MEDIA CENTER....

GerardC · Jan 30, 2006

Hi RaT. The answers to your questions are....

A = Yes

B = Yes

C = Yes

You can connect any TV signal to the computer. The set-up process is pretty much 1+1= /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif. It walks you right through it step by step and every page has a back or cancel button if you want to double check something or just abort altogether. Good luck and keep me posted.

_RaT_ · Jan 30, 2006

I may just go ahead and get a new computer/mediacenter/take place of a CD/DVD/VHS/darkroom/Tower Records/etc unit now and upgrade to Vista when it arrives. The real problem I have with devices like Yamaha Musiccast or Escient is that they want a whole bunch of dinero for what is really "old technology" save for a fancy easy to use interface. In the end, I will have a computer take the place of all the componets I now have with the exception of the amplifier(s) and make it essentially a single unit based system or (SUBS) as I just now vernacularized. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif Thanks for the input guys, I really do appreciate it.

PS- oh yeah, in the tradition of TBN, could I broadcast such a signal to my tractor? /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Wiens · Jan 30, 2006

RaT.

Yes......Now all you need is the high amp alternator to power the PC.

BTW, the media center is really neat, I went ahead and purchased more memory as it was on sale. I used the media center to watch the ESPN special on the 1985 Chicago Bears last night.

Kevin

GerardC · Jan 31, 2006

Where did you get the memory from?

Wiens · Jan 31, 2006

CompUSA had it on sale for $79.99 after rebate per 1 gig stick. I have 2 gigs of memory in my Pentium Dell computer and it works great!

Kevin

_RaT_ · Jan 31, 2006

I have been investigating sites like Dell and HP and get confused on the graphics cards available. I would like to have my setup be a computer that sits out with the TV/amplifier etc and uses the TV screen as the interface. Its primary function will be to act like a digital server for the audio/video. I won't need software that you would normally find on a desktop computer short of XP media center or Vista. I suppose the graphics card should at the very least have a DVI output and have reasonable resolution for say a 50" DLP even though that is not what we have now. Anyone know about graphis cards. nVidia, ATI? /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif Thanks...

Soundguy · Jan 31, 2006

I know you can get ati radieon with s-video out.. etc.. I'm sure many others have 'tuner' cards.

Soundguy

Wiens · Feb 4, 2006

Hey All,

This is just a friendly reminder to install a backup system now. My hd crashed this week on my Dell computer. They may be able to recover the date from it after they freeze the hd. Oh well!!!

I had been contemplating the backup system I was going to get. Now I'll get one Monday.

Kevin in Kansas

GerardC · Feb 4, 2006

I have an external HD that I transfer (move and/or copy to) all my important things and sometimes to disc. Well worth the money.

bebster · Feb 5, 2006

For backup I added a 300GB network hard drive from Buffalo Technologies. It plugs into the network, and both my wife and I can access it as M: drive on each of our PCs. Works great as a shared drive and as a backup device.