Aaron really has the best bit of advice. Use one of your current PCs, even if just for a couple of days, as you would an HTPC. The biggest advantage of an HTPC is that there is no content that it cannot be tweaked to play, and no content provider that doesn’t offer something online that a PC can reach. The down side is that in most cases, accessing content online on a PC means doing so through the browser, forgoing the curated app experience of a smart TV or over-the-top box. Amazon Prime Video is a good example of this. On devices that Amazon supports, Amazon Prime Video is an app, controlled entirely by a remote control. On a PC, it means going through your browser which in turn means a keyboard and mouse (or similar input system). The PC is definitely clunkier in that example. One other advantage of a PC is access to a wider range of content and service, such as free Hulu. Yes, there is still Hulu Plus on the PC if you want more than what they offer for free, but on every device I can think of, it’s Hulu Plus or bust. Or perhaps you prefer cruising YouTube. Devices that support YouTube are typically more limited in what kind of access they provide and the search capabilities compared to using the site directly.
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