Home Theater PCs set to explode?

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Home Theater PCs set to explode?

CNN reviews Snapstream and sums it up best:

I have seen the future of television, and it lies within a computer.

This review (we reviewed Snapstream too), coupled the recent PSX launch, simple front-ends like this, and posts like this (from a venture capitalist, no less), it's looking more and more like predictions such as these could come true:

There will be a Home Theater PC in most living rooms within 5 years

I'm surprised there aren't more startups springing up to capitalize on the combination of cheap hardware and the shareware and opensource programs out there to do it all.

UPDATE: eHomeUpgrade has links to a cool home theater PC that's like a shuttle PC on the inside, but looks like a standard mini-stereo on the outside.

by Matt Haughey October 8, 2003 in News

Comments

Yo dude - we are! Except it's gonna take some time to position ourselves and find funding. So we're bootstrapping with nerds, FOAF and open standards - but what we're REALLY going after is "social software for families".

:-)

Posted by: Marc Canter at Oct 8, 2003 5:06:46 PM

Sounds great Marc, I can't see any reason why people won't have a cheap commodity PC sitting in their living room providing all their entertainment functionality, so however you have to fund the goal of getting there, it seems like the market is going that way so it should pay off someday soon.

Posted by: Matt Haughey at Oct 8, 2003 5:13:37 PM

In regards to the Systemax 3605 Home Theater PC, it turns out that a company called Micro-Star International (a.k.a. MSI) developed the Home Theater “barebones” system and has been offering it to the public for a few months now.

http://www.ehomeupgrade.com/archives/article123.php

Posted by: Alexander Grundner at Oct 9, 2003 2:26:23 PM

I think calling it a "PC" is a mistake. No, no one is going to have a PC anywhere near their TV. But the other point is right on. Someone needs to cobble together a cheap box and more open Tivo-like software into an attractive package. $300 max with free program guide (possibly ad-supported, but lightly).

Posted by: pb at Oct 9, 2003 3:01:08 PM

I agree with pb, the PC nomenclature could scare off some potential users. Why not just call it a Digital Entertainment Center or something along those lines?

My household has logged on to several "new" entertainment ideas and so far, I can really feel the possibilities but am not blown away. Yet. I just hope the developers make it simple to use.

You have a great resource here, Matt.

[81/100]

Posted by: j. brotherlove at Oct 13, 2003 8:50:36 AM

Shamless self promotion, but thought you might be interested in knowing we believe the time may be near for this to come to fruition, http://www.pugetsystems.com/htpc.php

Posted by: Home Theather PC at Jun 1, 2005 11:15:54 PM

psychology again..invent a brand new name..better not mentioning pc..ordinary people like to control less complicated, direct view buttons only..

Posted by: tomorrow at Jul 23, 2005 11:59:59 PM

Home Theater PCs set to explode?

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