Here is how I imagine my HTPC how would I build this? (1 Viewer)

[AaronNWilson]

I currently have the hardware side of the HTPC pretty much figured out. I want to able to have a HTPC sit in between 2 recliners and have some sort of a swing out monitor, possibly a 10-15inch lcd monitor. Where could I go to find a 10 inch LCD such as seems to be getting installed in cars/suvs these days.
I would imagine that since the HTPC would be situated between 2 recliners that this could also double as a drinks table.
It would be nice to also be able to sit back and listen to some mp3s without having to fire up the projector and waste precious bulb hours (hence the lcd on a swingout). So I guess I would also need a wireless keyboard and mouse.
Is it ok to just sit these things on your lap or do you need some sort of a surface for them?
What about the DVD drive?
Should it just sit within the HTPC tower or should it be somehow be placed at the top of the drinks table?
Just some ideas ive been pondering, I not sure how to build such things but I know what it is that I want.
If someone else could figure it out I could probably put it into action.
Aaron

 

[Max Malloy]

I think that's a waste of money. A good LCD can cost quite a bit and i'm not sure if you would end up saving money in the long run. Think about it, how does it take you to fire up Winamp and click play (assuming your playlist is ready)? And besides, wouldn't you want to enjoy all those visualization plugins while listening?
As for the table, get something like this:
http://www.comforthouse.com/comfort/vertabstan.html
It's not meant to be used for HT, but if you repaint the chassis, it will fit right in. That's what i'm getting.

 

[Phu Vo]

As far as giving your HTPC double duty as a drink table, I wouldn't reccommend it. Accidents do happen. Wireless keyboards will work quite nicely on your lap. Wireless mice do not. Which is one of the reasons why I got the Logitech wireless trackball. Works great from my bed where I control my HTPC and NEC LT150. One problem is the range on the Logitech sucks. Thankfully, my room is small. Sounds like your HTPC is going to be right next to you, so you might want to look into picking up a Logitech wireless trackball too.

 

[Camp]

Bizzare...

 

[AaronNWilson]

I dont mean that the actual top surface of the pc is going to be the actual surface the drinks are set apon.
Well its just that i can't be bothered to walk that extra 12' towards the dvd player at the front of the room, it would be so much nicer if the dvd was very close.
12' may not seem like a lot, but the way i imagine this, is that I want to be able to do everything from my seat and make it like a throne.
Ok maybe I'm getting carried away

but who cares this is the way I think I wanna do it.
I have seen some people put HTPCs into rack mount cases, but those little cases are just simply annoying for servicing.
I guess I could take some course on how to make nice furniture joints then I could make this pc hushbox/drinks table myself.
Aaron

 

[NickSo]

Think about it, how does it take you to fire up Winamp and click play (assuming your playlist is ready)?

Well, leaving it on for a long time will make the bulb last longer than switching it on and off finding songs for winamp... Sure the bulb says like 500 hours or something, but when they test it, they leave it on 24/7, they dont turn it off.. The ON/Off switching is what wears it down..
Think about it, whats more common, a bulb burning out while its on, or a bulb burning out the second you switch on the light switch? Same idea...
So the frequent powering on of the bulb cant be good for it and the projector itself
------------------
The So Family Home Theater!
http://www.multimania.com/sonick182/ht/index.html
You're all entitled to your opinion, but you're all wrong!!! - Paul Dalmine
ICQ: 8593599

 

[Sam C]

Ok ... I may have some ideas that will help you ...
The items you will need in addition to your HTPC are ...
Wireless keyboard
Phillips Pronto (Or some similar 'smart' remote)
4X40 LCD Display (Other sizes will work also)
There's a plugin that will allow you to run Winamp and get the display on a small LCD ... You have to create a plug for it but it wires into your parallel port(printer) ... Take a look at this
Link Removed to see what you can configure the output to look like ...
If you don't like this display you can get a number of great quality lower cost LCD displays for around 150 bucks ... They'd be in the 5-6 inch area ...
Then you could get a wireless keyboard and leave it near your dvd player ... You set up your pronto to 'talk' to your wireless keyboard receiver just like it's the keyboard ... This is good because if you really want to use your keyboard you still can ... You can also create a number of macros to do things such as ensure proper shutdown ...
I have built 2 of these built(no pictures yet) on ideas that are similar ... One will get installed in my Truck and one will get installed in an old CD player case and use the buttons on the cd player case to control it ... It will also run Winamp as it's shell rather than Windows ...
OK ... Now for a totally different idea ... Do you have a laptop ??? If not you could buy soemthing old like a Toshiba Libretto which is small or a Toshiba Portege fairly cheap ...
You could network you PC's ... Then you would access your HTPC via the laptop ... Never have to turn on the Projector and still be using the HTPC to play your MP3's ... This is something I do ... I have all my MP3's located on a server ... I can access them from any of the 6 pc's or 2 laptop's in my house ...
Don't want to buy a laptop ... Buy a Netpliance I-Opener ... This would entail hacking it or gettign someone to hack it for you ...
Now all that being said I could come up with 10 more ideas ... C'mon ppl dream a little ...
Give me an email if you're wondering about the ideas I've mentioned ...
------------------
"I will drop-kick those f#$%ing dogs if they come near me."
Frank T.J. Mackey ... Magnolia
[Edited last by Sam C on November 11, 2001 at 02:15 PM]

 

[Glenn Overholt]

Icksnay (did I spell that pig Latin right?) on the drink table. As you want something unique, here goes.
Don't get a tower. Get an old style horizontal case, like they had for the original IBM's. You can set the monitor on top of it, and have a pull out tray for the keyboard and mouse below it, and put this whole thing on a cart with wheels. Then get a video card with an output that you can plug into your TV.
Glenn

 

[AaronNWilson]

Well I like the idea of having a HP jornada 720 (or580)connected to a wireless network controlling the HTPC which is also on the network but would be connected via ethernet obviously. However I would also need probably like a small 6 inch LCD unit connected to the HTPC for trouble shooting.
Aaron