What about a PC based theatre?

[M.D.]

I have a bunch of left over PC stuff; Sony RDU-710 and such that I am
thinking of installing in a theatre type case to use as our theatre along
with a Sound Blaster Audigy card.
I just bought a set of Logitech Z-5500 and I am really impressed for the
price!!!! I am thinking of using these in the living room for watching
DVD's. These are way too much for the office room we have!!!!! Kind of
wasted in a 12' x 12' room!!!
Anyone use a pc based player as their theatre equipment?
I am still working out the logistics of the installation. Really don't
want to have to put a keyboard on the TV or a mouse for that matter!!!!

Pros and cons?
Reason I want to do this is I already have all the PC stuff and I'd like
to put it to use and I really don't want any more stuff in living room
(satellites would be ok, but bigger speakers are out).
I don't care for state of the art here, just a nice surround sound
experience

I did a Google search, but didn't seem to come up with much, maybe used
the wrong keywords......

Mike & Family

[nedtovak]

M.D. wrote:
> I have a bunch of left over PC stuff; Sony RDU-710 and such that I am
> thinking of installing in a theatre type case to use as our theatre along
> with a Sound Blaster Audigy card.
> I just bought a set of Logitech Z-5500 and I am really impressed for the
> price!!!! I am thinking of using these in the living room for watching
> DVD's. These are way too much for the office room we have!!!!! Kind of
> wasted in a 12' x 12' room!!!
> Anyone use a pc based player as their theatre equipment?
> I am still working out the logistics of the installation. Really don't
> want to have to put a keyboard on the TV or a mouse for that matter!!!!
>
> Pros and cons?
> Reason I want to do this is I already have all the PC stuff and I'd like
> to put it to use and I really don't want any more stuff in living room
> (satellites would be ok, but bigger speakers are out).
> I don't care for state of the art here, just a nice surround sound
> experience
>
> I did a Google search, but didn't seem to come up with much, maybe used
> the wrong keywords......
>
> Mike & Family
>
>


Actually that is very common nowadays. You should check out
http://www.avsforum.com/ click on forums then HTPC.

Teds

[Clams Canino]

Actually , I'm embarking on the same project with front projection. PC
based cinema quality is still a bit "experimental" for the masses... I'm
having trouble finding all the clues.

-W

"nedtovak" <tdstr@time2diespammer.com> wrote in message
news:41e7ff48$0$82355> Actually that is very common nowadays. You should
check out
> http://www.avsforum.com/ click on forums then HTPC.
>
> Teds
>

[Pagan]

"M.D." <mroberts40@NOSPAMhouston.rr.com> wrote in message
news:fOSFd.3160$Z%.1584@fe1.texas.rr.com...
> I have a bunch of left over PC stuff; Sony RDU-710 and such that I am
> thinking of installing in a theatre type case to use as our theatre along
> with a Sound Blaster Audigy card.
> I just bought a set of Logitech Z-5500 and I am really impressed for
the
> price!!!! I am thinking of using these in the living room for watching
> DVD's. These are way too much for the office room we have!!!!! Kind of
> wasted in a 12' x 12' room!!!
> Anyone use a pc based player as their theatre equipment?
> I am still working out the logistics of the installation. Really don't
> want to have to put a keyboard on the TV or a mouse for that matter!!!!

You can use a wireless keyboard, mouse (Logitech), and remote (ATI). Throw
them in a cabinet or a bottom shelf of a coffee table or whatnot, and pull
them out when you need to.

> Pros and cons?

If you build your own, you can use either a small or full size standard PC,
or what some call a Small Form Factor (SFF) system by Shuttle, FIC, or MSI.

There are many pros and cons, too many for me to list in one post. Some
are:

Pros

Cost comparable to a medium to high end stereo
Store all your CD's, and some or all of your movies, on the hard drive,
saving space
More functions than a stereo, such as internet, games, and so on
PVR functions, burn DVD's and CD's
Usually smaller than component stereos, VCR, DVD
With the right gear, can 'broadcast' sound and video to any computer in the
house
Plenty of support on-line
Impress your friends (male geek types)

Cons

Can be VERY complicated to use. Don't count on just picking up a remote and
pressing Play
For something usable, plan on spending at least $1,000 on the computer alone
Even cheap stereos don't lock up or crash (if you don't have a standard DVD
player and/or tuner, bummer)
Usually crummy picture from PC's to TV's, unless you have an HDTV
Need a fairly high speed computer, using noisy fans for cooling
If something goes wrong, getting help on line means waiting on someone
else's schedule
Still will need cable or satallite box if you have one
Technology is not mature
Hard to impress folks when computer locks up half way through Terminator 3

If you mainly watch DVD's and you want surround sound, you may want to
consider buying a high end DVD player with built-in outputs for surround
sound. Buy the appropriate connectors so you can hook up your speakers, and
you 'may' be set. You can use your TV's built-in speaker for the "center"
channel, if your TV has an input for it. It'll be a little funky getting
the volume just right with the TV and speakers, but that's probably the
cheapest route you can take for surround sound.

