I've got a dilemma, I love my HTPC (Home Theater PC) but I'm being tempted to replace it with a cable HD DVR. My HTPC is excellent, it records television in HD, plays games and browses the web in beautiful 1080p. The problem is that my HTPC only receives OTA (Over The Air) broadcast HD channels. I've never hooked up the analog cable channels because a cable converter box would still be necessary. Now my cable company is offering me HD channels and an HD DVR (Digital Video Recorder) for $10 more than I pay them for services now.
I'm currently paying $80 a month for 6MB cable internet, cable telephone with unlimited long distance and basic cable channels. For $90 they will throw in cable channels in HD and an HD DVR. I'm not sure which DVR but whichever it is I'm sure it will work fine. The idea of being able to record my favorite cable channels is very tempting. The only thing making me think twice about this deal is the time, effort and money I've put into my computer.
As I've recounted in prior posts, my HTPC is made up of the following:
ATI TV Wonder HD tuner card
VBOX Cat's Eye DTA-150 tuner card
HIS RADEON 1800GTO graphics card
2GB of RAM
70GB 10,000 RPM SATA hard drive for the system
400GB SATA hard drive internal for recording
500GB SATA hard drive external for storage (I manually move shows to the external to free space for recording)
AMD Athlon X2 3800+ processor
DVD Read/Write
Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005
Terrestrial Digital DB2 Multi-Directional HDTV Antenna
Eagle Tech Silver Aluminum HTPC Desktop Computer Case
This is a nice computer and I'll still use it for games / browsing / burning DVDs but it just doesn't feel right to give up on Media Center. Yes, I'll be getting a lot more channels on the cable DVR but my beloved HTPC will be underutilized. Maybe all I'm feeling is the fondness that one feels when he/she sells a beloved car to buy a new one. Part of the loss is the sense of pride I have when I show off my HTPC, the sense of community that I have when dealing with others in the HTPC universe.
The HTPC gives me abilities that a DVR never will. I can burn recordings to DVD, change them to other formats, share them, the DVR won't let me do these things.
I'll try the DVR for a while and see how it goes. I'll miss playing with my HTPC, now there is no reason to but the HDHomeRun tuner that I've been drooling over. If the DVR doesn't work out or if the cable company jumps the price my HTPC will be sitting there waiting to pick up the slack.
Sunday, November 18, 2007
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
Westinghouse 37" 1080p monitor refurb for $512
Onsale.com has the Westinghouse LVM-37W3R 37" 1080p monitor for $512 plus $45 shipping (there is a $40 rebate on shipping, weird but nice) making shipping $5. Remember, this is not a television, this does not have a tuner in it. This works great with a Media Center PC or as a PC monitor or for video gaming. Add a tuner to make this an incredible HD TV.
Friday, September 28, 2007
Looking to buy a Home Theater PC (HTPC)?
I've been looking for a good deal on a "gaming" pc for a coworker. Today Newegg's latest email advert had a nice Gateway PC listed. After scouring the details on Newegg's site it turns out that in addition to all the stuff you want in a PC this also has an HD Tuner Card and MCE remote control. This computer is an HTPC all setup and ready to go. Just add rabbit ears or any UHF antenna and you are ready to receive HD broadcasts over the air (assuming your area has broadcast HD in range).
The computer is the Gateway GM5442, for $579 plus shipping and tax it has:
Intel Core 2 Duo E4400 processor,
2GB of RAM,
500GB Hard Drive,
Windows Vista Home Premium (Premium includes Media Center!),
16X DVD±RW Drive,
Optical Mouse and Multimedia Keyboard,
7.1 surround audio and stereo speakers,
Analog/Digital TV Tuner w/3-D Comb
Media Center Remote Control
This looks like a great deal, the reviews are excellent for this computer. Check out the pictures and reviews on Newegg's product page.
The computer is the Gateway GM5442, for $579 plus shipping and tax it has:
Intel Core 2 Duo E4400 processor,
2GB of RAM,
500GB Hard Drive,
Windows Vista Home Premium (Premium includes Media Center!),
16X DVD±RW Drive,
Optical Mouse and Multimedia Keyboard,
7.1 surround audio and stereo speakers,
Analog/Digital TV Tuner w/3-D Comb
Media Center Remote Control
This looks like a great deal, the reviews are excellent for this computer. Check out the pictures and reviews on Newegg's product page.
a PC in the living room
People just don't understand the utility of having a computer hooked to the tv in the living room until they actually do it. My wife was humoring me when she went along with my idea of buying a monitor to put in the front room with one of my computers attached. Now she would fight me if I wanted to remove the computer.
We use the computer for the usual computer stuff like email, web browsing, gaming etc but we also use it as are primary video recorder. The computer has 2 HD tuners installed. The tuners are attached to a small in door antenna and do a great job of receiving free, over the air, broadcasts. I get about 20 channels and use Windows Media Center to schedule and record my shows.
The computer in the front room is now our only computer other than my wife's laptop. We are redecorating and took down the other computers we had setup. We don't miss them, we hadn't used them for some time. The computer in the front room is the only "desktop" we tend to use.
Back in August I ordered an actual HTPC case for our front room pc, it looks great. I'll do a write up with pictures soon.
Two weeks ago I hooked one of my spare computers up to my sister's television. She's using it just for the computer functionality, the system does not have any tuners in it. So far she's used email, web browsing and used it to watch videos and shows online. My sister is a new convert to the HTPC crowd. When I do put an HD tuner it it I'm sure she'll love it that much more.
