- Average user rating:
- My rating: 0 stars
Full user review
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3 out of 3 people found this review helpful
4.5 stars
"Awesome machine!"
Pros: One component, do-it-all solution
Cons: Heat, and just a touch expensive if not on sale.
Summary: I have been trying to build my own Home Theater Personal Computer (HTPC) for the better part of five years now. I've tried two different chassis, 4 video cards, ever increasing hard drive space, and I don't know how many different shareware apps to get it to do what I needed. Got an okay, but never a great, solution.
Then I saw this jewel. WOW! I was sold immediately. Add to that that it was on sale. Where to start?
Instead of a tower sitting in my floor, now I have a sleek unit that matches the rest of the stereo equipment. Looks good in the rack! The display is nice and bright, and adjusts for day or night lighting conditions.
The TV recording is awesome, much better quality than I was getting with my previous attempts. And the fact that it has three different inputs gives me plenty of flexibility, including HD over the air antenna input. That will be tested shortly.
The Windows MCE 2005 interface is so easy to use, it passed the WAF (Wife Acceptance Factor) test easily! I had to spend weeks explaining how the old one worked (not that she isn't smart, I made it too complicated). This one she's picked up on her own. It's that simple to use!
Plenty of storage available for my MP3's and recorded programs. I love that the compression is user-selectable on the fly. I also love that the Electronic Program Guide (EPG) is freely downloaded, no subscription like TiVo.
It's a bit pricey, but it can be had on sale at HPShopping.com. Also, it generates a lot of heat when running, so make sure your ventilation is sufficient.
Bottom line: If you're considering setting up an HTPC, this is a great way to go! Easy set up, simple user interface, tons of powerful features. Nearly perfect!
- 1 reply to this review
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I am considering one of these boxes for two main reasons
I want to access the internet through my TV. It is still unclear from the reviews and comments if this is possible. With Win Media center and this box, is it possible to simply launch a browser and surf the internet using the TV as a monitor?
