Re: [rant] I give up on Mac OS X for a HTPC. in All Things Macintosh

Re: [rant] I give up on Mac OS X for a HTPC. in All Things Macintosh http://www.dslreports.com/forum/r16120295 en Fri, 04 Dec 2009 17:54:28 EDT Fri, 04 Dec 2009 17:54:28 EDT Re: [rant] I give up on Mac OS X for a HTPC. http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,16161954 MarkyD :

said by designmojo

:

This may be a question for another topic or forum for that matter but what are the main differences between a HTPC vs a Tivo (DVR)?

I pay $6 a month to Time Warner for the luxury of a DVR box and my wife and I absolutely love it. What would I gain if I built a HTPC with Windows Media Center? I have a mac mini (G4) that I will probably retire when the new powermacs come out and I was looking into converting it into a HTPC but this thread has me thinking otherwise.

the point of an HTPC, IMO, is consolidating everything. It's got my music, all my ripped DVDs, and 4 tuners (2 HD and 2 analog). It's got endless hard drive space. I no longer have a need for a standalone dvd player. I can surf the net from my sofa. I can easily burn a show to DVD with the two remote clicks. Anyway, the list goes on. HTPC is fun. :)
--
-Put this in your profile if you know someone who is fighting, has survived, or died from ninja attacks.]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,16161954 Wed, 24 May 2006 11:35:41 EDT Re: [rant] I give up on Mac OS X for a HTPC. http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,16161938 MarkyD :

said by SK

:

This thing looks cool: »www.miglia.com/products/video/tv···dex.html

too bad it uses the buggy, POS EyeTV software.
--
-Put this in your profile if you know someone who is fighting, has survived, or died from ninja attacks.]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,16161938 Wed, 24 May 2006 11:33:51 EDT Re: [rant] I give up on Mac OS X for a HTPC. http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,16161857 jwsmiths4 : »www.miglia.com/products/video/tv···dex.html
Now if only that would work with encrypted HD channels (via a CableCard or some other mechanism) I'd be up for one. Course first I'd need a big screen HD TV :-)
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»web.mac.com/jwsmiths/iWeb]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,16161857 Wed, 24 May 2006 11:20:05 EDT Re: [rant] I give up on Mac OS X for a HTPC. http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,16161826 designmojo : This may be a question for another topic or forum for that matter but what are the main differences between a HTPC vs a Tivo (DVR)?

I pay $6 a month to Time Warner for the luxury of a DVR box and my wife and I absolutely love it. What would I gain if I built a HTPC with Windows Media Center? I have a mac mini (G4) that I will probably retire when the new powermacs come out and I was looking into converting it into a HTPC but this thread has me thinking otherwise.]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,16161826 Wed, 24 May 2006 11:16:04 EDT Re: [rant] I give up on Mac OS X for a HTPC. http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,16159727 SK : This thing looks cool: »www.miglia.com/products/video/tv···dex.html]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,16159727 Wed, 24 May 2006 00:00:12 EDT Re: [rant] I give up on Mac OS X for a HTPC. http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,16128236 catseyenu :

said by MarkyD

:

Windows XP MCE 2005 is incredible.

Welcome to the dark side, Luke.. ;)]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,16128236 Fri, 19 May 2006 05:55:59 EDT Re: [rant] I give up on Mac OS X for a HTPC. http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,16127804 SK : Core Duo? How much did hte mobo and proc cost?]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,16127804 Fri, 19 May 2006 01:44:31 EDT Re: [rant] I give up on Mac OS X for a HTPC. http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,16127714 djrobx :

quote:
I have an Nvidia Quadro FX540...a low end quadro I had laying around, but it works GREAT.

No, *I* have a low end Quadro! NVS-280 PCI-E. I don't do much gaming but I have dual displays, so this is the *quietest* PCI-E Dual-DVI card I could find last year. It's slow as molasses, though. You should see it struggle to bring up QuickTime. I would normally feel bad about derailing a thread off topic, except the OP already did that by posting a bunch of MCE photos running on a PC clone in a Mac forum. Jeeze dude, the least you could do is run MCE on an Intel Mac Mini with USB tuner cards or something. ;)
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Rabble, rabble, rabble!]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,16127714 Fri, 19 May 2006 01:18:44 EDT Re: [rant] I give up on Mac OS X for a HTPC. http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,16127390 rjackson :

said by login name

:

Two Microsoft products are more "Mac" like than Mac products?

