Media PC vs. Entertainment Center

[Atherakhia]

Moving soon and want to get my media things worked out. In apartment now with just a PS3 and a TV with Verizon FiOS. Don't intend to get Verizon again, probably Comcast. And very likely only for the internet, but undecided at the moment.

I'm just curious what people's opinions are of media PC's vs. your typical entertainment center? I figure a laptop with blue ray, and an HDMI capable video card would be all I need. Especially if I go without cable TV and use streaming video like Hulu etc.

Are there things media PC's can't do that I should be made aware of? For example, do they interface with the cable boxes Comcast/Verizon/etc. use?

How well do the sound cards hold up to things like Sound Bars or full 5.1 systems?

Things of this nature.

 

[Deleted member 4644]

My feeling is that it depends on your output components, e.g. your speakers and your TV.

If you have a top quality 1080P TV and great speakers, I think a media PC, especially a laptop, will not give it a top quality signal.

The software decoding on most computers is second best (at least, when I last checked) compared to a decent stand alone Blu Ray player.

The sound card analog output on most laptops is second or third rate, even if it does 5.1 output. If you want to do digital output, you will need a receiver with digital-input. Additionally, even with analog output, you will still need an amp or receiver to power a decent speaker setup.

Since you already have a PS3 (plays blu rays, and can stream movies/music from your PC network and the internet), I think you should invest in a decent surround receiver and speakers, and use the PS3 as the digital hub, not a media PC.

I might be a bit biased, I got a PS3 yesterday and I am in LOVE. It looks BEAUTIFUL on my 42" TV and it streams WMA movies from my PC with 30 seconds of setup.

 

[s44]

From one who's had both,

FIOS >>> Comcast

Also, if you already have a PS3, there's little point in getting a HTPC. The PS3 can do it all (and if you want a media storage server, it can stream from that easily) except tune TV, and for that you're honestly better off with a Tivo.

 

[leon2006]

I have 2 setups of multimedia PC for > 2 years now. One is with 70Inch HDTV & 24 inch LCD. The other is 52Inch HDTV & 24inch LCD(Also connected with PS3).

Both are quad cores with Hauppage 2250 HDTV tuner, LG Blue-Ray/HD-DVD capable drive.

Both are also gaming machines with CF 4890 and the other is with GTX-280. I won't swap it with PS3 or XBOX in movies or games.

It functions as HDTV PVR and DVR... With > 3 Tbytes of HD space i don't worry about limitations in recording HD TV shows & Movies. I record HDTV shows for bet 20Gbyte to 30 Gbyte file size. I can keep adding drives if i want to. Something you can't do with TIVO.

Blue-Ray and HD-DVD are as good if not better than PS3 or XBOX. I have a PS3 and one of my friends both an XBOX to compare.

Console games have limited bandwidth beyond 720P on games. We all know what we can do with PC games. I play games at high settings @ 1080P and above which console game machines can't do at this time.


It's your choice and a matter of personal preference.