tv/dvd/streaming ideas

cheesesarnie

hi...looking to start from complete scratch with TV etc in living room

need a 40 inch freeview tv (will need to look into this)

the question is, is there a solution out there that can play dvd, record tv to hard drive & stream avi from PC...all in one box (her indoors cant stand multiple remotes & and complicated operation..

is the solution a PS3?...+ if so anyone got any links to sites "reviewing" ps3 as a media centre?

budget about £1k all in

many thanks

ses6jwg

not sure if you can record tv to hard drive... but I download films and tv series and stream them from my laptop to my PS3 using PS3 Media Server

computershack

cheesesarnie wrote: »

hi...looking to start from complete scratch with TV etc in living room

need a 40 inch freeview tv (will need to look into this)

the question is, is there a solution out there that can play dvd, record tv to hard drive & stream avi from PC...all in one box (her indoors cant stand multiple remotes & and complicated operation..

Yes. Two.
Option one, an Xbox 360. You run a PC with an OS with Windows Media Center on it and a TV tuner and the 360 will control that PC using the Xbox Media remote. Or you can use a PS3 with the DVB-T tuner add-on and access videos from the PC.

Option 2 is to build a dedicate home theatre PC for the living room. Again a Windows OS with media center (Vista Home Premium, Win7 Home Premium), Blu-Ray drive, a twin tuner TV card and a Media Center compatible remote. There are even PC cases that look like hi-fi seperates. Here's a couple.

Also have a read through the Tomshardware "DIY HD HTPC", Part 1 here:

http://www.tomshardware.co.uk/diy-hd-htpc-extravaganza-part1-uk,review-1601.html?xtmc=htpc&xtcr=12

missile

I hope you have better luck than us.

My son has PS3 and I have X Box. Connection to media center should be easy, but neither of us can get it to work.

custardy

missile wrote: »

I hope you have better luck than us.

My son has PS3 and I have X Box. Connection to media center should be easy, but neither of us can get it to work.

allow me to fix this for you

http://code.google.com/p/ps3mediaserver/

works on both PS3/360

can you not see the PC from either console? how are you connected?


to the OP.play tv + PS3 + PS3 remote + PS3 media server might fit the bill for you

http://uk.playstation.com/ps3/hardware/accessories/detail/item102429/PlayTV/

this gives you an in one box solution with bluray and one bluetooth remote(why are more remotes not bluetooth!?)

my OH is non techy and can work the PS3 with media streamer no problem

missile

custardy wrote: »

allow me to fix this for you

http://code.google.com/p/ps3mediaserver/

works on both PS3/360

Many thx, I have tried all the solutions so far none has worked and had given up hope. I shall give it a try and report if it works:j

I have a media center PC running windows Vista. I am connected via Netgear HomePlug and I can see the X Box it my network and it tells me I am sharing files etc but when I try to connect to media center no joy.

I use a Topfield PVR to record TV.

missile

PS3 has not been found ...............

No joy, but many thanks for trying to help

custardy

missile wrote: »

No joy, but many thanks for trying to help

ignore that (i get that sometimes)
does it show on your PS3's media server list?
if possible run an ethernet cable to the console to test
if you get it working via ethernet then you know its an issue with your network hardware

missile

I can see the pc and files listed on the movie, photo and music but not media center option on X Box menu. When I click on any of those files nothing happens.

X Box does link to internet and gets good fast connection, e.g. I can stream Sky player.

I shall try resetting the pc, modem and x box.

custardy

have you tried going into my xbox>video?
do you see the PC there and/or PS3 media centre?

missile

custardy wrote: »

have you tried going into my xbox>video?
do you see the PC there and/or PS3 media centre?

Yes I have tried that and I can see video files and files for items recorded from TV as stored on media center PC. However when I try to play any of these, nothing, nada, zippo, natzie happens