Don't you know you can be drawn and quartered for saying that around these parts? ;)

But isn't it true? ;)
[att=1]

]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,16127390 Fri, 19 May 2006 00:08:02 EDT Re: [rant] I give up on Mac OS X for a HTPC. http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,16126506 metsfan489 :

said by login name

said by Spine

said by linicx

:

Not me, I play Shanghai and Solitaire, but it's a great idea. :-)

Two Microsoft products are more "Mac" like than Mac products?

Don't you know you can be drawn and quartered for saying that around these parts? ;)

He'll get away with those statements because they are true. Honestly the xbox division is the only thing good at microsoft these days]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,16126506 Thu, 18 May 2006 21:59:07 EDT Re: [rant] I give up on Mac OS X for a HTPC. http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,16126327 MarkyD :

said by shavano

:

And you're using the on-board graphics of the Asus, running VGA to your TV? No stuttering on the live or recorded picture?

no, I'm not using the GMA950. I have an Nvidia Quadro FX540...a low end quadro I had laying around, but it works GREAT.
--
-Put this in your profile if you know someone who is fighting, has survived, or died from ninja attacks.]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,16126327 Thu, 18 May 2006 21:33:33 EDT Re: [rant] I give up on Mac OS X for a HTPC. http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,16125064 shavano : And you're using the on-board graphics of the Asus, running VGA to your TV? No stuttering on the live or recorded picture?
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Ah, screw it! ... who wants pie?!]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,16125064 Thu, 18 May 2006 18:47:13 EDT Re: [rant] I give up on Mac OS X for a HTPC. http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,16124914 MarkyD :

said by shavano

:

Pardon my ignorance, but does Windows actually take advantage of dual processors?

YES SIR! :)
--
-Put this in your profile if you know someone who is fighting, has survived, or died from ninja attacks.]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,16124914 Thu, 18 May 2006 18:25:50 EDT Re: [rant] I give up on Mac OS X for a HTPC. http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,16124892 shavano :

said by MarkyD

:

-Asus N4L-VM DH micro atx motherboard (for intel core duo)

Pardon my ignorance, but does Windows actually take advantage of dual processors?

Fry's and Microcenter both had Intel combos on sale last weekend for about $140 (board + CPU)). I passed because a) limited to two PCI slots and b) I was still trying to make MythTV work and the package I was trying, MythDora, doesn't have SMP support.

Much as I hate to do it, it may be that your idea of MCE is the simplest route to take, short of TiVo with its endless subscription fees.
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Ah, screw it! ... who wants pie?!]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,16124892 Thu, 18 May 2006 18:23:04 EDT Re: [rant] I give up on Mac OS X for a HTPC. http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,16122927 login name :

said by Spine

said by linicx

:

Not me, I play Shanghai and Solitaire, but it's a great idea. :-)

Two Microsoft products are more "Mac" like than Mac products?

Don't you know you can be drawn and quartered for saying that around these parts? ;)
--
Go out and buy an ipod just like 47 million other people.
Thats how you "think different"]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,16122927 Thu, 18 May 2006 13:50:34 EDT Re: [rant] I give up on Mac OS X for a HTPC. http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,16122828 Spine :

said by linicx

:

Not me, I play Shanghai and Solitaire, but it's a great idea. :-)

Whoops! Sorry, reply was intended for the OP ;)

My experience is that the 360 is a more 'Mac like' way of gaming than actually gaming on a Mac (if you know what I mean).

Sounds like the HTPC is similar that way.]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,16122828 Thu, 18 May 2006 13:37:52 EDT Re: [rant] I give up on Mac OS X for a HTPC. http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,16122658 sporkme : You sound like that Macworld article that came to the same conclusion. Apple does not have a "media edition" yet and Front Row simply ain't it.
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Day dreaming days in a daydream nation]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,16122658 Thu, 18 May 2006 13:14:46 EDT Re: [rant] I give up on Mac OS X for a HTPC. http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,16122645 linicx : Not me, I play Shanghai and Solitaire, but it's a great idea. :-)
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Mac: No windows, No gates, Apple inside]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,16122645 Thu, 18 May 2006 13:12:45 EDT Re: [rant] I give up on Mac OS X for a HTPC. http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,16122545 fireflier : Two 750 GB drives??? Holy crap dude!
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I'd kill for a Nobel peace prize!]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,16122545 Thu, 18 May 2006 12:55:48 EDT Re: [rant] I give up on Mac OS X for a HTPC. http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,16122531 fireflier : That's some useful info--especially regarding Windows MCE! Think you could include inside and outside pics along with specs on the case! I'm looking to build my own HTPC. I've really been struggling with which case to use.

