Set Top Boxes vs. HTPC vs. Net Tops vs. Blu-Ray with apps vs. DVR's with apps

[bjammin502]

Hello All,

I have been trying to sort through the mounds of post from the various tech discussions and I just can't seem to find consistancy. I embrace technology and love, to a point, to tinker with it but find myself less enthusiastic about spending hard earned money and wasting time on stuff that just doesn't work. My thoughts are that if I spend time reading these types of forums that I would find a "magical product" that does everything.....does it exist? Maybe the Popcorn hour or the new Popbox is it?

My Goal 1: Have a box that plays anything I want (the future, in my opinion, is IP based source data: Netflicks, You Tube, Facebook, Twitter, VUDU, HULU, and whatever else that is new. I want to play digital music I own, digital movies I own, internet applications like I mentioned above, live TV likely through a cable card.

My Goal 2: Eliminate the monthly cable company DVR rental fee. Willing to pay the $3/month for the cable card

My Goal 3: Need a device that has component video and digital audio. My system doesn't have HDMI since its about 5 years old. Pisses me off regarding the recent ruling to eliminate analog due to DRM, this will ultimately cost me thousands of dollars without any benefit.

Briefly about my setup: Theater in the basement with a central set of components controlable via IR repeater system through a Marantz RC5400 programable remote. Windows Home Server (WHS) in the closet with plenty of hard drive space (and can add more if necessary).

I need a device that bridges the gap between my computer network and my AV network. The challenge I always run into is controlling the device and the GUI all from my Marantz RC5400.

Products that have caught my eye:
1. Popbox & Popcorn hour: Popbox is supose to work out of the box and sounds like it won't have much customization but will it be too limiting? I have seen some very nice videos of the popcorn hour showing YAMJ but I am no programmer so is it something I can really do?

2. XBMC: Sounds like this is an OS, am I correct? Can you load this OS on any box? Sounds like it was originally developed for Xbox 360 as a beefed up extender but some say extenders are dead, are they?

3. Are HTPC's dead? What are the benefits of having a PC instead of a set top box? How due Net Tops fit into all of this?

4. HD Homerun cable card device: seems like the ideal device to add live TV to the Popbox or Popcorn Hour, think this will work? Thoughts are that the HD Homerun cable card device would stream live TV to my WHS and the Popbox/Popcorn Hour would display on the TV.

5. What about the new Xbox 360 with Natal....wow, why aren't people talking about this. This has to be the slickest thing I have seen.

6. My final thought/statement: why aren't people talking about the Popcorn Hour or Popbox, seems like the perfect box. Heck add a cable card slot and it will do it all.

I will quit rambling but I look forward to hearing what other have to say. What is the ideal setup? Is there an ideal setup? What is easy to use and maintain?

[BORIStheBLADE]

(03-22-2010 05:51 PM)bjammin502 Wrote:  Hello All,

I have been trying to sort through the mounds of post from the various tech discussions and I just can't seem to find consistancy. I embrace technology and love, to a point, to tinker with it but find myself less enthusiastic about spending hard earned money and wasting time on stuff that just doesn't work. My thoughts are that if I spend time reading these types of forums that I would find a "magical product" that does everything.....does it exist? Maybe the Popcorn hour or the new Popbox is it?

My Goal 1: Have a box that plays anything I want (the future, in my opinion, is IP based source data: Netflicks, You Tube, Facebook, Twitter, VUDU, HULU, and whatever else that is new. I want to play digital music I own, digital movies I own, internet applications like I mentioned above, live TV likely through a cable card.

My Goal 2: Eliminate the monthly cable company DVR rental fee. Willing to pay the $3/month for the cable card

My Goal 3: Need a device that has component video and digital audio. My system doesn't have HDMI since its about 5 years old. Pisses me off regarding the recent ruling to eliminate analog due to DRM, this will ultimately cost me thousands of dollars without any benefit.

Briefly about my setup: Theater in the basement with a central set of components controlable via IR repeater system through a Marantz RC5400 programable remote. Windows Home Server (WHS) in the closet with plenty of hard drive space (and can add more if necessary).

I need a device that bridges the gap between my computer network and my AV network. The challenge I always run into is controlling the device and the GUI all from my Marantz RC5400.

Products that have caught my eye:
1. Popbox & Popcorn hour: Popbox is supose to work out of the box and sounds like it won't have much customization but will it be too limiting? I have seen some very nice videos of the popcorn hour showing YAMJ but I am no programmer so is it something I can really do?

All the info about the Popbox hasn't come out yet so its hard to get any answers regarding it. YAMJ can be done if you can follow the tutorials people have already put on the forum.

2. XBMC: Sounds like this is an OS, am I correct? Can you load this OS on any box? Sounds like it was originally developed for Xbox 360 as a beefed up extender but some say extenders are dead, are they?

XBMC is software put onto a OS. It can run on Linux, Windows and OSX.

3. Are HTPC's dead? What are the benefits of having a PC instead of a set top box? How due Net Tops fit into all of this?

Nettops are used as streamer and you can also store some media on them.

4. HD Homerun cable card device: seems like the ideal device to add live TV to the Popbox or Popcorn Hour, think this will work? Thoughts are that the HD Homerun cable card device would stream live TV to my WHS and the Popbox/Popcorn Hour would display on the TV.

I don't think this will happen with the Popbox. Thread for PCH. http://www.networkedmediatank.com/showth...hdhomerun.

5. What about the new Xbox 360 with Natal....wow, why aren't people talking about this. This has to be the slickest thing I have seen.

Streaming with a Xbox 360 is crippled. You can only play a handful of files.

6. My final thought/statement: why aren't people talking about the Popcorn Hour or Popbox, seems like the perfect box. Heck add a cable card slot and it will do it all.

I will quit rambling but I look forward to hearing what other have to say. What is the ideal setup? Is there an ideal setup? What is easy to use and maintain?

[tinyhands]

This was too much for me, I stopped reading. One question at a time, else I choose one at random to answer.

Are HTPCs dead? No, but they don't get any support from these forums.

[entertainman]

Honestly, based on your goals alone it seems like a mac mini, though somewhat expensive would be flexible for your needs. If you get Boxee software, you should get the functionality of an htpc/ media streamer /. Set top box. You could get elegato's eyetv for dvr functionality and of course you could install apps. What sold me on the pch c-200 is its blu-ray capability and hd audio ( which the mini doesn't currently offer.