Media Player vs HTPC

Dolby

Dolby

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As I mentioned in a previous thread, I'm looking to replace my trusty TViX unit after 3 years.

The unit still does everything well, plays all codecs and seems to have better GUI than the modern units - BUT the feature I need specifically is not available ie search, filter, library etc - and it becomes increasingly difficult to manage a large movie library without a search.

I have a on dual core PC - and to get it to run as a media centre, I'd still need to buy a proper graphics card and MCE remote/IR receiver (R800.00 together). The negative is I still have an old, whirring PC in my lounge ...

So I'm thinking of saving for a few months extra and getting the Xtreamer Ulta for R3,300.00 which can run Boxee/XBMC which you all rave about.

I think the price is great - as it comes with the unit (dual core, 4GB RAM), MCE remote, 8GB USB stick, Li-ION Mini Wireless Keyboard with mouse pad , HDMI cable and VGA > DVI cable. It seems to have 802.11n built in - but one needs to buy a USB antenna for R200.00 ... so all in all R3,500.00.

Connectivity is also better than a PC with HDMI 1.4, DVI, eSATA, Gigabit LAN, 6 x USB, external IR, optical ... and I have the small form factor too.

I don't think a PC can touch it price wise or feature wise?

Any options on what can be done?
Better to get this - essentially a HTPC - than build a PC?
Anyone actually have one of these?
Any other one I should consider?
 
How about a HP Proliant mini server ... R1300 ... all you need to add is a low profile HDMI graphics card at roughly R400 and a MCE remote. Low power consumption and has room for 4 internal HDD's if you ever want to go that route.
 
I thought of that - but after those two additions, I'm around R2,000.00 - 'only' R1,300.00 rand away.

That R1,300.00 gets the QWERTY remote, more RAM, more connections, 8GB stick, wireless N (though need the R165.00 extra antenna)

rii-remote-20100305-600.jpg
 
Wow - that is kinda expensive ;)

Close to R5,000.00 when the QWERTY is added ... I suppose when you work out it comes with Windows 7, it isn't too bad. But apart the SSD - it doesn't look far off the Xtreame (performance)r?
 
The nice thing about a HTPC is that you can always upgrade parts as and when required. If you buy a med8er etc. once they stop support you will have to spent a couple of grand on a whole new system every time.
 
... the Xtreamer and the Asus that Fudzy posted are little computers - they even run Windows.

You're right in saying you can't upgrade them though
 
I have a HTPC thats running Windows 7. It has the following specs:
Asus P5KPL-AM motherboard:
Core2Duo 2.6Ghz CPU
4gigs RAM DDR2
Nvidia 9400GT graphics with HDMI out
Hauppauge HVR-2200 dual TV Tuner
250GB HDD for Windows and 1TB HDD for media
DVD Writer
Antec NSK 2400 Case
Microsoft Media Center Keyboard, Microsoft Remote Control with eHome IR receiver and IR emitters.

I'm planning to sell it and buy a Mac Mini, not a media player, to replace it. The main reason is that I have a HD PVR for recording TV and the HTPC's main function is now relegated to watching downloaded TV series and movies. A Mac mini would be able to do that and be smaller and look neater as well. I'm currently using Plex Media Center on the HTPC and will use it on the Mac Mini when I eventually buy it.

Media players are nice and convenient but a HTPC is a lot more customizable. If Plex becomes a pain in the future, then i'll use something else. That option is normally not available when you buy a media player.

P.S. If someone is interested in buying my HTPC, please PM for more info.
 
TYR said:
How about a HP Proliant mini server ... R1300 ... all you need to add is a low profile HDMI graphics card at roughly R400 and a MCE remote. Low power consumption and has room for 4 internal HDD's if you ever want to go that route.
Click to expand...

Agree - I'm using this setup and I'm extremely happy with it - and it's affordable.
 
