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HTPC Setup — Brooklynian

HTPC Setup

anthonycm
anthonycm
edited November -1 in The Lounge / Random Stuff
There are a couple of threads out there about ditching cable. I'm considering doing the same, and need to put together a cable substitute. Anyone out there want to describe what they've done?

I'm currently thinking of a Mac Mini, which I'd hook up to my television and receiver. I've got a PS3, and although there's the added step of using a special Netflix disc, I can stream movie/television show rentals through that. I also have an Apple TV, but that would be rendered redundant with the Mac Mini, I suppose.

Haven't yet decided on Plex v. Boxee. I'm on the updated Boxee beta, but tonight was the first time I've taken a serious look at Plex. Opinions, anyone?

Anyway, the point of this is that I don't watch sports, so there's really no reason at all for me to be paying for cable. Most of the things i watch are free broadcast shows (30 Rock, 24, etc.), and the only thing I think I'll really miss is CNN during election season and the Food Network on the weekends.

Any advice/opinions anyone has on HTPC setups would be appreciated.

Comments

  • whyfi
    whyfi
    I can't say that I'm familiar with the Mac or out-of-the-box solutions, but I've been running an HTPC for close to two years.

    One thing to consider is storage - how much hard drive space are you going to have on the Mac Mini? Keep in mind that an hour of HD broadcast is going to take up somewhere around 6+ GB. If you're not watching shows as quickly as you're recording them, it'll add up quickly. Also, if you have some software available for ripping DVDs, you'll probably start hoarding Netflix titles, at about 4-8 GB per. Blu-Ray? Sheeet - 20-40GB. Start looking in to network storage sooner rather than later.

    So, what I've done...

    I have an internal HDTV tuner (Hauppauge model, don't remember which) and an indoor antenna. Windows Vista and 7 both have great media center applications with a nice schedule/HDR interface. The MC (Media Center) is also compatible with MyMovies which will allow you to store and stream movies with cover art, genre, plot info, actor/director info, etc. The MC also has Netflix Watch Instantly integration.

    I ran in to a bit of a storage shortage and recently put together a Windows Home Server machine with (mostly) spare parts (it's basically a low-powered PC with an OS based on Windows Server 2003). Now all of my media (music, movies, TV, photos, etc) is stored on the WHS and available for streaming to all of the other PCs/playback clients in the house. It's a nice solution, but it's not plug-n-play, it needs a little more dedication to set up. Once there, however, it's pretty user friendly.
  • anthonycm
    anthonycm
    I don't plan on really using the setup as a DVR, so I don't need a lot of storage space for shows, or even to store movies. My needs are simple: I want to have a PC (or Mac) hooked up at all times so that I can hop onto Hulu, Plexi, or Boxee, and also to have my music ready to stream through my receiver.

    If I ever did decide to store all my Blu-Rays and DVD's, I'd probably look into getting a Drobo.
  • niner
    niner
    We've been running a mini as an HTPC for the past several years. It's worked out ok - but I dont see where it's better than an apple tv, especially if you use the ps3 for hulu and netflix streaming.

    What I would look at is the new http://gizmodo.com/5439293/syabas-popbox-get-ready-for-the-new-media-streamer-champ It looks awesome for $130. Only issue may be no hulu support (yet).
  • anthonycm
    anthonycm
    The PS3 can't run Hulu any more. I had Boxee on the PS3 (or maybe it was the Apple TV), but the quality of Hulu on Boxee (at that time, at least) was not good.
  • niner
    niner
    anthonycm wrote: The PS3 can't run Hulu any more. I had Boxee on the PS3 (or maybe it was the Apple TV), but the quality of Hulu on Boxee (at that time, at least) was not good.
    Well... not technically, but PlayOn or TVersity can make it happen if you have a pc around
    http://www.playon.tv/index.php
    http://tversity.com/
  • soundfreak
    soundfreak
    Lots of stuff coming out this week. It's CES. Boxee came out with it's own hardware called Boxee Box.$199. Much cheaper than a mac mini.

