admay
Established Member
I have been following various threads concerning the forthcoming Freeview/HDD/DVD recorders and on several occasions contributors have commented ‘of course you could always build a HTPC'. Now I have not previously considered an HTPC but thinking about it, if it will give me the same functionality then it is something that I might contemplate.
My requirements are:
Is this feasible?
I don't play games and would rather use a high-resolution monitor on a standard PC for Internet access so this would be entirely audio/video based machine. Is there a Linux based software solution that would provide this or would I need to look at Windows MCE. I have built PCs before so the hardware is no problem to me but I am not familiar with any of the software options (yet).
Finally, how long does a typical HTPC like this take to boot, either from cold or standby or is it usually left running 24/7?
Any guidance you can give will be much appreciated, even if it is just to tell me that it can't be done and to wait for the Freeview/HDD/DVD boxes to arrive.
Thanks,
Andrew
My requirements are:
- Freeview reception, including radio. Twin tuners would be nice but not essential
- Record programs to HDD and be able to pause and rewind live TV
- Play DVDs - multiregion because I have both region 1 and 2 discs
- Archive recorded programs to DVD (preferably double layer) in a format that can be played on a standard DVD player.
- VGA output to feed a Panasonic PWD7 display, no need for composite or TV out. A single connection between the AV stack and display is highly desirable.
- Optical (or possibly coaxial) digital audio out to feed to an external processor. Probably no need for analogue audio.
- Single integrated front end for all of these functions, ideally not requiring the monitor to be turned on if not necessary, e.g. for listening to radio. Something that completely hides the fact that it is a windows machine.
- No plans for Sky but might get cable at some point in the future.
Is this feasible?
I don't play games and would rather use a high-resolution monitor on a standard PC for Internet access so this would be entirely audio/video based machine. Is there a Linux based software solution that would provide this or would I need to look at Windows MCE. I have built PCs before so the hardware is no problem to me but I am not familiar with any of the software options (yet).
Finally, how long does a typical HTPC like this take to boot, either from cold or standby or is it usually left running 24/7?
Any guidance you can give will be much appreciated, even if it is just to tell me that it can't be done and to wait for the Freeview/HDD/DVD boxes to arrive.
Thanks,
Andrew