I think I may have finally figured out what I want...

[itschris]

I've been going back and forth back and forth about an HTPC. There's just too much crap to consider. This card, this chipset, the model mb, with this chipset.

When I really think about this, all I really want to do is catalog my music with easy access, record some TV once in awhile (doesn't need to be super perfect...just watchable), put up our family pics, and maybe... maybe copy some DVD's but probably not.

I like the way the Vista Media Center works and I always thought a touchscreen would make it perfect, but couldn't figure out how to wire the monitor from the HTPC and couldn't even find one that looked nice.

I was in Office Depot today and walked past the new HP touchscreen all in one deal computer with the 22" screen. I started playing with it and it seems it could exactly what I want. It's compact enough that I can move it around to some degree. But the big thing is, when I want to have a serious listening session... I can just plop it next to me and use my big booger finger to play my music rather than having to get up and change cd's. Often times, I play only a track or two from a disc and it's a pain the a$$. This may be perfect. it's got the touchscreen, I don't have to have my TV on, I can use it as a regular computer in the office or even on the couch/coffee table.

I don't know... I'm thinking about it.

 

[darien87]

Sounds cool. Does it have a Blu-ray drive? If so, that could be what I'm looking for too.

 

[itschris]

You can get it with one and you can up to a Terabyte at this point and up to 25".

I think what I'd do is just put one of the HD box things or basic media server in the cabinet hooked up to the router. I could access movies and stuff and push that to the system. That way, I'd only need to hook up that HP deal with an optical for music.... or...just put the music on the media server too and just have the HP thing be the touchscreen frontend. I guess you wouldn't need a TB model then. Either way, it's stupid slick. I could just plop it on the coffee table... with a wireless connections and bogger finger my way through all my music.

 

[darien87]

What's the model number?

 

[GlocksRock]

I've seen those PC's, they are pretty sweet. I really like Vista's media center, it works really well, and is pretty powerful.

 

[itschris]

What's the model number?

http://www.shopping.hp.com/webapp/shopping/computer_can_series.do?storeName=computer_store&category=desktops&a1=Category&v1=All-in-One+PCs&series_name=IQ500t_series

They have different models and options... up to a 25" screen and one Terabyte drive. I think even that high end setup is about $2K which is a whole lot less than many other "media servers"

Hell, you can just put a cheap server box to connect to your ht and just use this as the front end. I think that's what I'm gonna eventually do.

 

[itschris]

Think how cool it would be to have some kind of RF capability where you could use that big touchscreen to control your system.

You shoud be able to. You would think the remote makers would sell software versions of their remotes just for that purpose. Sell a disc and an RF transmitter. Who even needs a remote at that point.

 

[EYEdROP0]

When I really think about this, all I really want to do is catalog my music with easy access, record some TV once in awhile (doesn't need to be super perfect...just watchable), put up our family pics, and maybe... maybe copy some DVD's but probably not.[\quote]

One Answer:

<img src="http://www.avreview.co.uk/news/images/BoseLS48_silver_SC_big.jpg">

It records ****. haha.

 

[jamie2112]

AAHHAHAAHHH bozo pics....my eyes my eyes.....

 

[darien87]

http://www.shopping.hp.com/webapp/shopping/computer_can_series.do?storeName=computer_store&category=desktops&a1=Category&v1=All-in-One+PCs&series_name=IQ500t_series

They have different models and options... up to a 25" screen and one Terabyte drive. I think even that high end setup is about $2K which is a whole lot less than many other "media servers"

Hell, you can just put a cheap server box to connect to your ht and just use this as the front end. I think that's what I'm gonna eventually do.

I don't know a lot about computers, but I went through the customization process, and mine came up at $1700. Yikes. Will these computers do uncompressed audio?

 

[itschris]

I don't know a lot about computers, but I went through the customization process, and mine came up at $1700. Yikes. Will these computers do uncompressed audio?

They should via the optical out...as long as you rip your muisc uncompressed. I see me using this one of two way... either as a standalone sitting on the coffee table or off to the side with an optical cable running from the PC discreetly to the back wall to a jack which then runs up in the attick to the front wall jack than to my receiver.... and I'm just shooting music over from the HP All in One.

The other way... which I think is a bit more sophisticated but may not be much more is to have a lesser configured HP All in One, maybe even a base model which I've seen for $989 with a 22" in touchscreen that's hooked up wireless to my home network. I'll have a plain jane no frills PC in the cabinet with HDMI gong to the receiver and hardwired to the router. I'll store all my stuff on that "server" and just use the HP All in One as the front end so to speak and just pull the music, pics, whatever from the server. This way, I have basically unlimited storage through the server, but still have the cool, awsome way to access everything.