Jason_Wall
[H] Consumer Managing Editor
- Joined
- Jul 22, 2005
- Messages
- 2,138
It doesn't seem so long ago that we were starting to see the first HTPCs roll off the lines of our favorite integrators. In fact, some are just now coming to market. But the convergence of wanting a smaller form factor and better management of HD content has made people think twice about the HTPC in favor of a more affordable, more manageable device.
Thanks for reading!
Please Digg this article to share it with others. We appreciate your support.
Even only taking into consideration the present capabilities of STB/PVR’s, these devices offer significant advantages for recording and watching HDTV and SDTV programming over stand-alone HTPC’s. First, they are incredibly easy to use. With interactive programming guides, dual HD tuner capabilities, and a simple user interface, even the most extreme technophobe can get the hang of it with minimal difficulty. The second advantage that STB/PVR’s have over HTPC’s is the significantly lower financial investment required. Cable providers and some satellite providers rent the boxes for as little as $8-20 per month. Compared with HTPC’s that cost anywhere from $800-$2000 on up, STB/PVR’s are exponentially more attractive to consumers on a limited budget. Also, content providers that do rent boxes will generally let users upgrade for free when new capabilities and technologies are introduced.
Thanks for reading!
Please Digg this article to share it with others. We appreciate your support.