    I'm in the same boat. Tired of cable, just got a PS3, and we are a mac household.

    Cnet and engadget have decent coverage of the new stuff being annouced this week at CES.
  • soundfreak
    soundfreak
    anthonycm wrote: The PS3 can't run Hulu any more. I had Boxee on the PS3 (or maybe it was the Apple TV), but the quality of Hulu on Boxee (at that time, at least) was not good.
    It was the Apple TV. PS3 doesn't have Hulu.
  • anthonycm
    anthonycm
    soundfreak wrote: Lots of stuff coming out this week. It's CES. Boxee came out with it's own hardware called Boxee Box.$199. Much cheaper than a mac mini.
    .
    the Boxee Box doesn't have Hulu. I went to their release party in Williamsburg, and they said they're working on it, but I don't think it's likely to happen as the networks don't want you watching Hulu on televisions. This is probably why rumors are swirling around that Hulu will become at least a partially paid service at some point in 2010 (pronounced Twenty-Ten, dammit!).

    Also, yeah, I tried PlayOn for the PS3. Hulu just didn't look as good as it does when I connect my MacBook to the television. Anyone else have this problem?

    On my way to CES now (hooray wifi on Virgin!). I'm definitely on the lookout for some cable relief while there. I'll let y'all know if I see anything particulaly interesting. However, I'd trust the pros at cnet before listening to me.

    By the way, how much of a geek does it make me that I'm giddy about the prospect of meeting Molly Wood and maybe drinking some Woodford with Brian Cooley?
  • mantic
    mantic
    I use a Mini with an EyeTV device connected to the dry cable line which brings in Local HDTV. I watch cable shows on Hulu Desktop and Plex for web streams, rips and files.
    Hulu doesn't work well for me via Plex.
  • anthonycm
    anthonycm
    Mantic, that's pretty much the exact setup I've been envisioning.
  • soundfreak
    soundfreak
    anthonycm wrote: [quote=soundfreak]Lots of stuff coming out this week. It's CES. Boxee came out with it's own hardware called Boxee Box.$199. Much cheaper than a mac mini.
    .
    the Boxee Box doesn't have Hulu. I went to their release party in Williamsburg, and they said they're working on it, but I don't think it's likely to happen as the networks don't want you watching Hulu on televisions. This is probably why rumors are swirling around that Hulu will become at least a partially paid service at some point in 2010 (pronounced Twenty-Ten, dammit!).

    Also, yeah, I tried PlayOn for the PS3. Hulu just didn't look as good as it does when I connect my MacBook to the television. Anyone else have this problem?

    On my way to CES now (hooray wifi on Virgin!). I'm definitely on the lookout for some cable relief while there. I'll let y'all know if I see anything particulaly interesting. However, I'd trust the pros at cnet before listening to me.

    By the way, how much of a geek does it make me that I'm giddy about the prospect of meeting Molly Wood and maybe drinking some Woodford with Brian Cooley?

    Lucky You!!

    I really don't mind paying a bit per TV show. it would be better than TWC ripoff. Anyway with TV's coming equipped with wireless and ethernet, some sort of service for TV shows should be in the works.

    Please keep us posted if you find any solutions or future possibilities. Otherwise, mantics set up may be the only option.

    Have a ball with those geeks!!
  • whyfi
    whyfi
    anthonycm wrote: By the way, how much of a geek does it make me that I'm giddy about the prospect of meeting Molly Wood and maybe drinking some Woodford with Brian Cooley?
    If you would have said 'Veronica Belmont,' then I'd be envious. :wink:
  • mantic
    mantic
    Let me add I also use the jfcontrol app on my iPhone as a wifi remote for Plex, EyeTV, and iTunes. Airmouse for Hulu Desktop.
  • anthonycm
    anthonycm
    WhyFi wrote: [quote=anthonycm]By the way, how much of a geek does it make me that I'm giddy about the prospect of meeting Molly Wood and maybe drinking some Woodford with Brian Cooley?
    If you would have said 'Veronica Belmont,' then I'd be envious. :wink:

    Saw Belmont today, co-hosting Buzz Out Loud.

