Version: 2008
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By Dan Ackerman
Senior associate editor
Convergence has long been a digerati buzzword. In this case, it describes a technological wonderland where computers, televisions, and media files all live together in an interconnected home entertainment ecosystem. Like flying cars and robot maids, however, convergence is also one of those great marketing terms that never seems to produce useful technology for the average consumer.

Until now, that is (cue drumroll). Whether you start with a new Media Center PC or add a tuner and a DVR app to your existing computer, a wide range of options are available for creating a home entertainment network. This handy guide will help you get the most out of the combined powers of computing and television.

HP z555 Digital Entertainment Center
A big price tag but generous extras.

Sys MediaMax S2600
Affordable HTPC, but not a knockout.

Creature Scylla S301
High-end system with a whopping 1TB of storage.

WinBook PowerSpec MCE 410
Great price-to-performance, plus a 30-inch LCD.


Insider Secrets
Make the most of your Media Center
Read more
Insider Secrets: Make the most of your Media Center

Tech Nightmares
Windows Media Center Edition
Read more
Tech Nightmares: Windows Media Center Edition

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Dan Ackerman
Dan Ackerman
Reports coming out of the Intel Developer Forum say that the processor manufacturer has a new branding plan for Media Center PCs. In a keynote address, Don McDonald, a senior ... Read more
08/25/2005
Dan Ackerman
Dan Ackerman
People are always interested in taking video files from their TiVo or other DVR box and sending them to a desktop or laptop computer. We never really thought about going the other way--sending video files from a PC hard drive to a TiVo, but apparently someone finds it useful, because TiVo has posted a ... Read more
08/17/2005
Dan Ackerman
Dan Ackerman
Everybody seems to have a DVR app for recording TV programs to their computer's hard drive, but what about Web radio? Recording audio streams has always been technically possible with a little internal rerouting of your PC's audio signal chain and a sound recording app like Sound Forge, but now ... Read more
08/15/2005

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