HTPC Suggestions?

[Ninja Monkey]

I'm thinking of setting up an HTPC. I know a lot of people that love the Mac Mini but I don't want to spend that much.

I looked at some of the set top boxes but I don't know if any of them are worth it. Apple TV is lame. Boxee Box looks like it's too expensive. Roku looks cool but it doesn't look like I can stream my own media to it.

I would really like something cheap that will allow me to stream my own media to it and possibly serve as a DVR so I can ditch my cable box.

Any suggestions?

 

[wiretap]

If $199 is too expensive for you, you aren't going to find anything worth-while in the HTPC arena that also serves as a DVR.. especially if you're doing HD media.

 

[Ninja Monkey]

No $199 isn't too much. I'm just saying that $199 for what the Boxee Box does is a rip. I would get the $100 Roku box over that.

I would like to spend around $500 or less but I know even that's probably stretching it.

 

[wiretap]

Just build a little mini-ITX system based off this:
Newegg.com - ASUS AT3IONT-I Deluxe Intel Atom 330 PBGA437 NVIDIA ION Mini ITX Motherboard/CPU Combo

Add a case, memory and a hard drive. (and a TV tuner if you feel the need)

Hardware decoding will be good enough for 720p/1080p video and you'll have enough power for uncompressed audio streams too. I've built several of those machines for clients and have done extensive testing and it works out great with Blu-ray & HD DVD rips.

 

[Ninja Monkey]

Cool. Thanks!