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February 16, 2007
Dear CNET members,
Typically every week with any given community Q&A topic, we receive anywhere from a few dozen submissions to more than a hundred from our members, but this week it was a bit strange--receiving only a handful of answers to Mike's question of how he can set up his PC to become a multimedia workhorse for his home theater. So, before we start this topic off, I'm curious as to why there were so little submissions from you. Was it because the question from Mike was too vague or unclear? Was it a topic some of you folks just weren't interested in or simply a question you didn't have an answer to? I'm always looking to make this newsletter helpful and interesting to you, so if you can tell me what's on your mind, I would really appreciate it! Submit your feedback here.
Now let's tackle this week's topic. To get the ball rolling, let's start with the winning answer by Barry W. of North Canton, Ohio--who has some great recommendations for Mike for what he will need to integrate a PC into a home entertainment center. Now as I said, we didn't get very many submissions this week, so if you members currently have a multimedia PC integrated into your home theater/entertainment center and can offer some helpful tips or tell what you did to accomplish this, we'd love to hear it. Thanks to everyone for your participation and have a great weekend! For additional information, please check out CNET Insider Secrets to learn more about integrating a PC into a home theater.
(On the note of Barry and a few others who have time and time contributed great submissions to the community newsletter--a big hats off to you folks! You truly deserve a big pat on the back. Thank you all for your dedication and time to helping our members. Your contributions are second to none!)
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Member Question of the Week
I am looking to find out as much as possible on the subject of home multimedia. I want to set up my own media system to play videos, view photos, and listen to music from my computer to a TV and a projector, either through wireless and/or the new wired network using your home electrical wiring. Please let me know what my options are and how I can go about achieving this. Thank you!
Submitted by:
Mike R.
Mike, The best option is almost certainly either Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition (MCE) or one of the two versions of Vista that have the same features (this would be Vista Home Premium or Vista Ultimate).
These versions of Windows were designed for exactly what you want to do ... not only video (TV) but also music and photographs ... and for the most part they do it extremely well, better than any other product I am aware of (although still not perfectly).
What we are talking about here is a PC that can be dedicated to media. You have two choices: you can buy a Media Center PC from Dell, Gateway, HP, or Sony; or you can build a system yourself and buy the software as an OEM copy XP MCE or an OEM or retail copy of Vista Premium or Ultimate. (Vista Home and Business do not have these features...
Submitted by:
Barry W. of North Canton, Ohio
For
Barry's
efforts, we're sending him his choice of any
CNET Learning CD.
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Tips & tricks of the week
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Check out next week's question:
With all the new spyware and virus protection programs
and security systems out there, I thought I would try out the
new all-in-one system called "Windows Live OneCare." Now that
I installed it, do I still need all the other protection I
have such as (Spybot - Search & Destroy, Ad-Aware SE, and
SpywareBlaster)? I try to keep my computer clean and safe; I
hope I have the best installed. Can you have ever have too
much protection? Is Windows Live OneCare something I can
depend on solely for protecting my PC? If not, what would
other all-in-one security packages would you recommend?
--Submitted by:
James R.
If you have the answer,
e-mail us at messageboards@cnet.com.
If we choose your response, you'll get a
free CNET Learning CD.
Have a question?
• Multimedia
• Internet Security
• Digital Cameras
• Home Audio & Video
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• PC Upgrading
• PC Troubleshooting
• Digital Music
• Consumer electronics
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What is the primary use of your home computer?
(Please click on button to vote) |
 Gaming
Internet
Music
Office applications
Photos and graphics editing
Programming
Video
Other
Simple question, simple answer
Help your fellow members
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Click here to see full answer
