HTPC or Media Player?

[IceQB]

Ok so which would be best, im leaning towards HTPC with XBMC.
Currently have one of those Esquire Privio Lite Media Players & was just reading up on HTPC's (changed my mind).
Anyone with a Media Player or HTPC, please post your pros & cons of your systems.

 

[Hemps]

Have an HTPC running xbox media centre - plays everything, they are always updating the software daily.
You can customize it and show off glorious HD to your buddies making them jealous like I did that program looks awesome, much better than Windows Media Centre.
Also convenient for Music collection and picture collection.

Only thing's to consider:

HTPC can be difficult to setup if you are not into computers
Must have the right hardware setup
Media players are plug and play and much easier to setup but do not have the functionality of an HTPC.

My setup Dual Core
4GB ram
Normal case 350w power supply
Wirelsss keyboard and mouse
Windows 7
HD 4850 radeon
Asus HD motherboard
Single cable from hd radeon to Sony Amp
Single cable from Sony amp to LCD TV (total 2 hdmi cables for 5.1 sound and video)
Also play games on my PC so a plus as well.

If you not into having "bling" pretty HD functionality and don't want a noisy PC in your lounge then go the Media centre route - It's easier.
My garage is behind the wall my TV's stuck to and that's where I placed my noisy HTPC (on a shelf), so I cant complain about fan noise - don't hear a thing and everyone's wonders where the hell everything is hidden.

 

[Hemps]

Oh and make sure you get Windows 7 installed, looks pretty and has a nice sleep function - I just click my wireless mouse twice and pc starts up in to xbmc in under 20seconds.

 

[IceQB]

Nice, ive seen some kewl media center cases & setups with minimal noise for under R3000. It is much nicer, wont be using for gaming. Just Video, Pics & Music.

 

[alt146]

HTPC, plus if it's a decent PC you can game on it too Personally I prefer MediaPortal over XMBC, but I think I'm in the minority in that regard. Read up on different HTPC software packages and see which one you like. Try get yourself a PC remote as well. They can be a bit of a pain to setup sometimes, but they're much more convenient than a wireless keyboard and mouse. Or just get one of these

The other option that a lot of people use is to set up a proper PS3 mediaserver, but obviously that will only work if you have a PS3.

 

[bar1]

Definitely HTPC, with XBMC
You can also use linux + XBMC

 

[IceQB]

Hemps, do you have a remote for your system?