> Reason I want to do this is I already have all the PC stuff and I'd
like
> to put it to use and I really don't want any more stuff in living room
> (satellites would be ok, but bigger speakers are out).
> I don't care for state of the art here, just a nice surround sound
> experience
>
> I did a Google search, but didn't seem to come up with much, maybe
used
> the wrong keywords......

Try these:

HTPC (Home Theater PC)
VIVO (Video In Video Out)
AIW or All In Wonder

Good luck,

Pagan

[Lucas Tam]

"dg" <dan_gus@hotmail.com> wrote in
news:KIxGd.2379$8Z1.224@newssvr14.news.prodigy.com :

> "Lucas Tam" <REMOVEnntp@rogers.com> wrote in message
> news:Xns95E07F735FD70nntprogerscom@140.99.99.130.. .
>> The new 499.99 Mini-Macs look like a good HTPC contender. Does anyone
>> know of any decent HTPC softwrae for Macs?
>
> Exactly the problem. Its too bad really, all of the macs I have dealt
> with lately have been really well thought out as far as hardware goes.
> And they look really cool. I would like to own one myself but I
> could never bring myself to spending money on one when I KNOW what I
> can get in a PC for the same money.

Apple should really release a Media PC add-on for the new mini-macs. It
seems that HTPCs is one application that Apple has thought of for the new
Macs because they advertise a DVI to Composite adapter for the Macs (too
bad it's not component, but still better than nothing).

If only the mini-Macs had software... I bet Apple could blow away Windows
Media PC or any PC variation of HTPC software.

--
Lucas Tam (REMOVEnntp@rogers.com)
Please delete "REMOVE" from the e-mail address when replying.
http://members.ebay.com/aboutme/coolspot18/

[COneilliv]

I use avsforum.com most of the time. You can also check www.thegreenbutton.com
(for windows MCE), and www.remotecentral.com for custom installation stuff as
well as remote control questions.

CJ

[Lucas Tam]

"Clams Canino" <nowayhose@nospam.net> wrote in
news:nRSGd.1597$Rs.532@newsread3.news.atl.earthlin k.net:

> Really? So far I've found it to be a relatively useless board that
> points you to broken archives or had 500 post dedicated threads on a
> given device/system that you would need to wade through to cull any
> real information. I could hire a private tutor cheaper than the time I
> might burn there trying to use a clue rake to find the clues.

Just wondering where else are you going to get any good information?

You have to be an active part of the forum to gain any real benefits.

--
Lucas Tam (REMOVEnntp@rogers.com)
Please delete "REMOVE" from the e-mail address when replying.
http://members.ebay.com/aboutme/coolspot18/

[Lucas Tam]

Karyudo <karyudo_usenet@yahoo.com.remove.me> wrote in
news:tc3pu09j1o0cmr76rp0sgbd3q05mvn8ouj@4ax.com:

> AVS has a policy *not* to
> allow posting of the information people want most (i.e. where to get
> something, and where to get it cheaply), and its use of stickies is
> woefully inadequate.

One thing I don't like about AVS is that they censor negative comments
about their advertisers. When Roku, maker of the pitful PhotoBridge first
released their product, I made a couple of comments about how willing
people were to pay to beta test a product and that this what not the way
for a company to do business... My posts were quickly deleted and removed
for being off topic. Anyhow, about a year later now... AVS is full of
negative posts towards Roku - I was absolutely right in my predictions : )

--
Lucas Tam (REMOVEnntp@rogers.com)
Please delete "REMOVE" from the e-mail address when replying.
http://members.ebay.com/aboutme/coolspot18/

[dg]

"Pagan" <DirtySanchez@chonch.com> wrote in message
news:10ugp71m9mrqie3@corp.supernews.com...
> Can be VERY complicated to use. Don't count on just picking up a remote
and
> pressing Play
> For something usable, plan on spending at least $1,000 on the computer
alone
> Even cheap stereos don't lock up or crash (if you don't have a standard
DVD
> player and/or tuner, bummer)
> Usually crummy picture from PC's to TV's, unless you have an HDTV
> Need a fairly high speed computer, using noisy fans for cooling

I have built a pretty cool HTPC for much less than $1000, less than $500 for
the basic PC, a little more for a HD tuner card and fancy HTPC remote. Its
based on a Shuttle SS51G P4 2.26GHz. The 2.26 cpu is really cheap and
plenty fast, the shuttle uses a "heat pipe" cooler and is very quiet, its
also inside a glass doored TV stand.

