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• How come you guys aren't talking about the underground HTPC phenomenon? I hacked up an old PC a few years ago running the open source Media Portal software (mostly because it will play ANYTHING) and isn't tied to ITunes like AppleTV, and it does timeshifting (a'la Tivo) and everything. Now I've finally got a proper nice Antec home theater case and a proper PC that can play and record multiple streams of 1080p.
  
  The main problem with this is that it is a MASSIVE pain in the ass to set up a Home Theater PC to work smoothly, have a proper working remote and keyboard and be reliable. Once it does though it is heaven. I have resorted to specialty shops and vendors to help me set it up despite my pc savvy-ness just because it is such a pain in the neck. And even they aren't making seamless devices.
  
  My point here is that the Home Theater PC is indeed a viable and very entertaining and useful consumer electronic device and has a very good future. But someone XBox, Apple, Intel, Yahoo, Slingbox? anyone needs to step up to the plate and make the ultimate EASY-TO-SETUP HTPC, and if they do it will sell like wildfire, they will OWN the living room globally and be a multi-billion dollar corporation! We're waiting. Hurry up.
  
  Also as an aside, these current HTPCs are used by enthusiasts and people who download huge amounts of TV shows who aren't willing to be shackled by the constraints of 15 minute commercial blocks, lame or constantly switching broadcaster schedules, DRM and low quality purchaseable content online, and monopolistic cable companies who provide overpriced poor service. Give the public high-quality 1080p/720p content of the shows they like without commercials in an easy to use non-DRM purchasable format for a reasonable price and most people would gladly buy it than go through the hassle of torrents or trading files with Tivo friends....
  
  This is 2009 practically. Where the hell is my reliable Living Room PC and flying car for that matter!! ;-) In reply to: "High hopes at Yahoo, Intel for Internet-enabled TV"

  December 29, 2008

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