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[color=orange]I’ve always felt that the convergence of home theater components would eventually center on a central PC. At least to an extent.
While any true audio head would never give up their collection of esoteric components in search of sonic nirvana for their hungry ears the broader market dictates a solution from a single box for simplicity’s sake and affordability.
What I’ve felt would be a more realistic solution would be to place the preamp into the HTPC and leave the power amp elsewhere (e.g. stashed under the sub woofer). Add some analog inputs for the stray cassette player, turntable, etc and one may then keep their ‘70s era goodies for their listening pleasure. Meanwhile the user is typing up a “paper” on Word while listening to some jazz tunes playing softly in the room as the DVR is recording a rerun of Matlock and the optical drive is in use spinning a borrowed copy of Rocky XXII which is being ripped for later viewing. After the “paper” is completed our hero checks his email and later purchases a couple of movie tix on line, for himself and his best girl, for the Friday night premiere of Rocky XXIII.
We’re pretty close to much of this already but the convergence (such that it is) is limited to likeminded folks who frequent sites like Missing Remote. It ain’t mainstream, but it’s coming, witness the Maui system.
One semi-related gripe I have is regarding the desktop GUI. Why the heck can’t MS provide us with an option for a 10’ GUI on the desktop? There’s a fair chance that some versions of Vista that come with Media Center are going to be used in a living/entertainment room environment, duh! Folks need to access the desktop apps or surf the web from time to time. Why can’t I easily do this from my sofa? I better quit now because the GUI matter is another rant for another time.
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