The limitations imposed by a MicroATX are enough to make me want to take a second look at a larger case to use a standard ATX. I'd love to see what ASUS Case you used.

Also, did you buy the MS remote (or did it come with Windows MCE) for your project?
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I'd kill for a Nobel peace prize!]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,16122531 Thu, 18 May 2006 12:53:55 EDT Re: [rant] I give up on Mac OS X for a HTPC. http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,16122420 anon : LOL...DO REMEMBER...I have a wife too ;) Ellen and Oprah are certainly not mine...I swear...!!! ;) :o]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,16122420 Thu, 18 May 2006 12:34:23 EDT Re: [rant] I give up on Mac OS X for a HTPC. http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,16122205 DoLeMiTe : That looks pretty sweet, especially since you can pick up OTA HD channels. The only problem I see is that you have it scheduled to record the Ellen DeGeneres Show and Oprah. ;)]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,16122205 Thu, 18 May 2006 11:59:09 EDT Re: [rant] I give up on Mac OS X for a HTPC. http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,16122094 bbarrera : Thanks for sharing. Someday after remodeling bathroom and painting house we'll replace our 27" TVs and that will be the day to consider replacing the 2 TiVos. Our only complaint is dual-tuner, but that is easily handled by recording show downstairs while watching upstairs and then streaming between boxes. Let me know if you are selling EyeTV 200 as I want to convert old camcorder stuff to digital.]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,16122094 Thu, 18 May 2006 11:45:34 EDT Re: [rant] I give up on Mac OS X for a HTPC. http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,16122019 bobrk : Sounds sweet.

I have a 4 year old DirecTiVo. It's about as perfect as I can imagine, and I didn't have to build it. ;)]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,16122019 Thu, 18 May 2006 11:32:24 EDT Re: [rant] I give up on Mac OS X for a HTPC. http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,16121838 MarkyD :

said by LBadvance

:

Its an Antec Case not Asus,

And how much did it cost u altogether?

ha, you are right. I was reading "ASUS" on the drive and for some reason that transferred to my fingers. Antec is right.

It was around $1k all together, but I already had a few of the parts.
--
-Put this in your profile if you know someone who is fighting, has survived, or died from ninja attacks.]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,16121838 Thu, 18 May 2006 11:01:57 EDT Re: [rant] I give up on Mac OS X for a HTPC. http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,16121835 Spine : Now just hook up an Xbox 360 for HD gaming and you're all set ;)]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,16121835 Thu, 18 May 2006 11:01:07 EDT Re: [rant] I give up on Mac OS X for a HTPC. http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,16121823 LBadvance : Its an Antec Case not Asus,

And how much did it cost u altogether?]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,16121823 Thu, 18 May 2006 10:56:39 EDT Re: [rant] I give up on Mac OS X for a HTPC. http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,16121794 linicx : I knew you would have a fix! :-) ]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,16121794 Thu, 18 May 2006 10:51:55 EDT Re: [rant] I give up on Mac OS X for a HTPC. http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,16121330 HiVolt : Looks nice!]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,16121330 Thu, 18 May 2006 09:21:31 EDT Re: [rant] I give up on Mac OS X for a HTPC. http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,16121317 moonpuppy : Looking good, except for the inability of the closed captioning people to get it right. :mad:

I have been looking into this solution for a while now and since I just got a big tv, I think I might have to start really going into it.]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,16121317 Thu, 18 May 2006 09:19:43 EDT Re: [rant] I give up on Mac OS X for a HTPC. http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,16121272 MarkyD : a few more...

]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,16121272 Thu, 18 May 2006 09:08:43 EDT Re: [rant] I give up on Mac OS X for a HTPC. http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,16121268 MarkyD : a few...

]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,16121268 Thu, 18 May 2006 09:07:38 EDT Re: [rant] I give up on Mac OS X for a HTPC. http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,16121240 MarkyD :

said by shavano

:

I think if Comcast wasn't so proud of their service, the way to go would be to get their HD service and use firewire from the HD box with MythTV. But we watch very little TV anyway, it's hardly worth what I've put into so far.

