What is the pro’s and con’s of building a home entertainment system with discreate components and building a Windows Media Center PC? Which would be less expensive? Which would be more versatile?
Which is better a home theater component system or a Windows Media Center PC?
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I think a Media Center PC is the best way to go… Something like the new Systemax Impact is a great system, but you can get much more moderately priced systems that can provide you all the desktop computing and all the home media you want – in one box!
I agree. With the high speed wireless networks you can put the pc on the component shelf and control everything with your remote. The PC DVD reader/writer should handle most anything. Processing audio tape will be a bit more of a challenge.
I have both media center and my trusted Yamaha home theater receiver. I prefer my home theater receiver over my pc because there is a depth to the audio that can’t be compared to the pc’s abilities.My personal opinion is that I value my audio visual experience greatly and I don’t want it messed up by some of the complications of my computer.
I do alot of video production work for one of my websites. And I have both a traditional home theater and a few windows media center computers connected up in different rooms in my house, I find myself in better control and much more relaxed when using the traditional home theater. Windows media center just hasn’t matured enough yet to be considered a home theater, Unless your idea of a home theater is a 32 inch old fashioned tv with a vcr, low quality dvd recorder that works most of the time and a “500 watt” surround sound system that really is only about 10 watts.
Maybe after a few service packs from Vista it might be good enough to replace my home theater system but not until then.
‘Mitch
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The Media Center PC can be be more versatile because of the plug-ins that provide extra capabilities. Ever forget to schedule the recording of a TV show? Did you know you can get a free application that allows you to schedule a TV recording on your Media Center PC from anywhere in the world – using the Internet? These kinds of additional features can really make life easier. Check out http://tv.msn.com/help/tv/rrfaq for details.
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