Enter to Win: Roomate HTPC from VidaBox!

[STRONGBADF1]

Contest question: What reservations have you had about purchasing a HTPC/Media Center system? What has stopped your from getting one? Explain your choices and add any other reasons not listed on the poll.

A little of everything...But the main two are stability and ease of use.

Computers are still quirky things and I can have my rig up and playing in no time flat and that don't happen with computers.

That being said, I would love to have one for a second system...or first depending on how I set it up. Would be fun to play with I am sure.

SBF1

 

[dannv]

The main reason i woul dnot buy a htpc, is because they are just a pain to use. Some day no doubt there will be an htpc as easy to use as the common dvd player, but it hasnt happened yet.

 

[Adam]

Htpc

The biggest two things holding me back are (1) price and (2) need. Most HTPCs seem to be in the $1500+ range, which is a little too high for me to get one considering that I don't have an HDTV or even cable. Once I get an HDTV, I plan on putting a PC in my living room, and it will be an HTPC if the price to performance ratio is equal to that of getting the capabilities in separate components.

 

[abboudc]

Other.

1. Noise. I don't want ANOTHER noisy component in my system (XB360).

2. Lack of quality software. Windows Media Center stinks.

3. Lack of universal remote support.

 

[JaceTheAce]

I have an old Sony CRT projector (VPH-1251Q) and have always wanted an HTPC to have more control over video features important to a CRT projector - specifically upscaling and resolution matching. I of course can't afford to build a good quality HTPC, so I resorted to purchasing a component-to-VGA transcoder for my DVD player. Someday I will get one! I think the most important feature offered with an HTPC is video flexibility, but sound quality is high priority as well.

 

[Canada North]

Why I don't have an HDPC

It really comes down to the component manufacturers getting thier act together! Windows Vista will or won't play HD content. My ATI card will or won't play HD content. My last experiment with a Media Center... I spent five weeks pulling music from my CD collection... another two weeks getting it to work with my antique pioneer reciever... only to have the Hard Drive crash and burn before I could back it up. I waited 9 weeks for the hard drive to be RMA'd and sent back to the manufacturer. By that time I was tired of the project and left the computer to be a computer and left the sterio to be a sterio.

 

[rnigel]

Can't find a straight answer

Unless you have a large sum of money to spare it seems that there are no straight answers on what can be done to put together a good sound, but relatively inexpensive straight forward system. Currently experimenting with Itunes and a M-Audio Audiophile USB (sound card/DAC), time will tell.

 

[Brandst]

I've been thinking about building an HTPC for quite a while now. The size and style of the case offerings I've seen leave quite a bit to be desired. I need a smallish case, would prefer one with it's own LCD so the TV doesn't have to be on for music, that will look good in a audio rack with my other components. I have not yet found anything DIY that fits the bill, and all the prebuilt systems like that are out of my price range.

Steve

 

[steveschindler]

I like the idea of a HTPC, but want to see it in person first

 

[bersik]

With many smaller, newer manufacturers producing HTPCs, its hard to confirm they're market longevity. Other issues I have are quick out-dating of components and back-up/lost data concerns.

 

[nyf]

The biggest issue with buying an HTPC premade for me upgrade potential, followed closely by noise. I'm also not impressed by the hardware choices or price/performance ratio offered by many vendors in this field. And an OEM machine should definitely have HDCP and eventually cablecard support.

An OEM that builds a quiet machine in a simple, good-looking case with quality hadware and robust software...that's what I want to see.

 

[fredejo]

(1) Price – doesn’t fit my budget - i would love to have one, but with the high price the money would be better spent on speaker upgrades or a projector. once all that is done i may get one. (2) stability - fear of crashes - i have read a couple of reviews (none lately) that didnt seem like all the bugs were worked out yet. by the time i have the money for one in the next year or two im sure they'll be fine. as always i like free stuff so u can send me one & i'll write good reviews all over the web (if u really want to sell them put one in a house with celebs or on a reality tv show, that way people will want to be trendy & buy one, like spinners on their rims.... )

 

[goodman]

Lack of HD DVD and BD drives. Lack of HDMI 1.3 connectivity. Excessive heat and noise.

 

[ChiefKeefe]

Reasons...

I built my home PC and it is one loud SOB. I also would have to do some "Southern Engineering" to make a unit like this one fit in my system. I've seen others reference that it won't record HD TV. I use DirecTV and OTA for HD with a TiVo unit and it does record which is very nice. I also just bought the Toshiba HD-A1, so this is the only unit I will use for DVD playback.

 

[nellie7799]

I am afraid of crashes. If I'm watching tv and the thing freezes, my entire system is down. Or, if the hard drive fails, all of my saved shows and music are gone forever!

 

[FLMike]

Question High Def Support

One of the main reasons I have stayed away from either buying (or building) an HTPC is the murky landscape of high def support/copy protection. Cost is definitely another significant factor.

 

[joetech]

Potential compatablity problems

Currently I have old SD CRT television and this looks like it would be compatable with my current equipment. However, down the road when we have to update to HDTV, and of course the Blu-ray vs HD DVD and other options that my or may not be around in a few years will and HTPC be able to keep up?
I'm a Tech guy, so I have no problem installing a new HD or video card etc. I've build more PC's than I could count, but what is the form factor of this unit? will parts be 'standard' or specials?

 

[Buckeyefan 1]

The technology regarding PC's changes so quick, the initial investment usually seems overblown within 6 months because of all the updates. I think HTPC is an outstanding idea, and can't believe PC's aren't controlling every aspect of HT. Hollywood and Bill Gates must have a secret pact not to intertwine the two too closely, because otherwise many audio mfg's would most likely go out of business. I've been saying all along receivers could be integrated into a pc. The learning curve may be a bit much for the average consumer. Simply hooking up a stardard 5.1 surround system is usually too much!

 

[Nomo]

Pretty much the only thing holding me back is cost.

 

[trhoffman]

One of the main reasons that I would not purchase a HTPC at this point is that I am not convinced that it would be easy to upgrade with the advent of new technology with respect to the price that they cost. I find that I am much more economically able to build my own for less that I can then fix myself. There also is a great deal of content that leads itself well to this format that hasn't already been addressed with less expensive and easily adaptable products.