrellski]

xbmc on the dual core atom acer aspire revo is the best way to go on a budget. several have said they can get full screen hd out of the single core revo with linux / xbmc, but I'm skeptical. hd hulu is out of the question on the single core atom until hw accelerated flash gets squared away.

[Cubsfan]

Won't be out until November, but the best solution then will be a boxee box ($200). For now, I'd say a Mac Mini + Boxee, but that's a $700 solution.

[jussi]

+1 on the XBMC. Very easy to install and it's free . Just make sure you have a well ventilated case with a good fan and put it somewhere that's well ventilated.

I also have a DVR program (GBPvr) running and am using diNovo Mini keyboard/mouse. Although with the recent sale of the Harmony One remote I may switch to that.

[gary]

I went with a Synology NAS unit that does the downloads for me and also acts a a media server and much more (including backups). I use the PS3 to play the vid's directly off the NAS.

[iceman61]

I just built a 6 core AMD Media Center PC with HULU & internet TV intergrated into Windows Media Center. Rumor has it HULU will eventually go by the way of subscription. It is nice to watch exactly what you want to watch, when you want to watch it. I have 2tb of movies on hd storage.

Sooner or later you will end up watching the same things over & over. I've reached that already. I would love to get rid of my DirectTV bill, but I do find alot of new stuff that I've never seen. That's the hook for me.

[bigangelman]

We've been thinking the same thing. We also have started to look for a flat screen tv and noticed that many tv now come internet ready. Some you can even buy apps for, so I don't think you'd need anything other than being connected. Netflix is seeing huge growth in streaming movies sales. Hulu.com is good also. The best High def TV (free) comes from over the air so I am glad I kept my rooftop antenna.
Tom

[iceman61]

Netflix has a huge selection if you wanted to go that route & you can access them directly from Media Center. It costs $8.99 a month & you can cancel at anytime. Besides choosing from having movies sent to your mailbox, you have instant unlimited direct access to the movies & TV shows from their site & from another site. I am not a member there, but I have been checking out that option.

Here are the links incase you wanted to check them out to see what they have available.

http://www.netflix.com/AllGenresList
http://instantwatcher.com/genres

[gsmittle]

+1 on the Mac mini!

g.

[sscherin]

All I'm using is a $120 lease return desktop from tiger direct..
2.8 gig P4, 1 gig mem..
It sits in the tv cabient hooked to the VGA input on the TV.. audio out to the receiver..
Wireless keyboard and moust sits on the top of the tv cabinet.


Works great for Netflix and Hulu.

[Tom Slick]

What if you wanted to access the PC/media server from 2 tv's?

[iceman61]

What if you wanted to access the PC/media server from 2 tv's?

Now you are getting into Media Extenders.

[Tom Slick]

Now you are getting into Media Extenders.

Got a recommendation/example?

[Alex Franke]

Check out Roku -- I'm totally sold on them. They are very open to developers and as a result there are a lot of great "unofficial" channels out there with tons of content (e.g. YourTube). The Roku is basically a little Linux box. It starts at $80 and they often have free shipping deals. It's also dead quiet, and uses very little power. It's also brain-dead simple to set up.

I think Hulu is an issue, though. I believe Hulu pulled the plug on Boxee last year, too, but I'm not entirely sure...