Are HTPCs still a good idea?

[nthydro]

I told a friend of mine I'm planning to build a htpc and he told me they are pointless now since the cost of blu-ray players and media streaming devices are so low now. What do you guys think? Is it still worth it to build an htpc?

 

[shadyJ]

HTPCs are a good idea. Yeah you can stream and watch blu rays from cheap units, but an HTPC has a lot more versatility, you can listen to music with any software player, you can watch any of the video websites like youtube, google video, vimeo, etc, you can play games, you can go shopping, and so on. Sometimes when friends are around and we don't have time for a full movie we just fire up the projector and HTPC watch some amusing youtube videos like silly animal stuff, crazy stunts, clips from stand up comady and comedy shows like SNL and the Daily Show, and so on. If you are only ever planning on watching blu-rays and streaming movies on your home theater, then yeah there is no point in putting together an HTPC, but over here we actually ended up using the home theater a lot more for other stuff than for movies.

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

I be the voice vs HTPC - they are versatile, but not fitting the living room.
Without 10ft interface they are pain the rear to use. Yes, software like xmbc can provide this interface, but might as well have a much smaller power usage, many fully dead silent and much easier to control remotely with regular remote (or universal)

Youtube videos? Many media client do that...
Probably the only thing your friend need to ask himself - if he wants to play PC games on the big screen.... almost anything else could be done better on smaller client

 

[JerryLove]

That's up to the consumer.

What will you use your HTPC for? Will a less expensive device do the same thing? If yes, then you probably don't want an HTPC. If no, then you probably do.

For me, I stopped needing one when I got my PS3. It did everything I would have used an HTPC in that room for. (with its recent failure, I've switched to a bluray player).

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Yeah, depends on what you want to do with it.

If all you want to do is watch Netflix streaming, then no, HTPC is not worth it. Just buy a Panasonic 220 BD player for around $110 and call it a day.

But if you want to rip CD or BD or DVD, then HTPC is worth it.

 

[slipperybidness]

My tower computer has been on my living room setup for about 6 years or so now. Not even "HTPC", but my tower PC. Wireless keyboard and wireless trackball.

For me, I would never go back. The access to my music library, movie library, DVD player, streaming, etc, etc. It's just really easy and convenient, when I put it in a long time ago, the tech in other devices wasn't where it is today. But, I suspect that the PC is easier to deal with than getting all these new devices to play nice. I also have XBOX and PS3 in my ent cent too.

 

[bikemig]

I told a friend of mine I'm planning to build a htpc and he told me they are pointless now since the cost of blu-ray players and media streaming devices are so low now. What do you guys think? Is it still worth it to build an htpc?

This is a great question. I have an HTPC but I set mine up around 3 years ago when the choice for an HTPC was, I think, pretty compelling. It is a harder choice now. Having access to a browser is a plus I think since it is sort of the lowest common denominator when it comes to content. Also I like using the HTPC as a media streamer around the house.

That said, I'm picking up a sony playstation pretty soon and if I like the way it works, I may not replace my HTPC when it dies.

 

[sholling]

It just depends on what you want to do with it. A HTPC can do more but at a higher dollar cost and at the cost of greater complexity. There are media appliances (e.g. Western Digital TV Live) that will play nearly as many audio formats and play ripped videos video just as well (minus esoteric audio formats) and are much more user/spouse friendly. For playing online videos a specialized online appliances (e.g. Roku) that play online video every bit as good and with a better selection of sources - with the exception that Roku does not play youtube. The online apps and local media playback capability built into many Blu-Ray players tend to be limited but free with the player.

 

[Hi Ho]

I use my PC as my DVR which effectively makes it an HTPC. I never actually connect my PC to my TV or projector though. My Xbox is my main interface. Windows Media Center makes for a FAR superior DVR experience to any box provided by TV providers. I didn't build a PC specifically as an HTPC but using my PC as a DVR has been a great experience.

 

[Grador]

The comments above have covered almost everything I would want to say, but I do have one thing to add. An HTPC is the winner for me because I like to futz with the experience. I can choose the software I run. I can change how I interact with that software, I can customize the UI of the software etc...

It allows me to really make it MY experience, and it works exactly as I want it to.

 

[bilesteve]

I have an HTPC and I like it a lot, having transferred over the guts of my HP desktop to a Silverstone Grandia HTPC, the footprint is smaller than that of my receiver.

The HTPC is used as a DVR and I have a BLU-Ray drive, combine with Windows Media Center and I have all my media in one location of my apartment and it functions well and looks good.

Also, I have an XBOX and it comes in handy for some things my local cable doesn't readily provide. So, I am not really interested in other streaming devices at this time.

 

[jinjuku]

I told a friend of mine I'm planning to build a htpc and he told me they are pointless now since the cost of blu-ray players and media streaming devices are so low now. What do you guys think? Is it still worth it to build an htpc?

Can you use a Cable Tuner Card and/or OTA tuner? Can you use a FM Tuner?

Can you DVR on BR player?

I think your friend has a narrow view of things.

 

[jonnythan]

I use an HTPC because nothing else fits the bill. It's my DVR, BD/DVD player, and internet/network streamer - and that includes watching Slingbox.

If I could get away with a dedicated device, or even 1 or 2 dedicated devices, I would. But I can't.

 

[Bryce_H]

I built a HTPC about 4 months ago when I dropped subscriber TV (cable, satellite, etc.). I installed a TV tuner (antenna is in the attic) and run Media Center off Windows 7. DVR function works great. I also have it linked to my home server and run all my movies (great for the kids movies) from WMC7. Also have it linked to Netflix and Hulu.

I initially mucked around with XBMC and another one, but too much tweaking needed and I needed a HIGH WAF since it is our primary TV in the house.

I know there are many more things I could do with it, but it has been great so far. Not missing subscriber TV 1 bit (well maybe a little - Game of Thrones and True Blood)

 

[lsiberian]

I don't see it as cost effective. Just buy an xbox or ps3 and be done with it. They can do nearly everything you want for a fraction of the cost and you can play video games if you like that sort of thing.

 

[bikemig]

The new samsung chromebook for $250 could make an interesting HTPC (as well as a pretty dandy second computer) but it lacks, I think, an ethernet port. I prefer a wired connection for streaming video.

Still an inexpensive computer can work well. I like to be able to use a web browser and I like being able to play music via itunes from the hard disc. You can always turn an old computer into an HTPC.

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

The new samsung chromebook for $250 could make an interesting HTPC (as well as a pretty dandy second computer) but it lacks, I think, an ethernet port. I prefer a wired connection for streaming video.

Still an inexpensive computer can work well. I like to be able to use a web browser and I like being able to play music via itunes from the hard disc. You can always turn an old computer into an HTPC.

Until it's hacked and running regular linux - it's useless for htpc - it doesn't run android, but Chrome OS.
What are going to play on it? Hulu and Youtube? I highly doubt that netflix will work...

 

[bikemig]

Netflix won't work on chrome? OK, that's news to me. I thought that most, if not pretty much all, streaming video can be seen via a browser.

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

Netflix won't work on chrome? OK, that's news to me. I thought that most, if not pretty much all, streaming video can be seen via a browser.

ok, correction, since I'm not netflix user and I last time I checked on PC netflix required Silverlight.
On closer inspection there actually is chrome plugin for netflix with 3/5 reviews...

Still, this is far cry from htpc. For streaming only stuff it's much better and cheaper just to get Roku

 

[Grador]

I don't see it as cost effective. Just buy an xbox or ps3 and be done with it. They can do nearly everything you want for a fraction of the cost and you can play video games if you like that sort of thing.

My HTPC was the same price as my PS3