Phillips Media Centre PC's for peanuts!

bad-head-day

Horlock wrote:

You do realise that you don't need to go direct from quidco to get the quidco discount don't you? Just use quidco in another browser window.

Could you explain this to me please Horlock? I use opera browser.

Also - to anyone who has bought either of the dixons pc's: would you say they are quiet in operation? I would have thought they were as they are media pc's. My best mate has a tranquil media pc (completely passive, but you still get noise from its devices). Finally how much space is there for the pci cards? The one I have in mind is very long.

Many thanks

aylesby

Bought the £399.95 one from Dixon online. Arived quick and if it is reconditioned who ever had it first took good care. Used Quidco and codes for £20 off and free delivery.

Everythings working thought some threads slate the DVD recording.

There is no WinXP-MCE software disks in the pack as it is all pre loaded. Is this normal.

ScreechXL

aylesby - The files you need to create a restore disc are stored on the PC. One of the bits of paper in the box tells you where these are.

I didn't realise you could get Quidco cash back just by having it open in another window - thanks for that Horlock.

debs626

Help !

Have plugged it into my TV via svideo to scart and I have a black and white picture. Followed the link in previous post and its all in spanish (i thinks) so I can understand any of it.

Any help would be appreciated.


edit

Ok have sorted that problem now.

mitchb

tempuscat wrote:

Coming belatedly to this could I mention eBay (no-oo-oo!, I hear you say) where media centre PCs are concerned?

We hunted around for a decent media centre PC for our son's birthday last year but retailer prices were beyond our pocket. But then we discovered that Hewlett Packard had (and presumably still has) its own 'store' on eBay UK.

Normally, we wouldn't buy any high-price tecchie stuff on eBay, it seems too much of a risk, but dealing directly with the manufacturer was a different matter. Hewlett Packard was at that time auctioning (not 'Buy It Now') a dozen media centre systems from 99p, all of which it claimed were 'factory refurbished' and did not include, for example, software suites and a second, plug-in 160Gb drive. No matter. We bid to half the value of the identical unit on sale at that time in our local Dixon's, and won. The price was £370 plus £30 P&P.

When the unit arrived (within 48 hours) it showed no sign at all of ever having been used or being 'refurbished'. Everything was absolutely mint. The box was full of unopened, brand new software. And the 'unavailable' plug-in second drive was, indeed, there. The unit came with a 12-month RTB warranty.

Our son has been delighted with the system and it's worked flawlessly since first switching on. The only downside to this is that we did feel a bit guilty: by buying direct at an auction price from HP, we didn't buy from our local Dixon's. Two months later, that Dixon's branch closed down and 14 people were thrown out of work.

So yes, there's definitely a 'cost' to Internet buying after all - even if you're not the one who pays it (though in this case, Hewlett Packard must've known it was undercutting its own retailers by trading on eBay?????)

Here is the link

http://stores.ebay.co.uk/HP-Renew-Shop-UK

debs626

anyone having problems with wireless keyboard and mouse ???

The keyboard works fine but cant get the mouse to work. Yes its switched on and little red light flashes I just cant get it tuned into the receiver:-(

Edited ................... phoned Dixons and they confirmed that its faulty, they are sending out a new keyboard and mouse! ....... sorted.

debs626

For anyone thats intrested The MT1400 is no longer available at Dixons and Currys but still available at PC world but now gone up to £319.99. (collect at store only)

Im totally pleased with mine, especially the price. I am using it as a media center plugged directly to my main TV. Have popped in an extra HHD loaded with all my music, video's and pictures. Now everything is just a couple of clicks on a remote control! Here are one or two points to note but are easy to correct.



Single tuner :-( just plug in a digi box on another av on tv
Noisey processor fan :-( Buy a quieter fan from ebuyer around £10 for a silent one.
Lousy support from Philips :-( just google or fiddle until your sorted.
One exellent Media center pc for peanuts :-) YEAH

These are supposed to be reconditioned units but I cant see that mine has ever been used, there is not a mark on it, everything was brand new in my eyes.

d726t9

Quick questions for anyone who got one - did it come with an aerial for the internal wireless network card? Mine didn't come with one.

Thanks,
Stvee

lju

d726t9 wrote:

Quick questions for anyone who got one - did it come with an aerial for the internal wireless network card? Mine didn't come with one.

Thanks,
Stvee

Yes, mine came with 2 - If you want the spare drop me an email and i'll post it to you.

debs626

d726t9 wrote:

Quick questions for anyone who got one - did it come with an aerial for the internal wireless network card? Mine didn't come with one.

Thanks,
Stvee

Mine came with one

Looks like lju got urs