Recommend me a (HTPC) gadget please. - by jay pettitt
jay pettitt on 28/9/2012 at 18:28
Damn I'm old.
So my mother, who isn't as spritely as she used to be either has umpteen gizmos and gadgets and remote controls and it's getting a bit silly.
Does such a thing exist in these modern times that'll do new fangled digital telly, radio, music CDs, DVD etc etc in one box that isn't so complicated that someone who perhaps is a little daunted by buttons and controls could use it?
And if it does, what the devil might it be called.
--edit--
oh wait, it might be called a home theatre pc - A little tiny PC with a TV tuner card in the back, a remote control and some software. Coo!.
A passing moderator worth his or her salt might shuffle this thread to Tech and Trouble shooting - as it is almost certainly about to become a thread about a PC build.
Al_B on 28/9/2012 at 22:00
Shuffled for you :)
I've had a HTPC for a few years now and used several versions of Windows Media Center (2005 initially but now Vista / Windows 7). Now that HDMI isn't necessarily an uncommon motherboard feature it makes it much easier to hook up these days and you can obviously tweak and expand the system later.
However, I'm not sure I'd recommend it for your mother. From what you've listed a digital TV box with DVD facilities would do the job and a dedicated box which includes these and PVR facilities would be less intimidating, more stable and should be cheaper. I'm afraid it's not something I've looked into much myself as I prefer my own solutionbut I'd have a search on Amazon for freeview PVRs and consider:
* Support for HD channels
* Ability to play music CDs with the TV off
* Satellite / Freesat support
* Dual TV tuners
Some of these may not be important to you (or your mother!) but they are worth at least bearing in mind.