    Edited just for WhyFi; me with Veronica Belmont

    image
  • anthonycm
    anthonycm
    anthonycm wrote: [quote=soundfreak]Lots of stuff coming out this week. It's CES. Boxee came out with it's own hardware called Boxee Box.$199. Much cheaper than a mac mini.
    .
    the Boxee Box doesn't have Hulu.

    I partially take that statement back. Boxee doesn't run Hulu, but according to Engadget it does have a Mozilla browser through which you could get to Hulu. I'm sure it's just a matter of time before the network figures out a way to block this somehow.

    The current Hulu model isn't long for this world anyway. With more televisions expanding their Internet capabilities (eventually ending the need for any set top box), the networks will have to make some drastic changes to slow - I don't think they can stop or reverse- the drain from regular network viewing.
  • anthonycm
    anthonycm
    Here's a quick update on my slow process of ditching cable:

    Today I purchased an antenna (Philips MANT940 $30 from Amazon).

    All the major networks come in as good as, if not better, than if I still had my cable hooked up. The antenna is not large, and actually fits hidden inside my television cabinet (yet still provides perfect signals for most channels). See below for the channels I get. This will likely vary depending on where you live. I am near Grand Army Plaza, on the 9th floor.

    The next step is to show Current Wife that we will at worst break even over the course of a year by ditching Time Warner cable -keeping internet and getting a land line- and purchasing a Mac Mini, EyeTV, and a wireless keyboard and mouse (looking at the Loop mouse from that NY Times article). I've already downloaded both Boxee and Plex to my laptop (but that would be replaced by the Mini). The savings would start to kick in the next year.

    I'll keep updating this as I get to each new step in case anyone else is feeling inspired to get rid of their monthly cable bill.

    Channels I receive via antenna:

    2/CBS
    4/NBC (along with 4-2, 4-4)
    5/FOX (and 5-2)
    7/ABC (7-2, 7-3)
    9/WWOR? (9-2)
    11/WPIX (11-2, 11-3)
    13/WNET (13-2, 13-3, 13-101, 13-102)
    21/WLIW (21-2, 21-3, 21-101)
    25/WNYE (25-2)
    31/ION (31-2, 31-3)
    34/Spanish Station
    42/Religious, I think
    46/Religious
    47/Telemundo
    64/???
    66/Religious ?
    68/Spanish Station (68-2)
  • bodhi
    bodhi
    A lot of our customers have followed this direction. Using Hulu or XMBC has become pretty popular. We have an new HTPC unit that's very small and offers an optional TV card for an over the air antenna feed like you have. You can check out my profile for our website. Good luck.
  • brooklynjack
    brooklynjack
    I am thinking that I'll hook up my old laptop to the TV via the S video. I am still on standard definition. What kind of picture quality am I going to get with hulu and Netflix? Will it be as good as the TV can display?

    When I upgrade to an HD TV can I get an external card via USB or PCMCIA to get an HD picture? What will the quality be like then? As good as the TV?
  • anthonycm
    anthonycm
    Jack,

    I can't say that I know the answers to all your questions, as I'm fairly new to all this. I'm pretty sure that Hulu's version of hi-res is only 480p, so it's not as nice as a 1080. I've never used Netflix before.
  • whyfi
    whyfi
    BrooklynJack wrote: I am thinking that I'll hook up my old laptop to the TV via the S video. I am still on standard definition. What kind of picture quality am I going to get with hulu and Netflix? Will it be as good as the TV can display?

    When I upgrade to an HD TV can I get an external card via USB or PCMCIA to get an HD picture? What will the quality be like then? As good as the TV?
    I don't know about Hulu, but the quality on Netflix Watch Instantly isn't fantastic - it's not as good as a DVD on a standard definition TV... it's not that far behind, but it is inferior. [FYI, this is with 25Mbit/sec download speed, so it's likely a limitation of the Netflix servers].
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