Why a HTPC (1 Viewer)

[warrick]

Hi,
Please forgive my lack of knowledge but why a HTPC isn't this just an expensive DVD player
Could someone please explain the advantage for me

Warrick

 

[Scott L]

Running a search will give you many more reasons but the best one is because you can have a PC scale a DVD to the native resolution of a projector. Looks fantastic from what I hear. Plus HTPCs make it easy to get rid of the region coding.

 

[JJR512]

Can you be more specific about getting rid of region coding? The DVD-ROM drive I have (the Toshiba SD-M1612) is set to Region 1, and it says I can only change it a limited number of times (four more), and the last change will be absolutely permanent. According to what it says on the DVD Region tab of the drive's Properties page from the Device Manager, anyway.

 

[Chad Ellinger]

Justin,

There are a number of software programs (e.g. Remote Selector) out there that let you change the region code of your DVD-ROM without the 5 time restriction.

 

[Max Leung]

HTPC aren't limited to DVD watching!

I don't usually watch DVDs on my HTPC, but I play my computer games on it...with an nForce motherboard I can play most of my games with DD5.1 surround sound, just like the XBox. This is far far better than using tinny crapola computer speakers. The immersion is incredible.

When I want to watch a movie, I just wheel the computer to the side, and watch them the old-fashioned way. Although I suspect if I get a non-region 1 disc, I'd have to use my HTPC, but so far I haven't found the need yet.

 

[Vince Maskeeper]

Most importantly (and in my opinion the real purpose of HTPC) is the quality of scaling. If you use a real hi-def display device, you should be adjusting DVD input to the native res for best picture--- and HTPC offers the best scale quality to dollar ratio on the planet...
Or, as I explained it back in Aug 2001:
See also a few of the first dozen times someone asked this question:
http://www.hometheaterforum.com/htfo...threadid=72293
http://www.hometheaterforum.com/htfo...threadid=45001
http://www.hometheaterforum.com/htfo...&threadid=5221
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...51&perpage=999
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...77&perpage=999

 

[Danny R]

More reasons to get a HTPC:

capture HDTV. No PVR on market does this right now (without resolution loss).

I'm building a terrabyte server which I intend to use as a complete audio and video library holding HDTV, DVD and MP3 files.

 

[Kieran Coghlan]

What is the best hardware/software combo right now, to use to capture/record/timeshift HDTV? What format (mpeg2?) does it save the data in?

Thanks,

 

[Larry Seno Jr.]

DO A SEARCH.

 

[Danny R]

There are a number of HDTV capture cards, each with its own software. If I recall, the video is stored in a proprietary format to prevent dissemination. You can only play it back if you have the same type of card in your computer.

However you can downgrade the signal and get it into a more traditional format if you like... but then its no longer HDTV.

 

[warrick]

Thanks all for the info
It looks like I will investigate this further when a projector is added to my hardware

I did do a search originally but ended up with a lot of results most of them not specific enough
Maybe I wasn't searching for the right things

Anyway maybe this subject can be added to the Newbies FAQ's

Regards

Warrick