My sister's TV is a 32" 1080i minor brand tv. The computer looks great on this. It's not as nice and sharp as my 47" 1080p Westinghouse but it's nice and does a great job. Seeing this reaffirmed my belief that 1080p is not always necessary in a TV/monitor. If cost is important then 1080i looks great. The advantage of 1080p is the higher resolution and, to be honest, lower resolution is actually easier to read. The little tiny fonts on a high resolution screen are hard to read from the easy chair.
We use the computer for the usual computer stuff like email, web browsing, gaming etc but we also use it as are primary video recorder. The computer has 2 HD tuners installed. The tuners are attached to a small in door antenna and do a great job of receiving free, over the air, broadcasts. I get about 20 channels and use Windows Media Center to schedule and record my shows.
The computer in the front room is now our only computer other than my wife's laptop. We are redecorating and took down the other computers we had setup. We don't miss them, we hadn't used them for some time. The computer in the front room is the only "desktop" we tend to use.
Back in August I ordered an actual HTPC case for our front room pc, it looks great. I'll do a write up with pictures soon.
Two weeks ago I hooked one of my spare computers up to my sister's television. She's using it just for the computer functionality, the system does not have any tuners in it. So far she's used email, web browsing and used it to watch videos and shows online. My sister is a new convert to the HTPC crowd. When I do put an HD tuner it it I'm sure she'll love it that much more.
My sister's TV is a 32" 1080i minor brand tv. The computer looks great on this. It's not as nice and sharp as my 47" 1080p Westinghouse but it's nice and does a great job. Seeing this reaffirmed my belief that 1080p is not always necessary in a TV/monitor. If cost is important then 1080i looks great. The advantage of 1080p is the higher resolution and, to be honest, lower resolution is actually easier to read. The little tiny fonts on a high resolution screen are hard to read from the easy chair.
42" 1080p for just over $800!!!
eCost has the Westinghouse LVM-42W2 42" 1080p LCD television for $799 +59 shipping and tax in some states.
WOW, incredible price. I've never purchased from eCost and their ratings are a little shaky on www.resellerratings.com so if you purchase be sure and use a credit card for protection. Most likely you won't have any trouble with them but just in case the credit card can save you.
ECost also has the 37" 1080p LVM-37W1 for $559 and a 46" LTV-46W1 1080i for $895
I've been tempted to buy one of these from eCost for the bedroom but am sure my wife would kill me so we're sticking with our standard def tube in there for now.
WOW, incredible price. I've never purchased from eCost and their ratings are a little shaky on www.resellerratings.com so if you purchase be sure and use a credit card for protection. Most likely you won't have any trouble with them but just in case the credit card can save you.
ECost also has the 37" 1080p LVM-37W1 for $559 and a 46" LTV-46W1 1080i for $895
I've been tempted to buy one of these from eCost for the bedroom but am sure my wife would kill me so we're sticking with our standard def tube in there for now.
Thursday, August 9, 2007
1080p HDTVs are still coming down in price
has the Sceptre 42" 1080p model X42GV-NAGA for $899after $100 rebate and promo code EMC809HOAV02.
This monitor was one of the ones I was watching prior to buying my Westinghouse. If I had seen this price I would have jumped on it. Unique to this monitor is that it has a connections box where you plug in all of your sources. This box is seperate from the monitor and connects to the monitor via a cable. This is kind of cool because you can have just the one (or is it 2?) cable running to the monitor for a clean looking install.
Click on the Newegg logo or the picture of the monitor to be taken to the site.
Tuesday, August 7, 2007
Senator Dodd is at it again
He wants to bail out the hedge funds and investors who made bad loans to house buyers and speculators. I don't support a bailout of any sort for the housing market. I do support changing regulations on loans to protect the public. I believe that most people who took out loans that they cannot afford new what they were doing and were speculating that the house would go up in value and they could resell it for a profit.
I just wrote to Senator Dodd again, here is my letter to him:
Senator Dodd,
You are pushing for higher conforming loan limits and I disagree with this action. I don't believe that the limits are the problem. The problem, in my view, is that home prices are too high. Reckless investment and speculation in housing has caused the problems.
Raising the conforming limits would only continue the problems. Reforming loan origination so that people do not buy beyond their means to pay would be helpful. Changing lending standards to create a better informed consumer is always good.
I feel for the people who are losing their homes, everything that can be done for them should be, everything up to but not including the government taking responsibility for their loans. I do not believe that the government should step in and guarantee loans that were made under false pretenses. Working with the banks to alter the loans to save as many households as possible I do support.
I hope I was my writing is clear and understandable, if you have any questions please feel free to call me.
Sincerely,
I just wrote to Senator Dodd again, here is my letter to him:
Senator Dodd,
You are pushing for higher conforming loan limits and I disagree with this action. I don't believe that the limits are the problem. The problem, in my view, is that home prices are too high. Reckless investment and speculation in housing has caused the problems.
Raising the conforming limits would only continue the problems. Reforming loan origination so that people do not buy beyond their means to pay would be helpful. Changing lending standards to create a better informed consumer is always good.
I feel for the people who are losing their homes, everything that can be done for them should be, everything up to but not including the government taking responsibility for their loans. I do not believe that the government should step in and guarantee loans that were made under false pretenses. Working with the banks to alter the loans to save as many households as possible I do support.
I hope I was my writing is clear and understandable, if you have any questions please feel free to call me.
Sincerely,
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