This, just to record Colbert, Stewart and Olbermann. Sheesh!

you know, I have been reading a lot about getting a stream via firewire to a computer running SageTV or MCE. Apparently it works with a lot of SA and Motorola STBs. I'm going to give it a shot. That would allow me to record the HD channels on my cable tier that I can't get with an OTA card.
Currently, I just have analog cable since most shows I watch are broadbast over the air in HD on the networks.
--
-Put this in your profile if you know someone who is fighting, has survived, or died from ninja attacks.]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,16121240 Thu, 18 May 2006 08:59:48 EDT Re: [rant] I give up on Mac OS X for a HTPC. http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,16121211 login name :

said by MarkyD

:

In conclusion, a properly configured Windows XP MCE box is AWESOME for an HTPC. The Mac, on the other hand, is unfortunately not mature in this area. I really hope that changes at some point.
This is an HTPC the wife can use and not get frustrated with. For ease of use, this is the one area where windows wins.

Anyway, that's my rant for now. Pics to follow later. For now, it's bed time.

Applaud!
--
Go out and buy an ipod just like 47 million other people.
Thats how you "think different"]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,16121211 Thu, 18 May 2006 08:51:45 EDT Re: [rant] I give up on Mac OS X for a HTPC. http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,16121152 shavano : I can sympathize. I been trying to find a solution to this for almost a month. I couldn't find an acceptable Mac solution -- primarily because there's no out-of-the-box solution for tuning the external DirecTV STB.

So I bought a PVR-150 and stuck it in an PC that gets almost no use. I tried the trial versions of BeyondTV and also SageTV. Both have their advantages, BeyondTV would sometimes stutter and need a restart to fix. BeyondTV does great commercial flagging; SageTV does not but seems to be better quality.

I'm not willing to buy Windows MCE and don't really want to use Windows at all, so I have wrestled with MythTV for nearly a month. Damn! Linux can be a pain. Turns out, the driver didn't properly recognize and work with my new version PVR-150. Setting the tuner type in modprobe.conf would let the tuner work but never got any S-Video.

I think if Comcast wasn't so proud of their service, the way to go would be to get their HD service and use firewire from the HD box with MythTV. But we watch very little TV anyway, it's hardly worth what I've put into so far.

This, just to record Colbert, Stewart and Olbermann. Sheesh!
--
Ah, screw it! ... who wants pie?!]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,16121152 Thu, 18 May 2006 08:37:56 EDT Re: [rant] I give up on Mac OS X for a HTPC. http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,16121101 dennismurphy :

said by MarkyD

:

I know this man! :) The great thing about MCE is that EVERYTHING is all within reach from the remote. Music, movies, DVD, live TV/recorded TV...I don't ever have to pick up the remote. Oh, and my two 750GB Seagate Hard Drives are nice ;)

I broke out from the cable company's scientific atlanta DVR because it was a POS.

... and that's why the cable company is going to have to pry my DirecTiVo's from my cold, dead hands. Especially the HD one! ( 4x SD and 1x HD for me, thanks! :)]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,16121101 Thu, 18 May 2006 08:25:43 EDT Re: [rant] I give up on Mac OS X for a HTPC. http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,16120922 MarkyD :

said by hyperjoe

:

Since I have Adelphia HD, I get a DVR box which is great. For me, a Media Center is more than just DVR, its about MEDIA. I have mine set up even more integrated now which I can go from TV to MEDIA in 3 Seconds and back. I also have the Lacie Mini companion which I have over 120 movies ripped on it. Mark, DVR is part of the HTPC.

I know this man! :) The great thing about MCE is that EVERYTHING is all within reach from the remote. Music, movies, DVD, live TV/recorded TV...I don't ever have to pick up the remote. Oh, and my two 750GB Seagate Hard Drives are nice ;)

