Hi,
I'm a bit confused here.
Firstly somebody please tell me what you can do with an HTPC that you CANNOT do with a media player! I'm not sure where the Media Player capabilities end and HTPC Capabilities begin.
What I am looking for is:
1) Max AND I MEAN MAX support for various file types etc. Which is the box that supports most of everything thats out there.
2) The ability to download additional codecs and install them so that the box can keep playing newer formats as they come
3) Like you connect a USB based HDD to a media player, can you connect a USB based external Blu Ray drive too? I have a lot of movies on DVD and don't wanna spend time ripping everything to HDD.
Now, I was also looking for some WiFi routers because mine is circling the drain right now. I was surprised to find similar capabilities (USB HDD connect, NAS Sharing, even torrent downloads) on some of the WiFi routers.
I'm thinking which functionalities are better suited to which hardware?
Should I go for a fully loaded WiFi router? That'll give me everything I need on the WiFi router layer itself - the media player would then be used purely to decode various file formats and then pass on to the Receiver/ TV.
Or instead should I go in for a fully loaded media player?
Under what circumstances should I look for an HTPC?
I've come to the conclusion that most decent Media Players come with USB connectivity and NAS servers anyways. So even if I go with a WiFi router which gives me these, the media player would have them nevertheless. Therefore it would be a feature overlap. Instead I'll go for a barebones WiFi router and go for a fully loaded media player. Does this make sense?
But coming to WiFi routers, I dont want the basic models. Their range is shitty and I sometimes struggle to stream heavy-duty content. If my line of thought is correct, I need a WiFi router with Dual Band and good range, but without all the other jing-bang features.
Please suggest (on the overall picture).
I'm a bit confused here.
Firstly somebody please tell me what you can do with an HTPC that you CANNOT do with a media player! I'm not sure where the Media Player capabilities end and HTPC Capabilities begin.
What I am looking for is:
1) Max AND I MEAN MAX support for various file types etc. Which is the box that supports most of everything thats out there.
2) The ability to download additional codecs and install them so that the box can keep playing newer formats as they come
3) Like you connect a USB based HDD to a media player, can you connect a USB based external Blu Ray drive too? I have a lot of movies on DVD and don't wanna spend time ripping everything to HDD.
Now, I was also looking for some WiFi routers because mine is circling the drain right now. I was surprised to find similar capabilities (USB HDD connect, NAS Sharing, even torrent downloads) on some of the WiFi routers.
I'm thinking which functionalities are better suited to which hardware?
Should I go for a fully loaded WiFi router? That'll give me everything I need on the WiFi router layer itself - the media player would then be used purely to decode various file formats and then pass on to the Receiver/ TV.
Or instead should I go in for a fully loaded media player?
Under what circumstances should I look for an HTPC?
I've come to the conclusion that most decent Media Players come with USB connectivity and NAS servers anyways. So even if I go with a WiFi router which gives me these, the media player would have them nevertheless. Therefore it would be a feature overlap. Instead I'll go for a barebones WiFi router and go for a fully loaded media player. Does this make sense?
But coming to WiFi routers, I dont want the basic models. Their range is shitty and I sometimes struggle to stream heavy-duty content. If my line of thought is correct, I need a WiFi router with Dual Band and good range, but without all the other jing-bang features.
Please suggest (on the overall picture).