Legit Reviews

So I've seen a few media orientated laptops/HTPC's with a special fast booting software that loads before the OS, that allows it to play DVD's etc without having to wait for the OS to boot. They usually market it as 'instant on' i think.

Anyone know of any solutions that can be integrated into a custom built HTPC?

Just toying with the idea of building one for my parents as their DVD-RW player is on its last legs. It'd be non-HD, so probably going through S-Video, maybe Component if I can convince them to bury the cables in the wall (like the s-video and composite cables are).

Dan

if its non hd you wont gain anything from component. ive been looking into an HTPC as well, and unfourtunatly it seems as though solutions like that that make it very easy to use are not avialible OTS

http://www.google.com/search?q=Asus+%22Express+Gate%22
http://blogs.techrepublic.com.com/opensource/?p=187
Sounds promising...is basically a locked down version of linux run right after BIOS but I'm not sure how customizable it is...

There is also a Express Gate lite but that is basically the same thing only it's run from the HD.

Perhaps just build a cheaper HTPC (do your research and be sure to get linux compatible parts, most are but some are easier to work with) and slap a cheap drive in it that runs a something like a custom MythTV (I know zero about that) but surely if you striped it way down so it "just plays" it would be fairly easy for the folks to use. Then again, you could save the time and hassle and money and just buy a DVD player for like $40.

Anyway, that Express Gate does sound interesting...or, if you already have a HTPC, set it to either Hibernate or Standby, either of those are pretty quick and DVD players do the same anyway (you think your turned off DVD player isn't sucking down juice? HA!)

We know it sucks juice, so it all gets turned off at the wall.

We have a 42" non HD plasma, had it since, erm, 2003 or something. So long before HD was feasable, but it does do 480p. I beg to differ that there will be no benefit.

I saw the expressgate stuff, but it doesn't seem to do DVD playing. Looks like the best bet will be to stick it and get a XP MCE or really look into how much linux boot times can be cut down, and try out how simple mythTV is.

Dan

If your parents are a little computer savvy, I'd go with a linux media center like MythTV simply because you can cut out anything you don't need very easily and customize it to your needs...plus the visuals and graphics are just SO much cooler with linux in general. And really, that's what you want from a HTPC, for it to just ooze coolness.

They aren't really PC savvy, so that is why I wanted it as easy as possible. Will have to see how myth tv holds up.

Virtual machine ftw.

Dan

wow i didnt know they made non hd plasmas. 480p most look pretty bad on a tv that big. but what i was saying is that i think svideo does progressives scan

It doesn't, you need to be running via component for it to be 480p.

And our tv looks rather nice thank you very much

Dan

not compared to a 48inch 1080p 120hz it doesnt

This is a complete thread derailment, so post something constructive

haha, seriously though, I think running SD tv through a SD TV will look better than running SD through a HD TV.

Dan

actually it looks better, the only thing i dont like is the bars on the side. but just about everything i want to watch (except for the simpsons) is in HD already
now back on topic, uhh what were we talking about again?