• Uses popular Boxee software with social apps and TV showes through the internet. Has a “Watch Later” feature for internet videos.
• Can access video, music, pictures from a computer on the network. Comaptable with most video formats.
• Double sided remote control with a full QWERTY keypad on the back.
• 1080p video output
• 802.11n Wireless capable

• Apple app store capable
• Use and iPhone ot iPad to control
• Small three inch footprint.
• Stream movies and music to an iPad or iPhone
• 720p video output.
• 802.11n Wireless capable.

• Uses Google TV which supports Android apps
• Full sized keyboard included.
• HDMI in and HDMI out allows interaction with cable or satellite TV.
• 1080p video output
• 802.11n Wireless capable.

• Supports Netflix, Hulu Plus, Amazon Video, and other apps
• Low price.
• Small three inch footprint.
• 720p video output.
• 802.11n Wireless capable.

Equipment:

1) modem

2) satellite receiver

3) power conditioner

4) receiver

5) 3d bluray player

6) 3d plasma

7) Wireless router

8 port switch

all of these will be in Cabinet next to TV that is hung on the wall. All the components have ethernet ports and ability to reach the cloud and HDMI too.

For Ethernet connections I am thinking this setup for the Cat6 cables:

1) Modem to Power conditioner – 3ft Cat6

2) Modem to router – 3ft Cat6

3) Router to Switch – 3ft Cat6

4) Switch to Satellite receiver – 3ft Cat6

5) Switch to Receiver – 3ft Cat6

6) Switch to Bluray player – 3ft Cat6

7) Swith to TV – 12ft Cat6

Switch to laptop – 25ft Cat6

I thought I might be able to get some feedback on theCat6 hookups first. Many thanks in advance.

Lotus

Here are the parts I used to update my HTPC:
• Intel Core 2 Quad Q8300processor
• GIGABYTE GA-X48-DQ6 LGA 775 Intel X48 ATX Intel Motherboard
• OCZ 4GB (2 x 2GB) SDRAM DDR2 1066
• Seagate Barracuda 1.5 TB hard drives (x2)
• Logitech MK700 keyboard and mouse
• SeaSonic S12D 850 Silver 850W power supply
• Galaxy GTS 250 video card
• Windows 7

The only parts I kept from the previous HTPC are the case and blu-ray ROM. I didn’t have any problems installing the hardware. The SeaSonic fan is super quite and the quad core processor makes the computer noticeably faster.

On the software side, I did have problems trying to install Window’s 7 64 bit. After a day and a half, I gave up and went to the professional 32 bit version of Windows 7. The 64 bit version kept getting stuck in the beginning with an unspecified driver issue.

Windows 7 so far has worked out great as an HTPC operating System. I’ve had no HDMI sync issues, blu-rays play great, and streaming media is easier. So far, so good.

Every time I use an XP machine, I can’t help missing the Windows 7 taskbar at the bottom and how much easier it’s to use. Networking is also easier with the new Homegroup feature. Just add the Homegroup password to any new Windows 7 computer you want to have access, and you’re good to go. Although, I found it annoying that non Windows 7 computers need to have a user account with a non-blank password to share data with Windows 7 PCs. On my HTPC, the blank password was an issue as I don’t want to enter a password to start up my HTPC.

Another new feature I like in Windows 7 is the use of “libraries.” I keep most of my data on the HTPC, so it’s useful to go to the documents library and see my HTPC documents and my local computer’s documents all in one place. The same goes for movies, pictures, and especially music.

In the end, I decided to add Windows 7 to my HTPC. The new taskbar, homegroup feature, and libraries convinced me along with the fact that Windows 7 is better protected against viruses/malware. After a week of use, my HTPC has no issues. Blu-rays still play great with TMT movie player and streaming music is easier with the new version of media player.

So, would I recommend Windows 7 over XP or Vista on a HTPC or a regular PC? I think the fact that I now have Windows 7 on my HTPC, office computer and two laptops answers that question.

The TMT software sold me and I purchased the card. Install was simple with a PCIe slot needed. HDMI signals need video to work so there is a cable that comes with the card to bring the DVI signal from my video card into the Xonar HDMI input. I then connected the HDMI out of the Xonar to my Denon receiver.

I didn’t get any sound at first and my desktop size was all messed up when I first started the computer (I was using component signal before). After resizing the desktop to 720p I went and installed Xonar’s latest driver off their website. Still no sound after a restart, but I now was able to use the Xonar configuration program to update the settings. After a little while, I figures out I needed the settings set to HDMI and 7.1 surround sound speakers. I also set the PCM to 192 kHz. The important setting I forgot in the beginning was going to the control panel and changing Window’s speaker setting to 7.1 surround sound. I did manage to get sound after that.

I installed the TMT blu-ray player software and changed the audio setting to ‘HDMI’ which allows HDMI pass-through. This is important because I wanted bit streaming from my HTPC to the receiver so the Denon receiver could do the audio decoding. Sure enough, I got the “DTS-HD MA” display on my receiver when I played a blu-ray movie. At last, 7.1 surround sound from my HTPC.

However, there are a couple issues I’m still trying to figure out. One is I can’t play any regular DVDs with the TMT software. My TV immediately turns to snow if I play one and I have to restart the computer. The second problem is more significant as I’m getting HDMI sync issues. If I switch from my HTPC to my PS3 and back to my HTPC …then I get a black screen. There was a period where I couldn’t get the black screen to go away even with multiple reboots. I finally switched DVI inputs on my card and I got video. The HDMI sync issues could be a deal breaker if it keeps continuing. I’ll see as time goes on.

I purchased Gears of War for my HTPC. Big mistake as it took me 3 hours before I could get it to work. Here is the ridiculous process Microsoft has put me through:

1. Install game (approximately an hour)
2. Went to start game, but got a xlive.dll file missing error. Had to search Google to find a patch.
3. Had to download patch and install
4. Had to download Games for Windows – Live.
5. Windows Live required .Net version 3 so had to download that.
6. Restart computer.
7. Went to start game, and got “cannot run game with modified executable code. Please reinstall game error.” After searching Google once again, found a ‘hotfix’ required by Microsoft to download.
8. Downloaded Microsoft ‘hotfix’ and installed.
9. Restart computer.
10. Had to create a ‘live’ account. This forced me to get a @live or @hotmail email. Why can’t I use my gmail address is beyond me …oh yeah, it’s Microsoft and they want to force you to use their products.
11. Had to create Windows Live for games profile
12. Still received “please reinstall game error”. Relented and uninstalled Gears of War.
13. Reinstalled Gears of War (another hour).
14. Still got the “cannot run game with modified executable code. Please reinstall game error” message after install. Did more searching on Google and found that Microsoft has some server issue which requires a GearsPC_TU3_Microsoft.exe file to be installed.
15. Aftre patch installed, game finally worked!

A total of 15 steps is 14 too many to instal a simple game. Microsoft obviously wants people to buy an Xbox. After all of this, I’m never buying a Microsoft game again. I’m sticking with Valve’s Steam service. Never had a problem with Steam. I never had to restart my computer multiple times or download .Net patches to simply install a game. Steam lets me downloaded and purchase straight through the internet and doens’t require any annual fees. Theire in-game service is very comperable to Xbox Live.

Take my advice and don’t bother with Microsoft PC gaming. It’s not worth it.

Here is a demo of zeevee:

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Q6mYNQ-c8I