However, I will agree it is VERY complicated and I would not recommend it to
anybody unless they are truly a tech geek.

> Hard to impress folks when computer locks up half way through Terminator 3

Really, if you have gotten so far as to have Terminator 3 playing on your
TV, lockups are probably from some flaky hardware. Get things nailed down
tight before trying to impress people.

--Dan

[nedtovak]

Karyudo wrote:
> On Mon, 17 Jan 2005 12:42:10 -0600, nedtovak
> <tdstr@time2diespammer.com> wrote:
>
>
>>Clams Canino wrote:
>>
>>>Really? So far I've found it to be a relatively useless board that points
>>>you to broken archives or had 500 post dedicated threads on a given
>>>device/system that you would need to wade through to cull any real
>>>information. I could hire a private tutor cheaper than the time I might burn
>>>there trying to use a clue rake to find the clues.
>>>
>>>-W
>>
>>Actually I found it to be the exact opposite of your experiences.
>>
>>Ted
>
>
> Not sure what board you're looking at, Ted, 'cause Clams is just about
> spot-on. AVS needs *serious* moderation, which it does not get. The
> search engine is pitiful (that's vBulletin's fault, mostly, but AVS
> does its best to worsen the situation), AVS has a policy *not* to
> allow posting of the information people want most (i.e. where to get
> something, and where to get it cheaply), and its use of stickies is
> woefully inadequate.
>
> And that's from someone who *likes* AVS.

Hell, then I must be lucky. I agree that it's a bit clumsy and slow at
times but my searches have pretty much turned up what I was looking for.

Do you know of a good alternative to avsforum?

Teds

[Lucas Tam]

"dg" <dan_gus@hotmail.com> wrote in
news:UXeGd.2057$8Z1.1606@newssvr14.news.prodigy.co m:

>> Hard to impress folks when computer locks up half way through
>> Terminator 3
>
> Really, if you have gotten so far as to have Terminator 3 playing on
> your TV, lockups are probably from some flaky hardware. Get things
> nailed down tight before trying to impress people.

Yes, but as you know, with HTPCs... things always seem to go wrong at the
worst possible time : )

--
Lucas Tam (REMOVEnntp@rogers.com)
Please delete "REMOVE" from the e-mail address when replying.
http://members.ebay.com/aboutme/coolspot18/

[Lucas Tam]

"dg" <dan_gus@hotmail.com> wrote in
news:UXeGd.2057$8Z1.1606@newssvr14.news.prodigy.co m:

>> Hard to impress folks when computer locks up half way through
>> Terminator 3
>
> Really, if you have gotten so far as to have Terminator 3 playing on
> your TV, lockups are probably from some flaky hardware. Get things
> nailed down tight before trying to impress people.

Yes, but as you know, with HTPCs... things always seem to go wrong at the
worst possible time : ) Nature of Windows I guess.

The new 499.99 Mini-Macs look like a good HTPC contender. Does anyone know
of any decent HTPC softwrae for Macs?

--
Lucas Tam (REMOVEnntp@rogers.com)
Please delete "REMOVE" from the e-mail address when replying.
http://members.ebay.com/aboutme/coolspot18/

[dg]

"Lucas Tam" <REMOVEnntp@rogers.com> wrote in message
news:Xns95E07F735FD70nntprogerscom@140.99.99.130.. .
> The new 499.99 Mini-Macs look like a good HTPC contender. Does anyone know
> of any decent HTPC softwrae for Macs?

Exactly the problem. Its too bad really, all of the macs I have dealt with
lately have been really well thought out as far as hardware goes. And they
look really cool. I would like to own one myself but I could never bring
myself to spending money on one when I KNOW what I can get in a PC for the
same money.

--Dan

[Eclipsme]

Not to get *too* of topic <grin> but I have said for years that if Apple saw
itself as a software company and not a hardware company, their OS would have
supplanted MS DOS, and now MS Windows years ago. They really need to port
Mac OS to the Intel chip. A good OS on an inexpensive, upgradeable,
ubiquitous platform. Sounds like a winner to me.

