Comments on: There is no place for a computer in my home theater http://bjdraw.com/2009/01/26/there-is-no-place-for-a-computer-in-my-home-theater/ The great thing about technology is it always gets better Fri, 15 May 2009 18:10:57 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.2.4 By: Ray Casey http://bjdraw.com/2009/01/26/there-is-no-place-for-a-computer-in-my-home-theater/comment-page-1/#comment-1479 Fri, 15 May 2009 18:10:57 +0000 http://bjdraw.com/?p=260#comment-1479 it does not matter where you put the computer, it is all about it “role” vs. where it is. try to do green screen and open source PBX or other things with your xbox. Not going to happen. Also you are not talking about a HOME THEATER in your “living” room. That is why it is your living room… duh! Your ego kills me sometimes :), go intentions but unchecked. Show me ONE SINGLE home theater install running off just and xbox… I guess you are like the it guy that thinks you can run a database on an excel spread sheet 😉

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By: Ivan Y http://bjdraw.com/2009/01/26/there-is-no-place-for-a-computer-in-my-home-theater/comment-page-1/#comment-1099 Wed, 04 Feb 2009 16:32:07 +0000 http://bjdraw.com/?p=260#comment-1099 I guess, VMC extenders are a reasonable solution for people like you who use VMC’s TV recording functionality. But for a good deal of VMC users, inability of extenders to playback content that’s playable inside VMC (by whatever means necessary — codec packs, software) is completely unacceptable.

I’ve been wanting to go the extender route and Sage’s new model is probably as good as it gets (along with PCH and WD TV), but since my PC is a tiny Mac Mini-sized AOpen model, I don’t mind running VMC on it. I used to use a regular Windows MC remote, but ever since I hid the HTPC behind the TV, I’m using Logitech’s DiNovo Mini (Bluetooth tech) which is surprisingly convenient. Even only having 30-second skips in MKV isn’t a big deal and I watch a ton of them.

But, anyway, good luck to you in your transition and let us know how it goes! I’m especially curious how Windows 7 will operate with 360.

P.S. I’m totally with you & everyone else on WHS. It needs to have MC built-in and have hardware/software extender support. I’m really hoping WHS v2 will have that functionality. I mean, if you have all that storage space, it only makes it logical to use it to store very large HD files! 🙂

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By: Clifton Griffin http://bjdraw.com/2009/01/26/there-is-no-place-for-a-computer-in-my-home-theater/comment-page-1/#comment-1092 Sun, 01 Feb 2009 13:52:26 +0000 http://bjdraw.com/?p=260#comment-1092 Ben,
Fair enough. 🙂

You weren’t specific about your jiddery video issue so I assumed it was a general problem with all content, not specific content. I’ve had no issues in this area.

I’ve certainly had issue with finding that perfect relationship between my video card and TV. I have a Vizio LCD which has a slightly higher (1366×768) resolution than 720P and lower than 1080i. I have learned through experience that my TV isn’t fantastic at scaling content. The result always looks a little blurry or detail looks muddled.

Unfortunately, the TV’s HDMI interface does not inform the source about its true resolution. Consequently, my HTPC, XBOX 360, anything else I hook up all send 720P or 1080i and there is really no easy (or hard way that I know of) to correct this.

The only way I can get past this is to use VGA.

Ironically, since writing my original comment I have switched my 360 to VGA to combat this issue and have decided to use it as an extender in the short term as I only have one VGA connection.

It looks great but my TV satisfaction is lower in light of all this.

Regards,
Clif

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By: Ben Drawbaugh http://bjdraw.com/2009/01/26/there-is-no-place-for-a-computer-in-my-home-theater/comment-page-1/#comment-1090 Fri, 30 Jan 2009 19:20:50 +0000 http://bjdraw.com/?p=260#comment-1090 Mike,
For some reason I can’t follow that link. It just says, “You are not authorised to view this resource.”

