Creating a multimedia home

[leecou]

Hi there - complete newbie here.

I'm after some advice and I'm not sure if this is even the right place to start.

I'm about to move home and want to use my computer(s) from different rooms to access movies, music, digital radio, freeview tv channels but I'm unsure how to go about it.

I currently have one dedicated PC which has all my music and tv and movie downloads on it. It is also has the main connection to the net. to this I want to add a touchscreen monitor in the kitchen to allow me to access the internet (for recipes etc) or access my music/videos/freeview TV.

I also want to be able to display to the TV in the living room so that we can watch movies, TV etc. I'd also like to be able to PVR.

I have no idea of the kit that I will need, the types of connection, the OS etc, etc, etc.

Any and all suggestions will be greatfully recieved.

Many thanks

Lee

 

[kfc469]

Hi there - complete newbie here.

I'm after some advice and I'm not sure if this is even the right place to start.

I'm about to move home and want to use my computer(s) from different rooms to access movies, music, digital radio, freeview tv channels but I'm unsure how to go about it.

I currently have one dedicated PC which has all my music and tv and movie downloads on it. It is also has the main connection to the net. to this I want to add a touchscreen monitor in the kitchen to allow me to access the internet (for recipes etc) or access my music/videos/freeview TV.

I also want to be able to display to the TV in the living room so that we can watch movies, TV etc. I'd also like to be able to PVR.

I have no idea of the kit that I will need, the types of connection, the OS etc, etc, etc.

Any and all suggestions will be greatfully recieved.

Many thanks

Lee

ok, to do this, you will need three computers. the one that you already have, one with the touch screen for the kitchen, and one for the tv. for the computer that you want to use as a tv, i would recommend windows xp media center edition. once you have all three of the comps, just wirelessly network them together, and there you have it!

 

[leecou]

Thanks for that.

Is there anyway to have the monitor in the kitchen running of the main home PC (rather than attaching it to another computer). Space, convienience (and cost) will be a consideration.

Cheers

L

 

[kfc469]

sure. if you want to have your computer more than 2 or three feet away from your computer, then what you need to do is buy a long VGA and mouse cord. You need the VGA for the video feed to the monitor, and you need a mouse cord becasue, if you are going to use a touch screen, then the screen acts like a mouse, so you need a way to connect it to a comp. here is a 25 foot VGA extension, you can get more or less, depending on how far awat the comp is going to be from the screen:
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=358909&CatId=73

Here is an extension cord for the mouse if it uses PS/2 type connectors:
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=422327&CatId=75
Here is an extension for the mouse if it uses USB:
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=788066&Sku=ULT31512

If you want to be able to use your computer in both the kitchen and where the auctual computer is located, then you will need some splitters:

for the monitor:
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=1074788&CatId=467

for the mouse(you only need one of these if your touch screen uses PS/2 connectors for the mouse, otherwise, you can just use a spare USB port on your comp):
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=1219599&CatId=469
this will auctually just convert PS/2 to usb, and you should have some open USB ports that you can use.

If you decide to have the two monitors hooked up(one at the comp and one in the kitchen) then both of them will display the same thing. if you open a window on one screen, it will still be open on the second.

hope this helps!!!

 

[leecou]

Thats great. Thanks for the info

L