Or take a look at the Zotac ZBOX
Better value for money as a HTPC than the Xtreamer Ultra I reckon.
Add a cheap wireless USB dongle, if you want to go wireless, and a remote and you're good to go.

Local price
 
I'd go the HTPC route - much more future proof...and much more customizeable.

I have the following setup
2x Microservers with low-profile graphic cards in two lounges running XBMC
1x Microserver hosting my media - and a shared media library in MySQL in the office
1x MSI All-in-one touchscreen in the kitchen running XBMC
1x Dlink Media Player streaming the content from the Media server.

Very stable - and when I want to change something its relatively quick... the only issue I've had is with the configuration of the shared library, which is finally working 100%

The other nice to haves are if you use Sick Beard it automatically gets XBMC to update the library when a download completed.

Also - The microservers are dead quite... I can't hear mine where they're positioned.
 
Thanks for the replies.

Am I not right in saying this *is* a PC - and probably more powerful than the HPs?
It runs Windows, Linux, XBMC, Boxee etc a well?

I think the only downside is the inability to actually upgrade the hardware - but the hardware should be current for a number of years running a media only OS?

EDIT : What would be great is if it could run - for example - the HDMI to the TV and one of the other videos to another screen, concurrently. The one thing I loved my about Squeezebox is the ability to play music without the screen on ... and if it could do that, one may be able to but a cheap 15" for a few hundred or so to sit near the main TV
 
I finally got a Squeezebox - its light and day difference having an independent screen... my main system is on a projector, so switching it on to play music was a pain in the arse.
 
I don't have Smart TV :(

Yea - Squeezebox is awesome ... had it for years and used it every night, but hit a sh*tty patch and sold off quite a few things in November/December. That was one - and it's definitely one I regret :(
 
I had a dual core AMD HTPC (till the mobo fried - got a bit to hot in the cabinet), running XBMC. I replaced it with a Mede8er (new model). I also have a Zotac Mag Mini PC in my bedroom with win7 and XBMC. I hate the Mede8er, it sux compared to a proper HTPC! I run my htpc with the mini wireless qwerty keyboard from Esquire (brilliant little thing) http://shop.esquire.co.za/ProductDescription.aspx?id=1032262 . The Mede8er came with its own branded one identical to the Esquire branded one. My 2c is nothing compares to a HTPC.
 
Last edited:
Dolby said:
Connectivity is also better than a PC with HDMI 1.4, DVI, eSATA, Gigabit LAN, 6 x USB, external IR, optical ... and I have the small form factor too.
Click to expand...

small form factor...yeah, but that means you will need your whirring PC to remain on any time you want to watch media on the TV.
so that means:
- a PC that is on 24/7 = large power bill
- or you need to run and go switch on the Pc every time you wanna watch something, which, also = larger power bill as you are running 2 systems when you actually just need 1.

Dolby said:
I don't think a PC can touch it price wise or feature wise?
Click to expand...

Price wise?
Well the HP is cheaper, so not only has it "touched" it, it has beat it by almost half the price. (R1800 vs R3500)

Feature wise?
The HP has all those features you mentioned (HDMI, DVI, eSATA, GB LAN, 6xUSB, external IR, optical)
IMO though, being able to add 5 or more drives to it is a pretty big feature, that the Xtreamer can't do.
The HP also has plenty of other upgrade options that the Xtreamer just doesn't, like plugging in PCI cards, or deciding to use it as a NAS in the future.




Get the HP MicroServer while it's still cheap, there is nothing better as it swallows hard drives for breakfast and can be customized like no other.

HP Proliant MicroServer + GT520 + OpenELEC's XBMC = Win :D
 
Keeper said:
Well the HP is cheaper, so not only has it "touched" it, it has beat it by almost half the price. (R1800 vs R3500)
Click to expand...

I understand you still need to add things?
So at R1,800 I get the get the HDMI graphics, MCE remote, QWERTY remote, cables etc?

Do you have a link to the HP from a local supplier?
 
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