Been looking into these media centres that are like comps to use with my new plasma screen, anyone got one or know anything about them?? Likethe look of the Elonex one in Comet but thats just cos its got a blue LED on it to match the one on my tv

Any help would be appreciated! Also any info on recomended home cinema/speaker set ups!

 

could try speaking to essexboyracer kev, hes got a tidy little setup in his room and hes the gadget king

convinced me to get one for ma room.

new flat going ok then?

 

I noticed these in PC world yesterday,didnt really start thinking about them untill i got home.

What are they?

I think i want one,but dont know what they do

 

It's just a pc that has a remote and windows media centre software. You can still use it like a normal PC as that's essentially all it is. But it's set up for easy connectivity to your tv, and you can record to the HD and play your movies off it on the tv etc.

Pretty much same as having a chipped Xbox hooked up to the telly

 

Had it set up in my room for a couple of months now.

I love it, best thing I done. Got rid of my TV, DVD, stereo etc.. everything is done through this

Only warning though is that SDTV (standard definition television) is a bit weak on an LCD tv. You basically get the same effect as watching SDTV on a plasma.

 

The xbox 360 actually works as media center extender

 

Yup you are correct

 

have a look at the HTPC section on www.avforums.com

 

Ive got an Xbox360 hooked up to my Plasma downstairs.My PC is upstairs running an Ethernet cable down to the 360-What else do i need?

Or do i already basically have it all and just need to set it up?

 

We got this when we bought our stuff for the front room...

fuck knows what it does, but it was 50% off when buying all the other gear so we got it


still boxed.... anyone know how to set it up

 

Stoo are you running windows media center on a PC?

The xbox 360 only works as an extender. It still needs a media center pc to communicate with.

Dave, its easy to setup. Its just a normal windows pc with an added interface. You set everything up with the remote control.

Its when you want it to change the channels on your sky / NTL box things get a bit more complicated

 

sounds like far too much hassle... think i'll use it as a doorstop... has nice flashing lights from what i can remember from the showroom

 

btw, I didnt go out and buy a whole new Media center pc.

I got hold of the operating system and just purchased the compliant hardware to go in my exisiting pc.

I think in the end it set me back a TV card, windows remote control and a 2nd widescreen monitor

 

No mate,i dont have a Media Center PC.It's a right old ropey thing i've got.
Im confused,so i need that box think i saw to make it Media Center?

 

no,

basically media center is a version of windows XP.

you need a pc running windows xp media center. if you want to watch tv you need a compliant TV card in your pc. also you may want to buy the USB windows media center remote control.

or if your system is just too old, you could go out and buy an off the shelf pc already running windows media center but they're about £1500.

if you've already got a decent screen or are planning to use a normal tv / Plazma etc... you could make your own for less in my opinion.

 

oh and yeh if you want to use your xbox 360 as a media center extender I think there is additional hardware you have to buy? Im not 100% sure though.

 

I work for Elonex in R&D and I look after all the press reviews. I've got one at home and it's the nuts. Totally silent operation, works really really well. Anything you want to know let me know.

 

Steve, you'll have to pop round soon mate, setting mine up next week or so

 

Not moved in yet Chrissy lad, not finished till Mid march!

Jon, handy to know you work at elonex, cant get em any cheaper than 1k can ya!!

 

Nice one m8y! What did you order?

 

went for a new system as me current one dont support what i wanted what with only one pci

its a dell, pretty cheap in the end, ill explain more later

 

Nice one m8. I just ordered another 300Gb drive for mine.

Thats 670GB space I'll have now.

 

oohhh and a bling bling keyboard and mouse

[img:340:340:fa872972a4]http://www.gadgetreview.com/uploaded_images/8010-780759.jpg[/img:fa872972a4]

 

PM Sent

 

whats that do? apart from allow u to type

 

lol its just an over fancy keyboard really.

All bluetooth connecting to the pc using the bluetooth 2.0 dongle supplied (so u can use to connect your pda, mobile etc...)

optical wireless mouse with charging dock and built in battery indicator.

wireless keyboard with LCD dislpay for displaying stuff like MP3 information or instant messenger info etc..

mediaplayer / mediacenter touch sensitive controls on the left side for play, pause, volume etc...

got a few other extra buttons such as a bluetooth synchonise button for sync'ing your mobile etc...

Also it works outside of windows (i.e. in the bios, bootup etc) so there's no need to keep a ps2 keyboard around