Media Centre Pc's

Tanzanite · Jun 05, 2007, 14:34:08

The ones that are small and sits beside your TV. Anyone have an opinions on these or has one?

How do they work if you have Sky+? Would it work alongside it and you can record some on the media centre pc if you run out of room on the Sky box?

What is the lifespan like, a desktop or a laptop?

Rik · Jun 05, 2007, 14:41:39

You'd need to output an analogue signal from the Sky box into the media centre PC, Eve. You can't record the Sky digital stream outside the Sky box.

That aside, I've always viewed media centre PCs as expensive HD recorders. Unless you are going to use the PC in its 'normal' mode as well, you're better off with a Freeview HDD recorder.

No idea on lifetime, but there's no reason why it shouldn't be as good as a normal PC unless they sacrifice cooling for noise.

Inactive · Jun 05, 2007, 14:48:35

My Medion Computer is a Media PC, but not one of the small case ones.

It has Freeview and Satellite built in and a Remote Control, unfortunately I have never used any of the listed items, so am not able to give feedback on it's attributes.

Strangely it came with XP Home and not XP MediaCentre?

I use a Daewoo standalone Freeview Recorder, that is excellent.

Tanzanite · Jun 05, 2007, 15:15:31

Well as you know, being stuck in bed I rely on the internet for pretty much everything, so a computer is vital. I don't seem to have much luck with laptops and have had 5 break down within the last 3yrs. I don't have much faith in my new one either, the screen keeps flickering black for a second and it's a 4wk wait for repair if it has to go in.

I can't sit at the desktop one for more than 5mins so a media centre one is on my mind. A backup for if I'm without a lappy and just generally useful for me and I thought it would be useful to transfer or record from the sky+ box to the hard drive on the media centre pc (only have a small HD on the sky box, not enough for me lol) and maybe copy some things to DVD. I already have a DVD recorder but it's not brill, was one of the first to come out and tends to have a green tinge to the picture.

So if you can't record to anything apart from the sky box how come I've heard you can connect the sky to a computer? And I can record things taped on the sky box to my DVD recorder?

RobMc · Jun 05, 2007, 15:26:37

don't know if this is what you mean but...

I have a sky box in my lounge and have connected it via a co-ax cable to my tv card in my pc in my study. I've got an in-line remote control so I can control the sky box from my study too. So I can watch sky channels on my pc (recording them if I want to and pausing too which is nice when the phone rings). Only slight drawback is that the transmission via the co-ax cable is in mono audio. I can live with this as it saves me the cost of sky multi-room.

Rob.

Tanzanite · Jun 05, 2007, 15:30:20

I kind of want the media centre pc to be extra storage for recorded things from sky+. So either recording straight from sky to the pc or using the copy function on the Sky+ to the pc, so I can then delete it off the sky box and have more room. Be easier to get a bigger Sky+ box

Which I was going to do at some point anyway so the pc may not be needed for that but was something I wanted to know was do-able and also so I could do away with my inferior DVD recorder. As well as using it as a normal pc.

Rik · Jun 05, 2007, 15:30:32

Quote from: Tanzanite on Jun 05, 2007, 15:15:31
So if you can't record to anything apart from the sky box how come I've heard you can connect the sky to a computer? And I can record things taped on the sky box to my DVD recorder?

As Rob says, Eve, you can record the Sky analogue stream, either through the RF output or, with a suitable card in the PC (and proximity), from the SCART socket. You just can't maintain the original digital stream/quality.

Tanzanite · Jun 05, 2007, 15:33:32

Ok, so forget recording direct from sky to pc then. What about the copy function on sky+ to pc?

Rik · Jun 05, 2007, 15:40:26

That will work. All recording output from a Sky box is analogue.

Tanzanite · Jun 05, 2007, 15:42:44

Ty. How funny, I never even noticed the difference when I've put things on DVD from the copy function.

Rik · Jun 05, 2007, 15:42:51

Quote from: Tanzanite on Jun 05, 2007, 15:15:31
I don't seem to have much luck with laptops and have had 5 break down within the last 3yrs. I don't have much faith in my new one either, the screen keeps flickering black for a second and it's a 4wk wait for repair if it has to go in.

Are you using them on a suitable surface, Eve? That is something hard which will ensure ventilation? I'm just wondering if you are using them direct onto bedding and it's causing an overheat...

