Entry level PC as media player/ browser

[petesy]

Hi

Looking for a small form factor, possibly entry level PC for hooking up to Toshiba 37wlt58 LCD screen to stream music from my main upstairs PC and for occasional browsing to save me going upstairs! Maybe with digital audio output into AV amp, maybe even HDMI into Tosh. Perhaps ability to upgrade incrementally as requirements and cash permit towards full PVR, HD DVD etc. I already have a Snazio 1350 but its haphazard DVD playback, useless remote, inflexible and slow media playback interface and crippled browser (get the feeling I'm disappointed?) has me looking for something better...

Any reasonably priced starter systems that will allow me to expand if/when required?

Cheers

[Steve.J.Davies]

'Expansion' and Small Form Factor PCs don't go together too well.
Constraints built in to the SFF premise.

[petesy]

OK, say, upgrading rather than expansion i.e. putting in larger discs, better graphics card etc. Or if I drop SFF but still remain within the domain of neat and tidy (i.e. not overly out of place in the lounge), what would my options be?

[Steve.J.Davies]

larger disks, better graphics - more heat (and noise probably). If it is to go in the living room (hence SFF) the noise may be a problem. the heat in a SFF case could be an issue too. Plus card lengths, Tv cards etc etc.
of course this is presupposing Windows. if you run Linux you can run a HD PC on a much lower spec, then SFF may have more legs. But of you don't do Linux then ...