Re: Video Server and Distribution

["E. Lee Dickinson" <lee@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

"IVB" <ivb@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:MRLjg.5634$lp.129@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
>I do that.

Do you store DVDs on HDD? What format are you using?

> Extenders can only do SDTV, not HDTV. This means that they're only good
> for regular old analog TVs.

That's too bad. DLink has a HD network media player for around the same
price as a media center extender. I'd go that route, but I rather like the
idea of having access to my MCE playlists, plugins, etc.

> If I were you, I'd use 1 PC to render the video for the 85", another for
> the 35" LCD, and use the cheap extenders for the analog TVs in your house.

You said it yourself on your website: Low cost! I'd rather find a $250
solution than be building more MCE machines.  That would put me up to 3 MCE
PCs - kitchen touchscreen, living room, bedroom.

DLink should take their HD media player hardware and get with the MCE
program.

> My Home Automation Blog: http://homeautomation.wordpress.com/
> "E. Lee Dickinson" <lee@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
> news:e6lc3g$a24$1@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
>>I have two viewing areas from which I would like to view, in as best
>>quality as possible, my DVD collection. One is an 85" projection screen in
>>my bedroom, one is a 35" LCD in the living room, then there are TVs in the
>>office and guest room, and a media center machine in the kitchen cabinet.
>>
>> Curently, I'm leaning towards ripping the collection to my Windows Media
>> Center machine, and then using a media center extender in the other areas
>> to access those files.  They will need to be ripped as wither WMA or MPG,
>> though, and I am worried about aspect rations, video quality, and
>> surround sound. And HDD space, but that's less of a concern.
>>
>> The other problem is that I am a little hesitant to spend money on
>> something with Bluray on its way... but with a starting price of $1,000
>> for a bluray player, I will probably delay such an upgrade for a year at
>> least. It'd sure be nice to be able to feed HD to my various HD displays.
>>
>> The other option would be a 500 disc DVD changer and a component video
>> DA, and IR distro in the house - which is planned anyway.
>>
>> Are any of you doing component video distro? Anyone have any experience
>> with the video quality of the media center extenders? I'd appreciate any
>> equipment recomendations or just general theoretical advice.
>>
>> Thanks. :)
>>
>> :Lee
>>
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