New Media Centre - Confused

opinionated

Hello.
I was wondering if you could help me. I thought I understood the world of computers but am getting bogged down in media centre suff. I am getting a hd telly (Sony Bravia 32" LCD-TV KDL-32V2500 ) and was thinking of getting a media centre pc to go with it...This is where the confusion starts.
I want to get the "Sony Vaio Entertainment Center VGX-XL201" but am now unsure since Vista has come out. Should I get a vista media centre one?
My other problem is with sky. I was planning on getting a sky+ box but if I had a media centre pc - is there a point? But I definitely want to get a sky box. How do these connect into the media centre pc? Do I have to get other connections?
Another issue is speakers. Will the speakers on the tv double as the speakers for the media centre pc or will I have to go and buy a new speaker system?
And finally, is it actually worth it at all - seen as though I have a laptop already? From your experience, do you actually use the computer part of it much? I plan to get a broadband connection - is this of any benefit?

Thanks.

Tom Dunne

opinionated wrote:

I want to get the "Sony Vaio Entertainment Center VGX-XL201" but am now unsure since Vista has come out. Should I get a vista media centre one?

It depends. I don't use Media Center, I use GB-PVR. If you are a willing to do a small bit of tinkering around, there are other options to Media Center, and therefore you will not require Vista. Others might be able to give you more Medie Center centered advice.

opinionated wrote:

My other problem is with sky. I was planning on getting a sky+ box but if I had a media centre pc - is there a point?

Yes there is a point in getting a Sky box, though not neccessarily a Sky+ box. You need a Sky box to decode the premium (i.e. non-free) channels. I have my sky box connected to my PVR via a SCART connection. The cable I use has a SCART connection on one end and the red/white/yellow RCA connectors on the other end.

opinionated wrote:

Another issue is speakers. Will the speakers on the tv double as the speakers for the media centre pc

The simple answer is, they can. If you want them to. Or, you can go out and buy other speakers. It's your choice.

opinionated wrote:

And finally, is it actually worth it at all - seen as though I have a laptop already? From your experience, do you actually use the computer part of it much? I plan to get a broadband connection - is this of any benefit?

Broadband is required to update the TV listings. I don't really think you could do it on dial-up.

As for using the PC portion, yes, big time. I don't use a TV, I use a projector, but I do check the odd e-mail and play the odd game on it. The most use I have for the computer portion is streaming audio and video. As I have said on this very forum a few times, I am a big fan of Yahoo Launchcast.

hshortt

If you are going to buy a New Media Centre it should come with Vista on it already or at the very least an upgrade to Vista. Home Premium will give you Vista Media Centre which in my opinion is better than MCE 2005.

The sound card in the PC will will be connected to the TV for your sound. It would sound better if you used digital cables and sent the sound to a receiver/amp for full 5.1 or better multi channel audio.

The Sky box will be connected to the TV tuner in the PC, this connection is made using the steps in Tom Dunnes post.

You connect your graphics card in your PC to the TV via DVI, or HDMI. DVI cards start at about 50 euro on Komplett. Unless you are going to connect the PC to TV using one of these formats my opinion would be don't bother.

However if you do connect it up digitally, then the possibilities are great. I make extensive use of my media centre and it's very easy (wife friendly) to operate. Playing divx is nice and easy this way too.

If you connect digitally, then you'll get HD content played from the PC and the quality in my experience is fantastic. Check out http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/musicandvideo/hdvideo/contentshowcase.aspx for some samples

Cheerio
Howard

Tom Dunne

hshortt wrote:

... it's very easy (wife friendly) to operate.

ROFL.

I can see it now, checklist when purchasing a new Media Center:

Vista Compatible .... check
1 Gig of RAM ......... check
wife friendly .......... check

hshortt

heh heh, it's so true!

opinionated

Okay, so...is it worth getting it? Do you feel that "enhances" your living room?

Tom Dunne

Again, I am probably the wrong person to comment given that I don't use mine in the sitting room, but I'll give you my perspective anyway.

First thing you have to ask is what will you be using it for - recording TV? Watching movies? Storing your digital pictures? Storing your mp3s? Playing games? Surfing the 'net?

If it's just the first two, you have to ask yourself if it is really worth it.

If it's all ove the above (give or take one or two), then yes, it is worth it. However, can you listen to mp3s while someone is watching tv? Is that an issue for you? Will you be plugging in your digital camera to the system, if so, is it accessible? If surfing the 'net is important, are you aware of the fact that most internet pages look crap on a TV? An so on.

As for the question whether it enhances my experience, that's a definitive yes, bearing in mind mine is in the garage conversion with a projector.

hshortt

The MCE experience is wasted on a standard telly. Yes the internet pages look rubbish, but in fairness you want an LCD or Plasma for the best experiece. On these sets internet looks great, controlling the mouse/keyboard in the living room is another matter If you have a family, then put some pictures on the MCE and show them off, you'll most likely keep it after that simple test!

I have my media centre connected to a Plasma, there is no keyboard or mouse or monitor connected to the PC. I previously used the standard remote and now I'm using a NevoSL

Overall, I'm very happy with Media Centre, and it's ongoing evolution. I can't imagine my living room without it now.

Cheers

opinionated

Based on what you have all had to say and based on who I am looking to get this for, I dont think that I will be getting a media centre pc just yet...