"Ian Molton" wrote in message
...
On Fri, 30 Jan 2004 20:19:59 -0000
"RJH" wrote:


The statement "My television set is the best way to watch TV" ignores
the
popularity and power of the Home Theater PC.

I don't really know what you mean here. My computer has certain stuff -
digital tv, analogue tv, posh soundcard and speakers. But I couldn't sit
comfortably and listen to, watch it, in the way I could my stereo or TV.

Why? (Ok, YOUR PC may suck, but...)

My little box is truely silent - the discs spin down even. my TVs scanning
coils are louder.

and a PC can drive a state of the art amp and speakers, and a screen far
better and bigger than your TV.

so why, tell, is it an inferior solution?

Couple of things:

No remote to change channels;
Picture size;
Picture quality;
Sound;
PC clutter;
PC noise;
Boot up a computer, then navigate menus, to watch tv.

But I realise these things are down to my sucking pc.

How do you get a decent picture (digital) from the pc to the TV? I've got an
ATI aiw video card and a Hauppauge Nova-T, and I've tried s-video, cable and
wireless. The picture was OK, not as sharp as RGB TV, but the biggest
problem was always aspect ratio. The wireless thing was very good until a
car drove past.

Also, I've read about the silent pcs, no fans, but aren't they very
expensive and restricted by the hardware (ie low heat)?

Thanks

Rob