I'm a n00b, be gentle

[MACaddict]

I have been a long time Mac user (hence the name) but have used PCs at work, both in Windows and Linux. I'm not very familiar with XP however, having used it only once. I have NO video experience, whether it be in hardware or software, so bear with me.

Here's my situation. I have an analog VHS video camera, a 52" RCA rear projection TV (not HD), a DVD player that's over 5 years old and a VCR on the verge of blowing up. I'm sick of dealing with a DVD player that skips, a VCR that eats tapes and not having my precious home videos on anything other than VHS. My solution is to get an HP AMD Athlon 64 X2 4200+ 2GHz Media Center. I have no skill and no desire to build my own rig. Not an option, won't even discuss it. This is the PC I am interested in. It has 64 bit, X2 technology and unless something much better is coming out in the next few months, this will be the computer I get.

Here is my question. Will Media Center do the things I need it to? I want to be able to effectively watch, pause, rewind and record live TV, I want to be able to move all my home movies from VHS to DVD, I want to use the Media Center in conjunction with my analog video recorder, I want to watch DVD's on my 52", none-HD TV, I want to be able to have access to my extensive music library and be able to play it through my sound system, which is also hooked to my TV via a receiver and finally I want to hit my VCR with a large hammer and never EVER have to use it again. So can the HP do this or not? How is the picture quality (keeping in mind it's not HD an I've been using a VCR) when recording TV shows? How's the ease of use?

I can accomplish much of this on the Mac platform with relative ease but the price is astronomical when compared to the HP, which is why I haven't done it in the past. The Media Center solution seems like a logical one but of course everyone I know uses Mac and they get into all kinds of crap about viruses and Windows machine exploding as soon as you plug them in. You know, the regular bull-crap scare tactics most cults use to keep their members.

Any help would be great appreciated.

[Cable Monkey]

Looking quickly through your post, a properly set up media pc will do all that you need it to do. You need to link us to a specific reference to your pc (on HP's site?) so we can tell you if it has the components needed to do the job. Personally I think the X2 chip is serious overkill for a media pc. Also consider having a pc custom built.

[JonMace]

It all depends on whether the HP has Analogue or digital tuners, you will need analogue for the Camcorder and the VCR, but you have not mentioned how you watch TV Sky, Cable or Freeview?

[MACaddict]

Here's a link.

http://www.hp.ca/products/static/med...248n/index.php

It may be overkill at this time but I want a computer that will last me more than a year. I want to be prepared when Vista comes out. I want to have more power than necessary so when I love this machine (as I'm sure I will) I will delve into other things, possibly serious video editing and/or gaming.

No custom builds this time around.

Thanks

[JonMace]

Still need to know the source of your TV?

[MACaddict]

I'm slow.
I have Shaw Cable (Canada). I have a Digital Cable box (not HDTV) with an S-video output as well as standard RCA out. I also have direct coaxial cable to the TV for analog cable TV. The TV has both Composite and Component video in but no Super VGA or other monitor inputs.