All I can say is WOW!!!! This thing is unreal. Still getting use to it but am loving the upgrade from ME to XP. I'd recommend this unit to anybody looking for an AWESOME computer package. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
MEDIA CENTER....
- Thread starter GerardC
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JSUnlimited
Platinum Member
GerardC,
Glad you like it, I've had it for 6-7 months now. I was going to reply to your post earlier before you bought it but was pretty busy. My wife uses it a lot to record stupid TV shows and then she burns them to DVDs and watches them on the big screen. We also listen to local FM radio stations through the speakers. If I bought a "media-extender" I could send the shows via wireless to the TV......that project is near #1 on the "things I could care less about" list.
If you need any help, let me know.....I've had some bugs to work out as I installed the Media Center 2005 in place of the 2004 version so I've managed to learn a lot!
Glad you like it, I've had it for 6-7 months now. I was going to reply to your post earlier before you bought it but was pretty busy. My wife uses it a lot to record stupid TV shows and then she burns them to DVDs and watches them on the big screen. We also listen to local FM radio stations through the speakers. If I bought a "media-extender" I could send the shows via wireless to the TV......that project is near #1 on the "things I could care less about" list.
If you need any help, let me know.....I've had some bugs to work out as I installed the Media Center 2005 in place of the 2004 version so I've managed to learn a lot!
OP
GerardC
Elite Member
Thanks for the reply and the offer to help Mega_Me.
The BIG screen always being on is what prompted me to get this. 248 watts (that's just the TV) of background noise just wasn't practical to me. Now the TV on the computer is on (minimized) so if I hear something that sounds interesting I just click to watch. The FM radio is pretty cool too not to mention that this one is much faster than what I had. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif
The BIG screen always being on is what prompted me to get this. 248 watts (that's just the TV) of background noise just wasn't practical to me. Now the TV on the computer is on (minimized) so if I hear something that sounds interesting I just click to watch. The FM radio is pretty cool too not to mention that this one is much faster than what I had. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif
Wiens
Bronze Member
GerardC,
Just picked up a computer like yours from CompUSA. I bought it for my wife to use. How do you like it so far? Which monitor did you get?
Looks like a great system; the computer it's replacing is an AMD K-2 450. This one is ten times faster.
Kevin in Kansas
Just picked up a computer like yours from CompUSA. I bought it for my wife to use. How do you like it so far? Which monitor did you get?
Looks like a great system; the computer it's replacing is an AMD K-2 450. This one is ten times faster.
Kevin in Kansas
OP
GerardC
Elite Member
Hi Kevin. I LOVE IT! Takes some getting use to, but I'm am. It's LOADED with features! As far as the monitor goes, I have a Balance 15" LCD that I picked up at Wal*Mart about a year ago (under $200.00) /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif. I am however, looking to get a 19" now as my wife and kids are going to use my old computer instead of her ancient Gateway. Keep me posted. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif
_RaT_
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I've been investigating it but will hold out for Windows Vista. The XP Media interface is OK, but compared to other products that admittedly don't do as much, their music interface is much easier to use. I look forward to Vista and hope it is as great as it is being built up to be. I know I will use but a few of the features, my main would be for music and pictures. TV recording is of no interest personally although I could see occasionally recording a show to a hard disk but burning a perfectly good piece of plastic with a TV show? /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
Wiens
Bronze Member
I purchased the 19" Viewsonic VA902b from CompUSA. Great Monitor for around $300; still waiting from a rebate to be offered in the next month.
I'll wait for MS Vista also, however, I'm still running MS Windows 2000 Pro on my other computers.
Gotta go play some more.......
Kevin
I'll wait for MS Vista also, however, I'm still running MS Windows 2000 Pro on my other computers.
Gotta go play some more.......
Kevin
Soundguy
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We picked up a couple media center PC's at work.. neat units. I like that media center edition for XP.
Soundguy
Soundguy
_RaT_
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Hey Gerard, tell me, can you record from a satelite signal like Dish Network? I'm curious because with Tivo you get a monthly charge but you get what looks like a great convenient interface. I don't care about it, but my wife does. I'm in need of making sure shes happy so I'm investigating simple ways to:
A. load all her music (and mine) onto a media server or computer that can also retrieve the covers, album list etc off the internet.
B. Organize the thousands of pictures we have.
C. Record some satelite shows so she could watch them in another room where the treadmill is. Either record to a DVD or send the signal direct.
If you are familiar with your new setup could you let me know if its an easy interface to use to record off a satelite signal. I'm asking because I have a TiVo that I got for free but it needs a card ($20) and a monthly subscription $5.99/month. Neither are great expenses but I would like to incorporate the music and pictures into the setup as well. All would be done on the TV, not a monitor. Thanks, Rat...
A. load all her music (and mine) onto a media server or computer that can also retrieve the covers, album list etc off the internet.
B. Organize the thousands of pictures we have.
C. Record some satelite shows so she could watch them in another room where the treadmill is. Either record to a DVD or send the signal direct.
If you are familiar with your new setup could you let me know if its an easy interface to use to record off a satelite signal. I'm asking because I have a TiVo that I got for free but it needs a card ($20) and a monthly subscription $5.99/month. Neither are great expenses but I would like to incorporate the music and pictures into the setup as well. All would be done on the TV, not a monitor. Thanks, Rat...
KentT
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With a Media PC you can record any TV signal that comes in from cable, satellite, VCR, DVD player, etc.
I have an HP M495C, and it's nice...
I have an HP M495C, and it's nice...
OP
GerardC
Elite Member
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.
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_
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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
PS- oh yeah, in the tradition of TBN, could I broadcast such a signal to my tractor? /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
Wiens
Bronze Member
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
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
Wiens
Bronze Member
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
Kevin
_RaT_
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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
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I know you can get ati radieon with s-video out.. etc.. I'm sure many others have 'tuner' cards.
Soundguy
Soundguy
Wiens
Bronze Member
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
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
bebster
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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.
