Re: What is a "PopcornHour"?

On Wed, 28 May 2008 11:08:25 +0000, lordy wrote:

On 2008-05-27, Wes Newell <w.newell@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
On Mon, 26 May 2008 16:35:40 -0700, David Azose wrote:

Can someone tell me what a PopcornHour device does? I have an XP
MediaCenter Edition (2004 I think) PC. I also have a relatively new
Samsung 40" HDTV. The PC is upstairs and the HDTV is downstairs. There
is a Cat5e receptacle close by the TV from my Linksys router.

Basically a frontend PC with video out running a video app. Been doing
the same thing for years with regular PC's. The price seems reasonable
though. However, you could build a real frontend PC for about the same
price. Maybe less depending on how fancy a case you wanted. Don't need
much. Case and PSU, MB with onboard video, etc., cpu, ram, and remote.
All that can be had for about $100 these days.

I have a PH, my understanding is that a comparable HTPC (ie CPU/Graphics
that can stream HD content, Component, Digital Audio + HDMI ) would be
more expensive, nore hassle and probably uglier. (Not that the PH is a
great looker but its approx 8"x4"x1" )

The user interface is a bit ropey, but the playback is great.

Lordy

It can be more or less expensive depending on what you want. I think the
PH is great for people that want plug an play simply to stream video from
a main source. It's certainly easier to buy one than to build one.
However, it's not a real application integrated backend/frontend PC that
you can put a DVD player, addition tuners, more storage, or other such
devices in to be a completely integrated *system*. Still it looks to be
something that would easily fill the needs of most people and at a very
reasonable price. I had been wondering when a commercial product like this
would come out. I'd like to give it a try myself, but I really don't need
another frontend.

--
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