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By: Mike Garcen (ShadyMG) http://bjdraw.com/2009/01/26/there-is-no-place-for-a-computer-in-my-home-theater/comment-page-1/#comment-1089 Fri, 30 Jan 2009 18:30:14 +0000 http://bjdraw.com/?p=260#comment-1089 Hey Ben, thanks for your dialog. Did you see this: http://www.missingremote.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=3331&Itemid=1

Curious how that changes your feeling at least about 1 of the issues keeping HTPC out of your living room 🙂

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By: Ben Drawbaugh http://bjdraw.com/2009/01/26/there-is-no-place-for-a-computer-in-my-home-theater/comment-page-1/#comment-1083 Thu, 29 Jan 2009 13:28:24 +0000 http://bjdraw.com/?p=260#comment-1083 Clifton,
The overscan problem is with my plasma. My TV makes it VERY easy to turn overscan on and off, so I prefer my sources to not have ANY overscan then I can choose when I want overscan. On top of this any overscan at all means video processing as something is shaving off the lines and I prefer to have ALL my video processing done in my TV, which is why I bought a nice TV. That being said, although I have spent countless hours tweaking VMC and online forums, I have never been able to get my overscan to 0 with my HTPC. Not saying it’s not possible, just saying it is too difficult to achieve.

As for the judder jitter issues. I assure you it isn’t specific to my hardware as it only affects certain content. The issues I’m having are well documented on forums like The Green Button, but no one has a solution.

I’m sure the deNovo edge is a nice piece, but I have no interest in ANY type of input device in my living room just to watch TV.

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By: Ben Drawbaugh http://bjdraw.com/2009/01/26/there-is-no-place-for-a-computer-in-my-home-theater/comment-page-1/#comment-1082 Thu, 29 Jan 2009 13:23:32 +0000 http://bjdraw.com/?p=260#comment-1082 Andrew,
Yes mkv is just a container and the contents can easily be re-encapsulated into more accessible formats, but you might lose things. Like closed captions or even worse DTS sound.

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By: Clifton Griffin http://bjdraw.com/2009/01/26/there-is-no-place-for-a-computer-in-my-home-theater/comment-page-1/#comment-1080 Thu, 29 Jan 2009 05:24:34 +0000 http://bjdraw.com/?p=260#comment-1080 I totally disagree. Extenders impose limits I’m not willing to accept at this point. I want full control, plus I love being able to switch to a browser at will.

The overscan problem is only a problem in Windows proper. Media Center properly compensates and adjusts the placement of controls. This is not a problem at all on LCD/Plasma displays.

I don’t really see the problem with screensavers…why do you need a screensaver? Just use MCE standby tool to configure what conditions the computer can go to a black screen. (It can detect when media center is idle independent of Windows) http://slicksolutions.eu/mst.shtml

As for juttery/jiddery video. I have had 0 problems with this after correcting for poor hardware. In my case I found that my RAM was too slow. I upgraded to a measly 2 GB dual channel and those problems disappeared. At the time I upgraded my video card too being sure this was part of the problem. That video card has since died and I’m back on the onboard Geforce 6150. Turns out media center runs fine even on this slower hardware. If you’re experiencing play back problems it is always going to be a hardware problem.

As for a keyboard and mouse, I rarely use one but if you by a Logitech deNovo edge, you solve the annoyance factor completely. It feels perfectly at home in the living room and allows you to transition from TV mode to PC mode on demand. No fumbling around for a keyboard and mouse.

Sorry to rant. I just hate to see people dismiss the utility of the HTPC. There will always be advantages. Many more so than disadvantages in my opinion.

Clif

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By: Andrew http://bjdraw.com/2009/01/26/there-is-no-place-for-a-computer-in-my-home-theater/comment-page-1/#comment-1079 Thu, 29 Jan 2009 05:16:32 +0000 http://bjdraw.com/?p=260#comment-1079 .mkv files are readily changed into other more accessible formats, right?

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By: Ben Drawbaugh http://bjdraw.com/2009/01/26/there-is-no-place-for-a-computer-in-my-home-theater/comment-page-1/#comment-1076 Wed, 28 Jan 2009 18:42:25 +0000 http://bjdraw.com/?p=260#comment-1076 Josh,
Believe me, I’ve tried every combination there is in regards to the display type setting in VMC, and you correct, the opposite is the one I ended up using, but there is still a few lines of overscan when compared to my linksys dma2100 — I can only tell because my NBC affiliate has 3 lines of yellow on the left during network programming.

It’s been some time since I’ve used a 360, but trust me when I say that if the quality/experience/noise level isn’t better/acceptable, I’ll be quick to switch back.

But as far as a HTPC being better at “ease of use” I’d say it is exactly the opposite.

Yes, I’ve tried media control, couldn’t get it working in 5 minutes so I said forget it.

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