When Microsoft introduced its Media Center Edition version of Windows XP in January of 2002, it laid clear another of its battle fronts as the lowly PC made its march from basement to den to family space and, finally, into the living room. Or at least, that was the hope. Windows XP Media Center Edition was never released as a stand-alone operating system. Instead, it was only volume licensed to system builders. And not your local boutique computer shop either; only PC powerhouses like HP, Dell and Sony were able to build systems around this new media-friendly OS.

This move was understandable in many ways. For one, it allowed Microsoft to create a seamless experience and focus its support on a smaller grouping of standardized hardware — TV tuner cards, video cards, audio hardware and the like — and make sure that they worked without issue. However, it also cut off the potential for hobbyist or boutique computer builders to get involved with Windows XP’s new media functions. Computer hobbyists tend not to opt for branded machines as they simply don’t offer the flexibility for future-proofing, choice of components, upgrades and so on that a custom-built machine does.

While Windows XP Media Center Edition put the media PC movement on the mainstream map, other OS solutions became the driving force within the hobbyist media PC community. Most notably, MythTV, an open source project built on Unix with a large and growing driver base for common (and not so common) media PC components, support for remote controls and TV-friendly interface (among other things) gave the software a strong foothold among the hardcore. MythBuntu, an Ubuntu installation that contributes back to the larger Ubuntu developer community, makes for a system that pulls double duty as both an entertainment interface and, potentially, as a main PC too. The caveat is that, even though Ubuntu is among the friendliest distros going, you have to be comfortable working within Linux.

Windows Vista —at least in the higher end of its product offering, Home Premium and Ultimate editions — bundles in Media Centre functions and a living room friendly window into video and other content that’s most at home when played back on a big plasma or LCD screen, projector or, well, anything bigger than a standard computer monitor. The “10-foot interface,” as it’s often called.

These media functions, which include recording live TV, watching or authoring DVDs, listening to music and viewing pictures, combined with all the usual Windows Vista standards equate to a computer that really can pull double duty without asking potential users to make the switch. It also means that computer hobbyists and boutique computer shops alike can dip their toes into media PC waters without losing the comfortable Windows operating system environment in the process.

With that in mind, we’re going to embark on a two-part series that endeavours to bring you the Ultimate Media PC build, pulling together the components to build a capable media PC that won’t feel out of place in the living room. This first instalment will look at the hardware we’re going to use (bear in mind, it’s subject to change.)

The second instalment will follow along with the actual building process and then put the Ultimate Media PC through its paces. At the end of the series, we’ll give the Ultimate Media PC away to one lucky reader. Contest details and entry form are on our website at www.hubcanada.com.

The Case
Thermaltake DH-101 VF7001BNS
www.thermaltake.com
~$240

We’ll be opting for Thermaltake’s DH-101 from the Digital Home chassis series. As tempting as the DH-102 model is with its 7-inch colour LCD touchscreen is, the $500 price tag is a little over the top for our needs.

The DH-101 is a stylish chassis with a piano black case and a black, brushed aluminium face. The form factor is more like a desktop than a tower and this, combined with the overall look, will make it perfectly at home in a home entertainment centre where a standard tower-format PC would look out of place.

The DH-101 also ships with a full-sized remote for looking after common media PC functions as well as controlling the cursor on screen. We’ll still need a mouse but for simple functions like launching the media front-end to watch, record or schedule TV, play a DVD and so on, the virtual mouse on the Thermaltake remote will suffice.

Next: The components

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