I just heard Ivy Bridge is postponed from the expected Spring until Summer.
Doesn't really affect me, but I won't make any plans around it
Doesn't really affect me, but I won't make any plans around it
Originally Posted by DaveF /t/317288/2012-multi-room-htpc/60#post_4018971
Where does the time go?
I may have to give up on an HTPC. What I want seems impossible. After reading about HTPCs the past year, conversations here and on AVS, playing some on my Mac with a borrowed HomeRun Prime, and following the Ceton Echo beta and early reviews, I can't find an HTPC configuration that does what I need.
I have two basic goals:
* Whole house DVR (centralized programming of 4+ tuners on master device, with DVR / playback in other rooms)
* Whole house Movies / TV series (centralized storage of DVD & Blu-ray rips with playback of movies and special features, at original disc quality, in other rooms)
These two desires are at odds with each other. For the DVR, I need to use extenders (Xbox or Echo). I can't use satellite HTPCs; they require dedicated tuners, individual programming and storage. Worse, they can't stream recorded shows to each other (assuming the copy-flag is set by the cable providers. But for movie streaming, I need satellite HTPCs, since extenders can't play ripped discs (or even high bit rate transcodes).
My disc watching is apparently unconventional, but easy to explain: I enjoy special features and commentaries.
I've got three seasons of Community on DVD, unopened. I want to feed those into a (hypothetical) HTPC in the basement. I'll watch them in the bedroom, episodes, and then with commentaries. I also have Band of Brothers and The Pacific on Blu-ray, unopened. I want to feed those into a basement HTPC, and watch in the living room, through the SVS speakers; and then watch the historical, making-of, etc. special features. The only solution I've found with 7MC is full disc rips and satellite PCs.
The Ceton InfiniTV and Echo are on sale for $50 off (bundled) right now. I'd buy if I knew I could make that combo do what I've described. Unfortunately, as it is, I see the HTPC being more dream than reality for my interests.
I could build a movie / disc-only solution with prime and satellite PCs. But it's a lot of money and effort for half a solution, and I'm still spending a big chunk to upgrade the Tivos to get a 4 tuner system.
Is my assessment correct? Or are there solutions I've missed or misunderstood?