I'm planning on moving house in the not to distant future and will need to change my current home setup.
Much of what I watch is on the home pc which is currently just around the corner from the cinema setup and just connected via an svideo cable and coaxial digital.
When I move house the pc is going to be further away and I want to move to a slightly better solution to running around the corner to press play or pause !
I might also take the opportunity to replace the mammoth Panasonic 36" CRT with something a little thinner and if I do then I would like to be able to play hi def stuff on the new screen too.
So I've started digging into an area I know very little about and I've been drowning in choice !
The options I've come across are along these lines.
1. Windows Media Centre with a Windows Media Centre Extender.
Downsides - Current pc is XP Pro and fairly old so I'm not sure it's up to an upgrade to Vista/Media Centre. Potentially need to by a new pc and the extender so a very expensive option
Positives - Seems to have an excellent overall interface when using the tv. I want to be able to browse 15000 odd MP3's as I would in Windows Media Player, and not just folder by folder.
2. Stand alone wireless media player.
Downsides - From what I've seen the interfaces look poor and I'll not get what I want on the music side. I don't want to have to find a particular song by navigating through countless folders. I may be doing these a disservice so if there is something out there that can do this then do tell !
I assume this would really need a wired connection to play Hi Def content ?
Positives
Probably the cheapest solution and fairly simple.
3. Playstation 3
Downsides as per number 2.
Positives
Obviously gain a blueray dvd player and a games machine !
4. Laptop
I could simply purchase a laptop and keep it it the lounge connected to the cinema.
Downsides:
Potentially expensive solution
Control through the laptop not the tv.
Not sure how I connect the laptop to the tv. Do they ouput 5.1 DD and hdmi ?
Positives:
Gain a laptop !
Relatively simple solution
So that's where I've got to and I'm no nearer making a decision !
Have I missed any alternatives ?
Anyone else gone through a similar process ?
Any advice greatly appreciated !
Much of what I watch is on the home pc which is currently just around the corner from the cinema setup and just connected via an svideo cable and coaxial digital.
When I move house the pc is going to be further away and I want to move to a slightly better solution to running around the corner to press play or pause !
I might also take the opportunity to replace the mammoth Panasonic 36" CRT with something a little thinner and if I do then I would like to be able to play hi def stuff on the new screen too.
So I've started digging into an area I know very little about and I've been drowning in choice !
The options I've come across are along these lines.
1. Windows Media Centre with a Windows Media Centre Extender.
Downsides - Current pc is XP Pro and fairly old so I'm not sure it's up to an upgrade to Vista/Media Centre. Potentially need to by a new pc and the extender so a very expensive option
Positives - Seems to have an excellent overall interface when using the tv. I want to be able to browse 15000 odd MP3's as I would in Windows Media Player, and not just folder by folder.
2. Stand alone wireless media player.
Downsides - From what I've seen the interfaces look poor and I'll not get what I want on the music side. I don't want to have to find a particular song by navigating through countless folders. I may be doing these a disservice so if there is something out there that can do this then do tell !
I assume this would really need a wired connection to play Hi Def content ?
Positives
Probably the cheapest solution and fairly simple.
3. Playstation 3
Downsides as per number 2.
Positives
Obviously gain a blueray dvd player and a games machine !
4. Laptop
I could simply purchase a laptop and keep it it the lounge connected to the cinema.
Downsides:
Potentially expensive solution
Control through the laptop not the tv.
Not sure how I connect the laptop to the tv. Do they ouput 5.1 DD and hdmi ?
Positives:
Gain a laptop !
Relatively simple solution
So that's where I've got to and I'm no nearer making a decision !
Have I missed any alternatives ?
Anyone else gone through a similar process ?
Any advice greatly appreciated !