Can someone explain Media Center PC's?

[Jammrock]

Right. I understand all of that. I'm just wondering if what happened was that there was a window that people spotted where these things would work well... and then that window closed? That's sort of how I see it. The window closed, and these things were released to little fanfare and even less customer acceptance.

HP had an AMAZING HTPC last year. It had dual-tuner, it was shaped like a stereo component, even had an integrated tuner and amp. Of course, it is just as useless as every other HTPC out there... and was quickly discontinued.

Supposedly ... since HDTV over cable with smart card thing has been standardized you will eventually be able to pull HDTV off digital cable without the need of an HDTV cable box. Many of the new HDTVs have smart card readers for HD over cable, and eventually HTPCs will be able to do the same. So it'll be just a matter of time before HTPCs will be able to work perfectly over cable . .. .. ... .... like in 2009.

Jammrock

[Nowhere]

Kurt, they will remain niche product for a looong time. It all boils down to complexity and price. The ones who would not afraid of their complexity already have PC and see no reason for HTPC, the most they'll buy is a DVD player with DivX support for 50€. The ones who don't have PC...are either afraid of technology or don't have money...so they'll also buy at most DVD/Divx player...

Of course...situation is valid here.

[Kurt]

I see the HTPC device as not much more than a DVD player on steroids. With all the standards changing all the time, it's nice to have a device so versatile. That's why it should be viewed as an appliance, not a "pc in the living room" thing.

What I'm really looking for is sth that would replace my dvd player/writer, sat box, divx et al player, and connect to the internet to get new movies or music (via iTunes or other). If the components are good enough it could also be used as a Hi Fi.

That kind of device really needs some special OEM/ODM love because some of the components are not easy to do for end users (Hi Fi stuff, special connectors et al, form factor).

I'm sure there's a market for a 500 EUR box that'd do all that.

[Wombat]

HTPC kind of needed CableCard to come out, and the cable industry has really been dragging their heels on it.