Media centre system

[Alfie]

Am thinking of getting a media centre and wondered if anyone has any experience of one of these;

http://www.higrade.com/nqcontent.cfm?a_id=3539

I am presuming here that this little beastie can record TV onto the internal disk or the DVD whilst I watch a different channel. If anyone has expereince of this item and/or suggestions for alternatives, then please let me know.

Thanks,

 

[andy_k]

looks good but I don't think the spec reflects the price

I'd be looking at a 256mb Graphics card for a starter and a dedicated soundcard - no mention of one on that list so it's probably an "on board" one which is bound to be a compromise.

I'm no great fan of these type of machines, whilst they look nice they seldom alllow much scope for expansion or upgrades.

The collect and return warranty would be a sticking point for me as well. I'd be wanting a proper on site warranty where they either fix or replace the unit on the spot

My advice is to keep looking around

Andy

 

[Alfie]

looks good but I don't think the spec reflects the price

I'd be looking at a 256mb Graphics card for a starter and a dedicated soundcard - no mention of one on that list so it's probably an "on board" one which is bound to be a compromise.

I'm no great fan of these type of machines, whilst they look nice they seldom alllow much scope for expansion or upgrades.

The collect and return warranty would be a sticking point for me as well. I'd be wanting a proper on site warranty where they either fix or replace the unit on the spot

My advice is to keep looking around

Andy

Thanks Andy. Appreciated.

 

[Sp!ke]

Could always buy an Xbox

 

[Alfie]

Could always buy an Xbox

Got one of them and dont rate it too much to be honest.

I'm looking for something that can sit in my cabinet, rcord TV programmes according to a schedule, to a hard disk, record one thing while I watch another, play/record DVD's and be digital TV compatible. Must have a good output to drive a decent LCD screen (28"). Must have auxiliary input to drive my 200 disc CD changer!

 

[SimonsMerc]

Am thinking of getting a media centre and wondered if anyone has any experience of one of these;

http://www.higrade.com/nqcontent.cfm?a_id=3539

I am presuming here that this little beastie can record TV onto the internal disk or the DVD whilst I watch a different channel. If anyone has expereince of this item and/or suggestions for alternatives, then please let me know.

Thanks,

It has a single digital tuner - so you won't be able to record and watch a different channel from the digital channels (sky). It has dual analogue - so you could do the basic 5 channels like that.

Dream multimedia (http://www.dream-multimedia-tv.de) will soon have a dual-tuner dreambox, which can do exactly what you need, and runs linux to boot. There may be other products around like it already. Or go for sky+ or tivo.

Cheers,

-simon

 

[Alfie]

It has a single digital tuner - so you won't be able to record and watch a different channel from the digital channels (sky). It has dual analogue - so you could do the basic 5 channels like that.

Dream multimedia (http://www.dream-multimedia-tv.de) will soon have a dual-tuner dreambox, which can do exactly what you need, and runs linux to boot. There may be other products around like it already. Or go for sky+ or tivo.

Cheers,

-simon

Dont really want to put any money in Mr Murdochs pockets, hence I dont have and wont ever have, Sky.

thanks for the advice though.

 

[SportsCoupeRich]

Dont really want to put any money in Mr Murdochs pockets, hence I dont have and wont ever have, Sky.

thanks for the advice though.

Sky really is the way forward though! if it makes you feel any better just imagine it going in the shareholders pockets.

 

[Lazarus]

I'd buy a Mac Mini, use iTunes for music, and add an off-the-shelf video capture card with PVR software to record your TV programmes and playback any movies you've downloaded (I do this with a UNIX box at home at the moment).

Laz
--