Harvey

> > "Lucas Tam" <REMOVEnntp@rogers.com> wrote in message
> > news:Xns95E07F735FD70nntprogerscom@140.99.99.130.. .
> >> The new 499.99 Mini-Macs look like a good HTPC contender. Does anyone
> >> know of any decent HTPC softwrae for Macs?
> >
> > Exactly the problem. Its too bad really, all of the macs I have dealt
> > with lately have been really well thought out as far as hardware goes.
> > And they look really cool. I would like to own one myself but I
> > could never bring myself to spending money on one when I KNOW what I
> > can get in a PC for the same money.
>
> Apple should really release a Media PC add-on for the new mini-macs. It
> seems that HTPCs is one application that Apple has thought of for the new
> Macs because they advertise a DVI to Composite adapter for the Macs (too
> bad it's not component, but still better than nothing).
>
> If only the mini-Macs had software... I bet Apple could blow away Windows
> Media PC or any PC variation of HTPC software.
>
> --
> Lucas Tam (REMOVEnntp@rogers.com)
> Please delete "REMOVE" from the e-mail address when replying.
> http://members.ebay.com/aboutme/coolspot18/

[Lucas Tam]

"Eclipsme" <none@noisp.no> wrote in
news:bUOGd.60541$zy6.47499@bignews5.bellsouth.net:

> Not to get *too* of topic <grin> but I have said for years that if
> Apple saw itself as a software company and not a hardware company,
> their OS would have supplanted MS DOS, and now MS Windows years ago.
> They really need to port Mac OS to the Intel chip. A good OS on an
> inexpensive, upgradeable, ubiquitous platform. Sounds like a winner to
> me.

I totally agree.

But I guess Microsoft's "investment" in Apple a couple years ago must of
shot down any possiblity of MacOS X on Intel/AMD : (

--
Lucas Tam (REMOVEnntp@rogers.com)
Please delete "REMOVE" from the e-mail address when replying.
http://members.ebay.com/aboutme/coolspot18/

[Clams Canino]

"nedtovak" <tdstr@time2diespammer.com> wrote in message
news:41e7ff48$0$82355
> Actually that is very common nowadays. You should check out
> http://www.avsforum.com/ click on forums then HTPC.
>
> Teds

Really? So far I've found it to be a relatively useless board that points
you to broken archives or had 500 post dedicated threads on a given
device/system that you would need to wade through to cull any real
information. I could hire a private tutor cheaper than the time I might burn
there trying to use a clue rake to find the clues.

-W

>

[Pete C.]

I keep reminding my Mac fan friends that Apple putting their UI on top
of a stable Unix core was the first step towards them entering the
"commodity OS" arena. A few years down the road you'll be able to buy a
cheap generic Itanium (or clone) based PC and then go to the OS isle and
chose between Windows, Mac, Linux, VMS and numerous other OS's that will
all run on the same generic hardware platform.

Remember back when you had to pay a small fortune for a lousy Ethernet
card for a Mac since they were non standard? Now that the whole computer
industry has gone PCI You can use the same $30 Ethernet card in your PC,
Mac, Alpha, IBM pxxx, Sun Ultra whatever, etc. From desktop to
enterprise class, the same hardware components.

Cheap generic hardware and a wide choice of OS's that don't lock you
into a proprietary hardware platform is the best place for consumers.

Pete C.


Lucas Tam wrote:
>
> "Eclipsme" <none@noisp.no> wrote in
> news:bUOGd.60541$zy6.47499@bignews5.bellsouth.net:
>
> > Not to get *too* of topic <grin> but I have said for years that if
> > Apple saw itself as a software company and not a hardware company,
> > their OS would have supplanted MS DOS, and now MS Windows years ago.
> > They really need to port Mac OS to the Intel chip. A good OS on an
> > inexpensive, upgradeable, ubiquitous platform. Sounds like a winner to
> > me.
>
> I totally agree.
>
> But I guess Microsoft's "investment" in Apple a couple years ago must of
> shot down any possiblity of MacOS X on Intel/AMD : (
>
> --
> Lucas Tam (REMOVEnntp@rogers.com)
> Please delete "REMOVE" from the e-mail address when replying.
> http://members.ebay.com/aboutme/coolspot18/

[nedtovak]

Clams Canino wrote:
> "nedtovak" <tdstr@time2diespammer.com> wrote in message
> news:41e7ff48$0$82355
>
>>Actually that is very common nowadays. You should check out
>>http://www.avsforum.com/ click on forums then HTPC.
>>
>>Teds
>
>
> Really? So far I've found it to be a relatively useless board that points
> you to broken archives or had 500 post dedicated threads on a given
> device/system that you would need to wade through to cull any real
> information. I could hire a private tutor cheaper than the time I might burn
> there trying to use a clue rake to find the clues.
>
> -W
>
>

Actually I found it to be the exact opposite of your experiences.