Tanzanite · Jun 05, 2007, 15:44:54

I use a granny over bed table

2 laptops had faults when I got them. 1 just died after 3yrs, another died after 18mths and another died after 9mths.

Tanzanite · Jun 05, 2007, 15:46:17

One of these...

[attachment deleted by admin]

Rik · Jun 05, 2007, 15:55:37

Quote from: Tanzanite on Jun 05, 2007, 15:44:54
2 laptops had faults when I got them. 1 just died after 3yrs, another died after 18mths and another died after 9mths.

They didn't come from Evesham did they?

Tanzanite · Jun 05, 2007, 15:56:55

lol no, Ebuyer. 1 came from pcworld, the 1st laptop I had which was some obscure brand called Gericom.
The rest were Toshiba satellite, Toshiba Satellite Pro's.

Inactive · Jun 05, 2007, 15:59:44

Quote from: Tanzanite on Jun 05, 2007, 15:56:55
, the 1st laptop I had which was some obscure brand called Gericom.

Gericom are /were? quite a large company, making laptops for others.

Sounds like something you put under your bed tho'

Tanzanite · Jun 05, 2007, 16:01:22

Are they? When I rang up 20 different laptop repairers, they'd never heard of the brand!

Tanzanite · Jun 05, 2007, 16:14:08

I've found these, may be helpful to someone, maybe RobMc.
Though the first one looks a bit dodgy, is it some scam?

1st one

2nd one

Rik · Jun 05, 2007, 16:29:15

Quote from: Tanzanite on Jun 05, 2007, 16:01:22

Are they? When I rang up 20 different laptop repairers, they'd never heard of the brand!

It's a brand that Aldi sell.

Tanzanite · Jun 05, 2007, 17:09:51

Never been to Aldi's, more of a Sainsburys girl myself lol Though they don't sell pooters the last time I looked.

Rik · Jun 05, 2007, 17:12:39

Aldi stuff can be very good (food & techie). If you have one nearby, take a look.

RobMc · Jun 05, 2007, 18:00:29

Quote from: Tanzanite on Jun 05, 2007, 16:14:08
I've found these, may be helpful to someone, maybe RobMc.
Though the first one looks a bit dodgy, is it some scam?

1st one

2nd one

lol, no ta. When I went over to ~~the dark side~~ sky, I got the cheapest package that got me the documentary channels. The Sky link & remote control only cost another £30 or so and I plumbed it in with some cable. Works fine for me

Rob.

RobMc · Jun 05, 2007, 18:04:40

Quote from: Rik on Jun 05, 2007, 16:29:15
It's a brand that Aldi sell.

both tesco and woolworths sell medion kit too

Rob.

Rik · Jun 05, 2007, 18:08:50

True, Rob, I think I've seen it in PC World too - not that I ever go there, of course.

sobranie · Jun 05, 2007, 21:27:38

Quote from: RobMc on Jun 05, 2007, 18:04:40
both tesco and woolworths sell medion kit too

Rob.

Just looked at the woolworths site, would you believe they also sell Evesham (somebodys favourite I believe)

RobMc · Jun 05, 2007, 23:31:44

Quote from: sobranie on Jun 05, 2007, 21:27:38
Just looked at the woolworths site, would you believe they also sell Evesham (somebodys favourite I believe)

LOL I went to Evesham the other week whilst on holiday down in the Cotswolds. I'd promised Rik that I would chuck a couple of virtual bricks at their windows. When I got there it seemed a bit of a sad building so I didn't stop. Ho hum.

Rob.

Inactive · Jun 05, 2007, 23:41:38

Quote from: Rik on Jun 05, 2007, 17:12:39
Aldi stuff can be very good (food & techie). If you have one nearby, take a look.

Another Aldi customer here Rik, quality stuff at a fair price.

Rik · Jun 06, 2007, 08:02:51

Quote from: sobranie on Jun 05, 2007, 21:27:38
Just looked at the woolworths site, would you believe they also sell Evesham (somebodys favourite I believe)

It seems they've found their level then!

Rik · Jun 06, 2007, 08:03:56

Quote from: Inactive on Jun 05, 2007, 23:41:38
Another Aldi customer here Rik, quality stuff at a fair price.

