What is an HTPC?

If you are like most people in the technology age, you listen to    music that,   at some point or the other, was downloaded from     the internet...right?

I'm sure you also watch DVDs on a DVD player or computer...correct? How about games? Do you sometimes play games on your PC or gaming console? Do you record movies from your cable/satellite television onto a DVR or TIVO? Many of you reading this article, have at least one HDTV in your home..am I wrong? Did you know that it is possible to do all of the above things and more using only ONE device? Yes..one device and it is called an HTPC or Home Theater Personal Computer.

HTPCs are not necessarily new to the scene. Computers have been used for multimedia purposes for quite some time now, but units specifically designed for "living room entertainment centers" are starting to emerge. HTPCs are usually "small factor PCs", or contained within a small tower that can blend in well with your entertainment center, while remaining low profile - unlike "big fat" computer towers that we usually see. Let's use as an example, an HTPC that a customer purchased from us last week:

This computer came in a black case, and it looked similar to a stand-alone DVD player - but it was slight larger. The person who purchased it wanted an "All In One" solution, so he can get rid of his living room entertainment center which included: an audio receiver, a video receiver, an amplifier, a Blu-Ray player, a DVD changer, a Dish Network box, and an HDTV. Well....guess what happened when he purchased the HTPC? He no longer needed 80% of those items that were clogging up valuable living room space. WHY..you ask?

BECAUSE! His shiny new HTPC included:

1.) Windows Media Center - software which provides an easy interface to navigate through the various entertainment software installed on the computer, without the "computer" feel.

2.) Theater Quality 7.1 surround-sound car with digital outputs and inputs, and HDMI pass through so the card can be connected to his HDTV's audio for zero loss in sound quality. The HTPC can be connected to his HDTV's audio for zero loss in sound quality. The HTPC can be connected to his audio receiver to provide the best sound quality that you can imagine. It BEATS being at the movies. Listen for yourself!

3.) A cable card so that he could disregard his cable box, and get cable TV programming by using his computer ONLY! (limitations apply, which will be explained in the next article)

4.) A Blu-Ray player that plays high definition - 1080p movies, as well as DVDs and CDs. This isn't a stand alone Blu-Ray player, but the small unit that is built in the PC! A regular component Blu-Ray unit (not for a PC) costs $300.00! This HTPC also included a DVD player and recorder, as well as a Blu-Ray player, to allow more flexibility.

5.) A high quality video card that allows direct connection to an HDTV/TV/monitor, using either: HDTV, HDMI, DVI, S-Video, Composite, or Component inputs. This video card also allows game play, for most of the newer game titles, with high resolution and AMAZING video quality. Once you watch a movie on this machine, you'll NEVER go back to using a standard DVD player again!

6.) Ample storage space. A one terabyte (1000 gigabyte) hard drive, that allows room to store hundred of thousands of songs, thousands of movies, and virtually endless files and programs. Most importantly, this system can be used to record movies from cable and satellite television, without running out of space too quickly!

7.) Wireless networking 802.11 g/n card. This card allows him to access the internet from anywhere in his home, and possibly down the block! Music and video can be streamed, or shared, to several computers in the home (all of the PCs in the network) - simultaneously!

8.) A remote control used to navigate through Windows Media Player's functions. This particular remote allows this guy (remember the example customer?) to control the icons in Windows, by simply "waving" the remote. Imagine THAT replacing your mouse...you just wave it through the air, while utilizing the "enter" key, "play" key, "pause" key, "volume" keys...and more. Watch out mouse and keyboard!!

9.) A shiny, sleek, aesthetically pleasing HTPC case, with a touch screen! Tune in for the next article on HTPCs, and we will show you several systems, and what advantages/disadvantages each one has.

Now you should have an idea of what an HTPC is, and there is a good chance that you are drooling and wanting one of your very own. The Home Computer and entertainment market doesn't focus on these machines as much as they should, especially considering the transition of television to digital. I have one of these "beasts" personally, and I can honestly admit that I refuse to watch TV in my house, unless it is on my HTPC! When I am watching a movie, I sometimes look around the room, thinking that someone is breaking in the house...only to realize that sound is coming from nowhere other than - the SPEAKERS!!

I can hear detail in music that I never heard on my home and car stereos, and it is im-pressive. More than anything, I love the ease of sitting on my bed, and fulfilling ALL of my multimedia and computing needs, without lifting more than a finger. All with ONE remote control. ONLY. Please visit us again in a week, as we further explore Home Theatre Personal Computers, and we will give you details, specifications, pictures and more.

Stay tuned.....

Jarvis Edwards - TekTime?