Are HTPCs Dead
Posted: Thu Jan 19, 2012 3:21 pm
My HTPC is nearly 4 years old... It sucks down power and is in dire need of an update. The old AMD 'maui' PC uses over 100W at idle and in this day and age that is way too much. I can easily build a new box with a third of that idle power use...
I went to build up a new one and it got me wondering... I won a Sony Blu-Ray player in a contest a year ago and it's sitting in the box brand new. I can get a Charter Communications DVR box with multi-room support for $7 more a month. Why do I even need a HTPC any longer?
Before it was because I wanted an inexpensive way to play blu-rays and recordcable TV shows with windows media center, but now in 2012 with on-demand and DVR leasing being inexpensive I am starting to debate on needing one at all. I know back in 2008 Charter DVR was $15-$20 a month if I remember right. Now a multi-room DVR is $7 a month and that is a feature I can't easily copy with a HTPC. Having 4 TV's around my house that would be a nice feature to have.
I went to build up a new one and it got me wondering... I won a Sony Blu-Ray player in a contest a year ago and it's sitting in the box brand new. I can get a Charter Communications DVR box with multi-room support for $7 more a month. Why do I even need a HTPC any longer?
Before it was because I wanted an inexpensive way to play blu-rays and recordcable TV shows with windows media center, but now in 2012 with on-demand and DVR leasing being inexpensive I am starting to debate on needing one at all. I know back in 2008 Charter DVR was $15-$20 a month if I remember right. Now a multi-room DVR is $7 a month and that is a feature I can't easily copy with a HTPC. Having 4 TV's around my house that would be a nice feature to have.