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#1 2006-09-05 2:49 pm
The elusive "Media Center"...what's the draw?
Apple's upcoming announcement seems to be embroiled in speculation about a streaming media center functionality. I can see the value of being able to download the occassional movie at a small price, but I just can't understand the hype over a media center. As it is, I can plug my iPod into my home theater, watch DVD's, or use my Tivo. The Tivo gives me access to as much media as I want (given the drive space), a two week out TV guide, and PPV movies are $3.99 each. I understand wanting to record media and play it back, but those needs are already met with the Tivo, or ripping the DVD's back to my computer.
What is it about a "media center" mac that is so appealing?
...therefore understand the matter, and consider the vision. Daniel 9:23c
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#2 2006-09-05 3:12 pm
Re: The elusive "Media Center"...what's the draw?
See, that's where it wouldn't appeal to you, since you've already built a system of delivery to do what you want and be happy with it ala carte.
Guys like me... I want to be able to seamlessly pull my media from other Macs in my house to a system that's as easily controlled as my DVD player in my living room. Intuitive by handling mass amounts of different media and the like.
Spirit was crushed; now is fading, But I want to help make things right.
Because I can see and I can feel, and you can see and you can feel
So why don't we both either stand up and fight
Or at least together we'll call it a night.
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#3 2006-09-05 3:43 pm
- Kurto2021
- Member
- From: Wichita, KS
- Registered: 2001-11-28
- Posts: 2424
Re: The elusive "Media Center"...what's the draw?
Newsflash!!!!! Not everyone has a DVR and Tivo stinks because you have to pay a monthly fee!
I have a PC with Meedio installed as a HTPC in my bedroom. I also have a Dish Network DVR and it is a no brainer about which one is better. Meedio gives you so many more options than any Tivo/DVR can. The expandability is what kicks butt with these things.
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#4 2006-09-05 3:47 pm
- test
- Member
- From: Collingwood, Ont., CANADA
- Registered: 2002-12-13
- Posts: 5338
Re: The elusive "Media Center"...what's the draw?
I have a Media Center PC. When (if) it works it is OK. Not as reliable as my VHS machine but a bit more flexible in some ways. Hopefully Apple could do a little better job than MicroSoft.
Patience is a virtue of the weak for it makes them stand still long enough for the strong to crush them with ease.
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#5 2006-09-05 4:37 pm
- bratboy
- keeping the poor down
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- From: Austin, Texas
- Registered: 2003-01-19
- Posts: 34241
Re: The elusive "Media Center"...what's the draw?
My DVR is just the digital cable box, it doesn't have any additional monthly fee and I didn't have to buy the box.
"One thing we've learned is there's a difference between being disappointed and having madmen in authority."
--Paul Krugman
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#6 2006-09-05 4:39 pm
Re: The elusive "Media Center"...what's the draw?
Phydeaux wrote:
See, that's where it wouldn't appeal to you, since you've already built a system of delivery to do what you want and be happy with it ala carte.
Guys like me... I want to be able to seamlessly pull my media from other Macs in my house to a system that's as easily controlled as my DVD player in my living room. Intuitive by handling mass amounts of different media and the like.
Yup.
Something like a squeezebox but for multimedia. Ask for my collection of pirated pokemon divx files, and it streams it from my server in another room, decodes it, and sends it to my TV.
Last edited by resedit (2006-09-05 4:40 pm)
There are two kinds of people who keep rattlesnakes.
Those who have been bit, and those who will be bit. - Al Wolf.
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#7 2006-09-05 4:41 pm
Re: The elusive "Media Center"...what's the draw?
bratboy wrote:
My DVR is just the digital cable box, it doesn't have any additional monthly fee and I didn't have to buy the box.
It's in your digital cable fee. If you just have basic cable, you pay less - but have to provide your own DVR. Digital cable is too expensive for my taste, but there are other ways to get what I want to see and missed ...
There are two kinds of people who keep rattlesnakes.
Those who have been bit, and those who will be bit. - Al Wolf.
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#8 2006-09-05 6:58 pm
Re: The elusive "Media Center"...what's the draw?
A modded xbox makes a wonderful media center PC, for as little as 109$. The ability to pull a wide variety of digital movies and tv shows from network attached storage is top quality, and very enjoyable.
Just like back in Saigon! Eh, slick?
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#9 2006-09-05 7:17 pm
Re: The elusive "Media Center"...what's the draw?
Steyr AUG wrote:
A modded xbox makes a wonderful media center PC, for as little as 109$. The ability to pull a wide variety of digital movies and tv shows from network attached storage is top quality, and very enjoyable.
Yeah, and I've considered a 360 for that purpose with some wirelessness, but only after I get a Wii.
Don't have to mod the 360. And just need a little shareware app for the Macs and it works directly with the media center edition of WinXP.
Spirit was crushed; now is fading, But I want to help make things right.
Because I can see and I can feel, and you can see and you can feel
So why don't we both either stand up and fight
Or at least together we'll call it a night.
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#10 2006-09-05 7:20 pm
Re: The elusive "Media Center"...what's the draw?
Well an xbox has a far faster boot time than a computer, and linking to NAS consumes less power than having a computer running all the time.
Just like back in Saigon! Eh, slick?
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