Media Centre Pc's

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.