PS3 or HTPC?

[akhlaq768]

Just been reading about HTPC, just wondering why would anyone buy/build a HTPC if they had a PS3 already?


Please can someone tell me there are more benefits of having one, so I have an excuse to get one....


What are the uses of a HTPC?

[Cafe.Rcaer]

Can you watch live tv and record live tv with a PS3?

[TDF]

A HTPC could get you sat, cable and or terrestrial programs recorded to watch at your leisure with no adverts. Not to mention all sorts of streams from TVcatchup to Ted Talks.

I used to look at someones MythTV interface that was open on the internet, I could see he recorded stuff and had it transcoded into differant formats. I always imagined he caught the bus or train to work and watched some programs on his mobile or something on the way, then watched other stuff streamed to his work desktop. From the web interface you could carry out all sorts of actions, someone at work mentions a good program, no problem jump on the net and set it to record.

I remember him saying he went to glastonbury and set it to record anything with the word 'glastonbury' in it, came back to a shed load of it not realising it was on so many channels. You can tell MythTV to look for and record whatever, it will scan the guide looking for matches, could be 'eastenders or 'documentaries roman history'.

Theres a few programs for torrents and newsgroups that will automatically download series for you. Loads of plugins and scripts for all sorts of things.

A HTPC is a world of possibilities.

[MortUK]

Originally Posted by Cafe.Rcaer

Can you watch live tv and record live tv with a PS3?

You can get a box called "PlayTV" for the PS3, Lets you watch and record freeview on your PS3.

[safe-cracker]

a ps3 wont play .mkv so htpc gets my vote

[hethemlrijk]

if you dont mind spending circa 50 quid a game go for the ps3 if you want tto play games. if you want a a media machine build/buy an htpc

[MortUK]

I went down the PS3 route at one point, I've also had a HTPC.. The setup i ended up with is using XBox 360's as extenders from my office PC.

At the end of the day it's whatever suits your own specific needs. I personally wanted a system where i could download video and record TV on a central unit and access them from anywhere in the house. Some HTPC's will let you do this depending on what software you use and how good you are at setting them up (I believe it's quite complicated). the PS3 won't

If you want an "Out of the box" setup then I'd go for the PS3, If you like messing around with software and your setup then a HTPC is probably better for you.

I have to say that the Picture quality on the PS3 is fantastic, BluRay or HD video. I wasn't too impressed with the Freeview TV option, although that was a couple of years ago and the software has been updated since I last used it.

Mort.

[River-Rat]

Originally Posted by safe-cracker

a ps3 wont play .mkv so htpc gets my vote

who told u that?

i use mkv2vob

[CrashUK]

ps3 dont work.. some people have posted 720p movies that work on ps3 on a usb stick

they called HR.. so Look for 720p HR.. Also the movies can only be 2 channels.. HTPC can do every thing but can but are very hard to setup the first time. As you dont know maybe best with freeview+ or sky+/freesat+

[MortUK]

Originally Posted by CrashUK

ps3 dont work.. some people have posted 720p movies that work on ps3 on a usb stick

they called HR.. so Look for 720p HR.. Also the movies can only be 2 channels.. HTPC can do every thing but can but are very hard to setup the first time. As you dont know maybe best with freeview+ or sky+/freesat+

Crash.. 720p does work with the PS3, I have personal experience, You just need to run them through MKV2VOB like seamouse said..

Mort..