Ted

[Karyudo]

On Mon, 17 Jan 2005 12:42:10 -0600, nedtovak
<tdstr@time2diespammer.com> wrote:

>Clams Canino wrote:
>> Really? So far I've found it to be a relatively useless board that points
>> you to broken archives or had 500 post dedicated threads on a given
>> device/system that you would need to wade through to cull any real
>> information. I could hire a private tutor cheaper than the time I might burn
>> there trying to use a clue rake to find the clues.
>>
>> -W
>
>Actually I found it to be the exact opposite of your experiences.
>
>Ted

Not sure what board you're looking at, Ted, 'cause Clams is just about
spot-on. AVS needs *serious* moderation, which it does not get. The
search engine is pitiful (that's vBulletin's fault, mostly, but AVS
does its best to worsen the situation), AVS has a policy *not* to
allow posting of the information people want most (i.e. where to get
something, and where to get it cheaply), and its use of stickies is
woefully inadequate.

And that's from someone who *likes* AVS.

[Clams Canino]

He must have a lot of time to read and keep up with that
board.....fragmented is an understatement.

That said, I found a few helpfull souls there. It takes a special person to
answer the same stupid questions over and over and over.....

-W

"Karyudo" <karyudo_usenet@yahoo.com.remove.me> wrote in message
news:tc3pu09j1o0cmr76rp0sgbd3q05mvn8ouj@4ax.com...
> On Mon, 17 Jan 2005 12:42:10 -0600, nedtovak
> <tdstr@time2diespammer.com> wrote:
>
> >Clams Canino wrote:
> >> Really? So far I've found it to be a relatively useless board that
points
> >> you to broken archives or had 500 post dedicated threads on a given
> >> device/system that you would need to wade through to cull any real
> >> information. I could hire a private tutor cheaper than the time I might
burn
> >> there trying to use a clue rake to find the clues.
> >>
> >> -W
> >
> >Actually I found it to be the exact opposite of your experiences.
> >
> >Ted
>
> Not sure what board you're looking at, Ted, 'cause Clams is just about
> spot-on. AVS needs *serious* moderation, which it does not get. The
> search engine is pitiful (that's vBulletin's fault, mostly, but AVS
> does its best to worsen the situation), AVS has a policy *not* to
> allow posting of the information people want most (i.e. where to get
> something, and where to get it cheaply), and its use of stickies is
> woefully inadequate.
>
> And that's from someone who *likes* AVS.

[Karyudo]

On Tue, 18 Jan 2005 10:51:28 -0600, nedtovak
<tdstr@time2diespammer.com> wrote:

>Karyudo wrote:
>> [my own trash talk snipped]
>>
>> And that's from someone who *likes* AVS.
>
>Hell, then I must be lucky. I agree that it's a bit clumsy and slow at
>times but my searches have pretty much turned up what I was looking for.

I'll tell ya: I really do like the place. I've even had decent results
searching now and again. But I have also had a hell of a time trying
to find something specific that I *know* is there somewhere, and
haven't had much luck. What vBulletin needs is Google-style searching.
Or, better yet, really powerful Boolean stuff, like Delphion (a patent
database).

[By the way, I don't just bitch about it here: I actually sent some
constructive criticism to vBulletin themselves. I got a "thanks, but
we think we're OK"-type e-mail in reply. Ingrates.]

My recent strategy has been to do a fairly cursory search, and, when I
don't find what I want, post my specific question without caring too
too much that it may have been asked and answered before. And in so
doing I've had some incredibly fast and accurate replies on AVS, from
people who know their stuff. It's not how I believe a forum should
really work (questions should be asked and answered in just one place,
and thereafter be easy to find), but that seems to be the way AVS is
"organized".

I just wish there was just a little more summarization,
categorization, and stickyization goin' on.

>Do you know of a good alternative to avsforum?

No! I'm glad to see some other people are making suggestions, though.
The next closest sort of thing I've found is Home Theater Forums, but
that's not quite the same.