Advertisement
If you have a new account but are having problems posting or verifying your account, please email us on hello@boards.ie for help. Thanks :)
Hello all! Please ensure that you are posting a new thread or question in the appropriate forum. The Feedback forum is overwhelmed with questions that are having to be moved elsewhere. If you need help to verify your account contact hello@boards.ie
Hi there,
There is an issue with role permissions that is being worked on at the moment.
If you are having trouble with access or permissions on regional forums please post here to get access: https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058365403/you-do-not-have-permission-for-that#latest

Complete MCE system recommentations?

  • 16-08-2006 10:07AM
    #1
    dancin
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 666 ✭✭✭


    I'm the techie for my family and friends. Normally not too much hastle, until now.
    A friend has approached me about recommendations for a Media Center PC. His SSIA is due and he's getting a HDTV LCD for the wall and wants a PC/PVR/Media Center setup.

    I've no experience with MCE or using a PC as a PVR and all that...

    I've done a little reading and it seems that MS don't sell MCE directly due to possible HW conflict problems, leaving it up to 3rd party vendors to assemble the systems. Of the vendors they recommend, the one's which operate in Ireland are Dell, HP and Toshiba. And of them, HP have a dedicated models mentioned on their web site. Dell are a bit more vague, and tosh don't mention MCE at all.

    I'm hoping that someone can recommend a make and model which I can direct my friend to buy, a complete solution which will take up a minumum of my time.

    If I was doing it myself, I'd add to an existing computer, get a TV card, remote and GB-PVR. Spend some time experimenting and eventually settle on the setup I like.

    But, for my mate, I really don't want to have to spend a lot of time in his house, adding HW, SW and endlessly tweaking the lot.

    Any advice and guidance will be greatly appreciated.


Comments

  • #2
    SouperComputer
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,946 ✭✭✭SouperComputer


    it all depends on budget, the source of TV signal and what EXACTLY they want from the HTPC.

    Hush sell nice MCE rigs. You can buy the OS from komplett no problem. Fujitsu siemens have shuttle type and VCR type MCE machines too, have a look on their website.


  • #3
    8T8
    Closed Accounts Posts: 4,757 ✭✭✭8T8


    MCE is now sold separately what you mention dancin used to be the case but is no longer as MS came to their senses.

    So a self build is possible, MCE will work fine on a reasonable machine so it doesn't have to be a powerhouse. The only thing you do need is a compliant MCE tuner which can be bought in most online stores.

    Along with Dell, HP, Toshiba Sony also sell some media center PC's. The Sony ones looks the nicest from an AV point of view but they come loaded with a lot of junk/redundant software so be prepared to do some cleaning. Actually that pretty much applies to all of them.

    I don't think Dell sell a media center styled PC in as much as they ship MCE as the OS on a lot of their desktops.

    You can also acquire the Fujitsu Siemens HTPC from OcUK as well.

    Shuttle also has some very nice looking HTPC's in the shape of the M1000 soon to be replaced by the M2000, plus the Mini X 100HA. Those Shuttle systems are full systems that come with everything not barebones systems like the rest of Shuttles products.


  • #4
    BaZmO*
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 18,625 ✭✭✭✭BaZmO*


    I recently bought a Dell with MCE and got an LCD TV to use as a monitor. If you do this you can ring Dell and ask them to give you credit for the monitor that is usually included in the packages that they supply. You will still need to get a PVR card though. I should have mine on Friday so as of yet I can't really give any advice with regards to installation and setup but I reckon it shouldn't be a problem.


  • #5
    dancin
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 666 ✭✭✭dancin


    Thanks for all the info. We're meeting up at the weekend to see what appeals to him. May be back for more info after then :-)


  • #6
    SouperComputer
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,946 ✭✭✭SouperComputer


    dancin wrote:
    Thanks for all the info. We're meeting up at the weekend to see what appeals to him. May be back for more info after then :-)


    Cool, its hard to get answers from people about this, so you need to find out (im sure others will add to the list)

    TV source (Sat, cable etc etc).
    Noise requirements
    Capacity they want for recorded TV and music
    Do they want a distributed setup in the longer term?
    Are they going to use the HTPC solely for entertainment (reccomended!)


  • Advertisement
Advertisement