So about 6 months ago, I setup my Mac Mini as a HTPC. It worked pretty well. I set it up with a USB TV tuner and was able to easily use it as a DVR box with Windows 7. It was a little sluggish in some of the menus and some 1080p content, so I decided to upgrade the processor. That failed. Not only did the processor not work, but it seems to have fried the whole damn thing. FUCK. Not wanting to be without TV, I fired up my Amazon Prime and picked up one of these:
It's an Acer Revo, technically classified as a 'nettop', and is currently $199 from Amazon. Including a 1GB stick of RAM and overnight shipping, I was in for $230 total. Not bad.
First thing I did was wipe out XP and install 7 on it (while I was at work on Friday). Then I plugged in the HDMI cable and setup Windows Media Center (at home on Friday)...
WOW
This thing has onboard hardware acceleration for video. Even though its only a 1.6Ghz processor, the thing can play full 1080p content and 7.1 audio with about 30-40% CPU utilization. The overlaid menus pop up now without any lag. I also installed the new Flash 10.1 (release candidate), so that it plays Flash content (HULU Desktop) with hardware acceleration as well.
This thing rocks. It's well worth the $200 I paid for it. (If you keep an eye on slickdeals, you can find em refurbished for like $160.)
Worthy of note if you have a flat panel TV: This thing comes with a VESA mount, so you can install it on the back of your TV. No visible wires then!
blah, blah, blah - Lets hear about your HTPC setup now!
It's an Acer Revo, technically classified as a 'nettop', and is currently $199 from Amazon. Including a 1GB stick of RAM and overnight shipping, I was in for $230 total. Not bad.
First thing I did was wipe out XP and install 7 on it (while I was at work on Friday). Then I plugged in the HDMI cable and setup Windows Media Center (at home on Friday)...
WOW
This thing has onboard hardware acceleration for video. Even though its only a 1.6Ghz processor, the thing can play full 1080p content and 7.1 audio with about 30-40% CPU utilization. The overlaid menus pop up now without any lag. I also installed the new Flash 10.1 (release candidate), so that it plays Flash content (HULU Desktop) with hardware acceleration as well.
This thing rocks. It's well worth the $200 I paid for it. (If you keep an eye on slickdeals, you can find em refurbished for like $160.)
Worthy of note if you have a flat panel TV: This thing comes with a VESA mount, so you can install it on the back of your TV. No visible wires then!
blah, blah, blah - Lets hear about your HTPC setup now!