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Home Entertainment PC Mod
Hughesey writes "With PC's beginning to enter the Home Entertainment scene, OC-Melbourne have come up with the perfect way to integrate a PC into your Home Theater setup. The OC-Melbourne HEPC. Quote From the Article: 'So now we have a PC that is capable of replacing many separate devices (such as a DVD player, and consoles), but lets admit it, that big beige case probably looks far worse than the hardware its replacing. Some people have gotten around this by using specialised cases such as those from Shuttle, or fancy aluminium cases such as those from LianLi. These cases, however, still don't integrate seamlessly into modern home theater systems, as they still maintain their "PC" look. Enter the OC-Melbourne HEPC...'"
Here's a great resource for those wanting to buy or to build a Home Theater PC, complete with sleek, black cases for the do-it-yourselfers and some ultra-quiet pre-fab models:
http://www.digitalconnection.com/
Friends help you move... Real friends help you move bodies...
How about a "Heat Pipe"?
m in ipc-07.html
m in ipc-09.html
I don't mean a peltier,
I refer to Tom's hardware review of the Shuttle mini-pc:
http://www6.tomshardware.com/howto/02q3/020710/
and
http://www6.tomshardware.com/howto/02q3/020710/
(it does have a fan, but it's rotation can be controlled)
Personally, (if I had the money) I'd either get a brand new computer and UNDERclock it so it doesn't heat up while I disconnect the fans,
OR I'd get one of those "Sigma Designs" MPEG1,2,4 hardware decoders so I would'nt have to use a new noisy computer.
Another thought:
Anyone have an idea how much noise these 115V oversize fans make?
at
http://davedina.apestaart.org
we're trying to make a linux-box that seamlessly integrates every bit of software needed for a multimedia box.
Development has been slowing down lately. But we HAVE a working model in our living room.
So give us a bit incentive to keep working on this project: subscribe to our sourceforge mailing-list and give us your comments/ideas.
Thanks!
I keep an old PC hidden behind the couch, wired to my stereo. It's running Andromeda, which manages and serves MP3 collection. I remote control it via my laptop over Wi-Fi. It's pretty neat, actually...
Here's what I do: Bitty Browser & Andromeda
There are heads of HTPC cases out there, if you look hard enough. All the shuttle cases still look like PCs, just PCs with plastic "chrome" on them. I managed to hunt down a case that came in Gold and more or less matches my Marantz 6200 AV Amp (a beast of a machine). Sure it costs a heap and has to be imported from Korea but check out the pictures...
p c_board&y_number=65 p c_board&y_number=70&nnew=2 p c_board&y_number=79&nnew=2
http://www.e-capsule.co.kr/shop/read.cgi?board=ht
http://www.e-capsule.co.kr/shop/read.cgi?board=ht
http://www.e-capsule.co.kr/shop/read.cgi?board=ht
http://www.moddin.net/review.asp?ReviewID=45
I found it via the "Home Theater Computers" forum at:
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/
Take the hint - look to Korea for cool cases.
0daymeme.com: Great stuff.
Is it one of these concepts?
Milalwi
I hate to admit this but using XP, I dont have this problem. The machine boots up in 6 seconds fast (from Bios to desktop). I use a remote control, streamzap and it has hot keys for all my major apps -- Windows Media Player,TV, WinAmp, PowerDVD, WinDVD.
When I stick a DVD in, the automatically fires up and I can control it from the remote. There is no windows' desktop. I use Talisman and have about 4 icons Bug buttons) that I use to navigate my hot key apps.
I hate to admit this but Windows XP does a good job. I've tried several remotes and girder. It can be programmed/customized to the point where you don't need to use a keyboard/mouse for your regulat activites. Only time I use those input devices is to play games.
I haven't had any problems with intergrating everything...mostly because of one great piece of hardware that came from a not so great company...
The MouseRemote from X10...
I have complete control over all my multimedia functions using a third party open source driver (maX10). I can program any key on the remote to send any keyboard command...any program with keyboard shortcuts is useable with the remote.
Honestly without this remote i would have ditched the whole idea of using a PC as an Entertainment center a while ago. I originally did use a wireless keyboard but since getting the remote there's nothing i use the keyboard for anymore i have total control with the remote. The only thing I can't do with the remote that I'd like to is be able to power up with it. Other than that I can launch and use any program i choose to as well as program buttons for shutdown.
As for windows reboot probs. get windows 2k or xp they've been fine for me. I haven't had xp crash yet and it's been a few months.
I am looking into the home pc entertainment and i saw this card that came out for sigma designs. http://www.sigmadesigns.com/products/xcard.htm
:)
It is a great card with component out 5.1, able to display a full screen movie while browsing internet on your computer with a separate monitor. Includes a remote control as well and supports a dedicated processor for divx movies as well as the decoder for most popular dvds.
Works great and my case is a all black case to match my black entertainment system, and going to install a clear panel with a blue neon light
So, I bought one of these and it's sitting in pieces on top of my current 'puter. But after move-in, it will have a tremendous job ahead of it:
It will serve as one of these HEPC or whatever you call it. It has S-video out, decent sound (my standalone DVD player will take care of good sound requirements), and best of all, it has 2 fans... nothing else. No hard drive, no floppy, no cd-rom. Nothing.
That said, it is quite obvious that it will be functioning as a diskless client, booting off a server. This server will provide everything via NFS (yes, I'm behind a firewall, so don't bother trying to hack). Hopefully, in time I will produce some software that is basically an OSD similar to that of the TV guide with Time Warner's digital cable. That way, there is no need to move a pseudo-mouse with the numbers on the remote. The last step of the project will be to create a CD-archiver that mechanically loads/unloads CDs remotely. mmmm, laziness
Call your senator! I did
IWARS.
People, in general, disappoint me. Politicians even more so.
Can't see if this has already been posted, but I found this at Trendetronics. It has that home theatre piece of equipment look that most people desire for HTPCs, but it only accepts MicroATX. (Doh!)
"Beginning to enter the Home Entertainment scene"?!?
Some PCs, such as the Commodore Amiga CDTV have been integrated seamlessly into modern home theater systems for over a decade now.
The CDTV was expressly designed to not look like an intimidating computer; rather it was supposed to look like a friendly, familiar stereo or home video component. It didn't help much; CDTV was an expensive failure for Commodore, much like the similar Philips CDi system.