Help, Need a new Pc for Son

swizzle_2

So let me get this right, if I get a media center Pc, all I have to do to watch tv, is plug into a `normal` monitor?

Sorry to sound thick, I`m not a very technical woman!

Idiophreak

Yeah, that's about the long and the short of it.

Just to go back again - picture from TV cards is fine, especially from a digital source - sometimes it looks a little worse than a TV, but that's because the monitor's so much higher resolution than a regular TV (so the bad stuff looks worse) and also you tend to sit closer to a monitor.

DavidHM

Why not go for Vista if you're buying a new PC now? (Unless something with XP on it is seriously cheap, obviously). A non-gaming PC should last five years so you'll want something that's at least partly suitable for an 11 or 12-year-old.

Also within the lifetime of the PC the analogue signal will have been switched off, so if TV capability is important you'll be better off getting a 19" monitor and a digital TV tuner in the PC rather than a 15" combined monitor/TV.

swizzle_2

Ok, Had`not even thought about tv going digital! Thanks for that one.

If I go for Vista, will I need a tv card?

Also I have heared that premium is alot better than basic, is thet right?

billy_the_kid_2

I'm not sure I would believe an 8 year old that the PC he wants wont eventualy be used for gaming. I'd go for one with a cheap gaming card included from the start.

Bambers

its pointless spending loads of money for a media centre pc!!! hes an 8yr old!

seriously, like i said before, buy a pc world base unit and then buy a pc monitor with tv capabilities!

there is no point to buy vista either! its only just come out and its bound to be full of errors. you will have to pay a bit more to get that anyway.

Bambers

the link mentioned ealier in this topic is rubbish. yes it has media centre but it does not have a remote control or the capability of putting tv through it!

Xeorix

Ok here is a straight answer.

I would recommend a computer with:

2ghz + Processor (Not necessarily Intel Core 2 Duo)
1Gb RAM
128mb GFX Card at the minimum (Make sure its PCIE not AGP, will save you money if you want to upgrade)
DVD Player, usualy includes a DVD Burner etc or poss. a Hi-Def Drive if you want

You can go to PC world but they will feed you with usless information and make you buy the most expensive

You could try http://www.novatech.co.uk/novatech/ for deals with only include the computer NOT a monitor.
Now you could buy a HD LCD TV with a PC input. It your computer will have a DVI output then make sure the TV has a DVI input. Rather you could just use a VGA cable but again make sure the TV can support this

The other option is getting a TV card and a TFT monitor. These are usually cheaper than a TV. However if you opt for the TFT then make sure there is an extremly high contrast ratio about atleast 900:1 They are not very expensive but you have to connect it to a roof aerial or it wont really work. I have a USB one that I no longer use if your interested however Ill have to check if I still have all the parts. The one i bought is HERE

If you get a TV card you can record shows to your computer and also use it like Sky+.

As for Vista, well it isnt really essential and some editions dont play DVDs. I think home premium and ultimate are the only ones that do.
Your son may use Vista in the future so may be usefull for him to learn as it is different to XP. But its upto you. I would just recommend getting XP Pro for now and upgrade later. Also if you dont ask for an OS on it, and then you buy an OEM version it will work out cheaper for you

Hope this helps

Donnie

Sheesh...talk about overkill. Go to https://www.medionshop.co.uk In the Refurbished section they have a decent base unit for £154 inc delivery. Then you can buy a Freeview card(my recommendation) for around £20. You can pick up a very nice set of speakers complete with subwoofer for £15 and an LCD monitor for £80 or less. Put in another 256 MB of RAM when you have the time.

Product Description

Great value refurbished base unit only (keyboard & mouse not included) with Genuine Microsoft® Windows® XP Home SP2(OEM version).
Features

* Genuine Microsoft® Windows® XP Home SP2 (OEM version)
* Intel® Celeron® D Processor 336 2.8GHz (533 MHz FSB, 256 KB Cache)
* 256 MB DDR-RAM (PC-3200, 400 MHz)
* 80 GB HDD 7200 rpm SATA 8 MB Cache
* Dual Layer DVD Writer (4x Double Layer DVD+R/-R; 16x DVD+R/-R; 8x DVD+RW; 6x DVD-RW; 48x CD-R; 24x CD-RW)
* Intel GMA 900 - Graphic Media Accelerator
* MS 7131 Mainboard with Intel® 915 GL Chipset
* LAN onboard
* 56K V.90 Modem
* 6 Channel Audio

Connections

* Front:
o 2 x USB 2.0
o Line Out
o Mic In
* Back:
o 2x PS/2
o 1x D-Sub Com-Port
o 1x D-Sub Parallel Port
o 4x USB 2.0
o 1x RJ-45 LAN
o 1x VGA
o 1x Line Out
o 1x Rear Out (shared)
o 1x Subwoofer
o Center Out
o 1x Line In
o 1x Mic In (shared)

Software Included

* Genuine Microsoft® Windows® XP Home SP2 (OEM version)
* StarOffice 7.0 (OEM version)
* Power DVD (OEM version)
* Nero Burning Rom (OEM version)
* Nero Recode 2 SE (OEM version)
* CA e-Trust Antivirus (90 day trial)

Warranty

* 90 days

Donnie

Oh...this is an old topic.