HTPC - What is it that I need?

I would advocate putting the most money into the hard drive space and video card(s). Then allocate money for the processor and memory. And get a case that's going to be expandable enough to add additional drives as they come.

Expecting to get 10+ years out of a computer is a little, well, optimistic. I'd shoot more for a time horizon of 4 years, and invest at most $2000 rather than $3-4K. Things are rapidly changing for both computers and home theater, and so naturally their integration is still a rapidly moving target.

Just my 2 cents.

Michael

My buddy just called me and just figured out that he is able to use his XBOX as a "converter" - He did not realized that the xbox can communicate with his PC, by doing so, he is able to play his video/audio on his PC through his XBOX which is connected to his Yamaha anhd DLP - He is simply blown away and at this time he is speechless! He is now reconsidering the Mega PC approach.... Thanks for all of your responses!

Wader1971

Get the Wednesday & Thursday paper... Grab a reasonable hunk of dough... and heaed out early This Thursday evening to a local BB or CC and get on line there. When they start passing out the tickets for pc stuff, laptops, towers, network drives, etc. take 'em, as much if not all of the adv goods will be first come first served. Without the ticket (s) even when the doors open, they'll be sold out!

If you change your mind give the ticket away or sell it to another shopper.

A friend of mine last year went to get a laptop ADV'd for $399.95, and was on line at 5 AM till the doors opened... and didn't have a ticket for the deal he wanted... Luckily, another shopper had changed their minds and sold him theirs for $20, so he could get his PC.

I'd think either networking drives, or laptops for Friday. Supposedly this year great laptops fully featured, no slouches are going to be under $599. Good ones for even less.

....Just a thought.

Since my buddy figure out the XBOX avenue, now he is asking me if there any aux hard drive so he can burn all of his dvd's on to it? IF so, any recommendation for him.... Thanks

Iomega now has some refurbished USB & firewire drives on sale at their web site.

500GB for 70.00 for ex.

As good as that is, the network drive is more recommended, yet their x2 drive isn't on sale and still is 300.00 for 1TB.

Again, check out blackfriday.com for more deals... they're already lining up around here at BB & CC.... and it's two days out!