Disparagingly referred to as a 'discounter' by Tesco. That's recommendation enough for me.

D-Dan · Jun 06, 2007, 20:36:26

To break with tradition, and respond to the original thread, I'm starting to think about building a set-underneath box (Ie - entertainment rather than PC). With modern dual core processors running so efficiently, and heatsinks being so efficient, silent PSU's and efficient Gfx cards it's entirely feasible to put something together that won't look out of place next to an average domestic DVD, Video player, Freeview box etc, and won't make the devils own noise when running.

In starting my research I'm realising that it can be expensive, though. You need a good DVD-RW (My old liteon performs better than my new Samsung for direct to DVD recording in my Main PC, a decent TV card (several come with Sky capability these days), and a good Gfx card with passive cooling.

Most MC type boxes use MicroATX form factor motherboards, which will restrict things a little (though not much these days) - otherwise you're looking at an oversized case (few and far between), and of course a decent front end (whether it be Windows MCE or any of the alternatives.

The most expensive parts are likely to be the Gfx card and the case. Remaining components can be found relatively cheaply. However, cases generall come in at around the £150 mark for anything worth having, which will provide enough space, ventilation, and aesthetics.

I'm starting to think of £400+ for a decent rig - though it should give remote control, DVD playback and record/HD Record direct from TV (including DTV/Sky), music and other video capabilities. In other words, it will replace everything except the display device (TV). For (ATM) a couple of hundred more you could have Blue-Ray/HD-DVD capability.

However, I would advise waiting a few months until the HD formats drop in price.

Just my 12,000 cents worth

Steve

Rik · Jun 07, 2007, 07:57:20

Quote from: D-Dan on Jun 06, 2007, 20:36:26
several come with Sky capability these days

Are you sure about that, Steve? I'm not aware of Sky licensing the NDS module to anyone.

Inactive · Jun 07, 2007, 08:40:14

Agreed Rik, if Sky have licenced NDS, that is news to me, I have never heard of anything like that.

It has always been their Ace Card.

Rik · Jun 07, 2007, 08:52:25

Indeed, Inactive. As long as Sky keeps the NDS module under tight wraps, the chances of it being hacked are slim. As it's their cash cow, I can't see it being released unless there was legislation forcing them to do so.

It would, I suppose, be possible to receive FTA channels from Astra...

Inactive · Jun 07, 2007, 09:47:52

Quote from: Rik on Jun 07, 2007, 08:52:25

It would, I suppose, be possible to receive FTA channels from Astra...

Indeed, both or either 28e or 19e.

However, it is a pain in the backside because what many Sky Users do not realise is, frequencies are constantly being changed, this doesn't have any visible effects on a Sky Receiver, but it does on a non Sky Receiver, fresh scans are required on a regular basis to keep on top of things.

The only really usable option is a Sky Receiver..

Oh Well..

D-Dan · Jun 07, 2007, 20:32:58

Ahh - I stand corrected - I meant Satellite capability. I was forgetting about individual licensing issues.

Steve

Rik · Jun 08, 2007, 08:10:40

We're not so much correcting you, Steve, as avoiding getting Eve's hopes raised.

Tanzanite · Jun 08, 2007, 09:37:19

It's not that I want to watch sky on a pc, just copy recorded sky progs to pc and watch them on tv from there so I have more space on sky box.

The media center pc is just an idea floating about at mo, they're so new that there's not much choice apart from a £1000 Sony one (too much, when it's essentially a base unit but in a small case) and a £450 Acer one. Unless it's one of those small places who build their own and I'm not really happy about going to an unknown place.

D-Dan · Jun 08, 2007, 22:03:16

You could do a lot worse than a custom build (or better still, find someone you know who can build it for you).

By way of example, my current system would retail at about £1500. I built it myself for about half of that.

If you know someone who knows what they're doing, you can get a very capable setup, made to your specification, much cheaper than a pre-built system.

Oh, and you don't get Vista forced on you - an added bonus.

Steve

Tanzanite · Jun 09, 2007, 09:14:11

I only know of two people, one's an ex so dont want to go there lol and the other person likes overclocking them so they blow up in 3mths

The ones I've looked at have Media Centre 2005 installed which is what I want, I'd probably buy a copy and change it to that if I was forced to have vista.