I broke out from the cable company's scientific atlanta DVR because it was a POS.
--
-Put this in your profile if you know someone who is fighting, has survived, or died from ninja attacks.]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,16120922 Thu, 18 May 2006 07:27:42 EDT Re: [rant] I give up on Mac OS X for a HTPC. http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,16120845 hyperjoe : Since I have Adelphia HD, I get a DVR box which is great. For me, a Media Center is more than just DVR, its about MEDIA. I have mine set up even more integrated now which I can go from TV to MEDIA in 3 Seconds and back. I also have the Lacie Mini companion which I have over 120 movies ripped on it. Mark, DVR is part of the HTPC.
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"He put it to into sleep mode and it died"]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,16120845 Thu, 18 May 2006 07:00:24 EDT Re: [rant] I give up on Mac OS X for a HTPC. http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,16120795 tommy3rd : you're trying to make a mini, which is really not designed to be a full blown home theatre PC, into a HTPC. MS Windows Media Center Edition was built for stuff like that. Just wait for apple to come up with the hardware designed to work with Front Row. I think they just threw in front row in the mini as a novelty since you know using an integrated graphics card for media stuff does not perform as well as a dedicated video card.]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,16120795 Thu, 18 May 2006 06:32:44 EDT Re: [rant] I give up on Mac OS X for a HTPC. http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,16120785 rugby : I use BeyondTV 4 on my office PC as a tv and it is pretty good as well. I have an ATI HD PCI card and tried MCE but it wouldn't recognize it on install and I didn't feel like hacking it together to work.

I'm thinking of getting some more licenses of BeyondTV for our other TV's just to share the content.

The Mac really doesn't have good media center options unfortunately.
--
Bob, David, Eric, and Shane get back to work before I report you.]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,16120785 Thu, 18 May 2006 06:27:55 EDT Re: [rant] I give up on Mac OS X for a HTPC. http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,16120351 eXodus : I use my Intel Mac Mini as a HTPC minus the TV. So I have frontrow do my movies and music. I use a regular DVR STB for TV.

Thats my solution to the Mini HTPC.

I'm glad your happy with your MCE HTPC.

Looking foward to pics!
--
-eXodus]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,16120351 Thu, 18 May 2006 01:44:22 EDT Re: [rant] I give up on Mac OS X for a HTPC. http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,16120295 DrewCapu :

said by MarkyD

:

For now, it's bed time. Pics to follow later.

:o]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,16120295 Thu, 18 May 2006 01:29:02 EDT [rant] I give up on Mac OS X for a HTPC. http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,16120074 MarkyD : Well, I did a lot of research. EyeTV seemed like a good solution to make my Intel mini a home theater PC.

I really wanted to believe Mac could provide the kind of solution I needed. Unfortunately, the Mac as a DVR/TV interface is a freaking nightmare.

Let's start with EyeTV. First of all, they don't make it very easy at all to use an EyeTV 200 (analog) and 500 (digital HDTV) on the same computer. This means that I have to have a seperate device tuning SD channels, and the mini tuning HD. What a pain to keep switching sources, etc.

But that's not the worst of it.

Let's say I'm watching a program delayed because I had to pause it for any given reason. If there is another program scheduled to record right after the one I'm watching delayed...it will STOP playback of the show I'm watching delayed and go to the show that just started recording. Then, I have to go back to my replay list, select the show I was watching delayed, FIND THE SPOT I LEFT OFF AT, and resume watching. This is frustrating, as you might imagine.
Not to mention there is only a single tuner so recording one thing while watching another is out of the question. So, I decided to do the unspeakable.

I bought all the components to build a Windows XP Media Center box.
Specs:
-Asus N4L-VM DH micro atx motherboard (for intel core duo)
-Hauppage dual analog tuner PCI card
-Dvico Fusion HDTV tuner (PCI)
-2GB RAM
-1.86 Intel Core Duo
-16x DVD-R

all this is thrown into a pizza box like asus case, designed for home theater applications.
It's whisper quiet. My CPU temps at idle are around 28c. Full load, around 35c.

Now the kicker. Windows XP MCE 2005 is incredible. The interface is beautiful, intuitive and useful. It's not buggy like EyeTV (which gave me a beach ball during HD playback at least 2x daily.) It handles all three of my tuners FLAWLESSLY. I can record two shows and watch one all at the same time. The XP MCE remote is very nice too, and provides all the functions I need. With EyeTV, the remote was a real piece of junk. I used the keyboard a LOT more than the remote.

In conclusion, a properly configured Windows XP MCE box is AWESOME for an HTPC. The Mac, on the other hand, is unfortunately not mature in this area. I really hope that changes at some point.
This is an HTPC the wife can use and not get frustrated with. For ease of use, this is the one area where windows wins.

Anyway, that's my rant for now. Pics to follow later. For now, it's bed time.
--
-Put this in your profile if you know someone who is fighting, has survived, or died from ninja attacks.]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,16120074 Thu, 18 May 2006 00:45:21 EDT