Monolith Media Center brings MythTV to the technophobe

If MythTV's promise of a free Windows Media Center alternative sounds exciting, but you can't quite bring yourself to navigate the trials of a Linux install on your own, then you might be interested in Monolith's pre-built Media Center PCs, which come with MythTV pre-installed on top of Ubuntu Linux. Models start at $650, and include a remote, an IRBlaster, and free electronic programming guide access -- none of those silly TiVo-style monthly fees. Specs range from a single analog tuner to dual HDTV tuners, and you can get a 400GB HDD and DVD burner as well. The 3.2GHz P4 CPU isn't exactly cutting edge, but all the same, the Monolith box should be fine for someone who doesn't want to mess with setup, and isn't afraid to spend a bit more than they would otherwise.

[Chris @ Aug 16th 2006 8:13PM]

The 3.2Ghz CPU isn't cutting edge? There are alot worse processors. And a 400GB Harddrive... all for $650? I could use a new DVD player, but on second thought... I'm Sold.

[Blog The Internet @ Aug 16th 2006 8:13PM]

To me that seems like a great deal. Granted, I don't have the money for it... but even though I am broke, I still know a good deal when I see one. The computer alone is almost worth that. If I had the money or could afford it, I would purchase one. :)

[otakucode @ Aug 16th 2006 8:18PM]

Very nice... it's about time products like this came to market. Now my only remaining nagging question about the HTPC market is why they consistently shun HDTV over component cables, and what is their beef with slot-load or laptop form-factor DVD drives?

[J @ Aug 16th 2006 8:18PM]

Installing MythTV on Ubuntu takes 3 hours for a novice. My setup cost me $180 which included a $60 TV tuner card, a $60 PC from Craigslist and a $60 HDD.

[Chris @ Aug 16th 2006 8:18PM]

Wait a minute... I just looked at it once more... is that an actual PC, or just strictly media?

[Byron @ Aug 16th 2006 8:54PM]

All systems include:

* FREE Electronic Programming Guide Access
* Remote Control
* IRBlaster
* A/V Cables


Available upgrades:

* Dual-Tuners
* 400GB Hard Drive
* HDTV Tuners
* DVD-RW drive
* 3.2GHz P4 CPU


Standard System (MSRP $649):

* ASUS P1-PH1 System
* 200GB Hard Drive
* Single TV Tuner
* DVD-R Drive
* P4 3.0GHz CPU (I'm guessing since the upgrade is P4 3.2GHz CPU)

it doesn't actually come with the 400gb hard drive :(

[noobs @ Aug 16th 2006 9:10PM]

i don't know if this a good deal or a bad deal...I guess it saves your the trouble of trying to play with the IR blaster settings and stuff like that.

Whats the story on cablecard support with this HTPCs? How do I save HDTV if I can't use my local providers cablecard?

[Eazy @ Aug 16th 2006 9:40PM]

If Byron didn't already say it. I was just gonna say that this is a rebranded Asus Pundit.

[Big Sam @ Aug 16th 2006 10:10PM]

noobs,
Pray for a QAM tuner and hope your provider pumps some unencrypted HD channels over it. I assume MythTV supports QAM.

[Chris @ Aug 16th 2006 10:16PM]

that's kinda ugly, and who would want a loud, hot, P4 in their entertainment center.

[yujie @ Aug 16th 2006 10:38PM]

that almost look like a pre-ps3 to me

[Mike @ Aug 16th 2006 10:55PM]

I built the AMD version of the same ASUS barebone for $338 and installed MythTV on it to use as a frontend for a HD projector using DVI.

[Kevin M. @ Aug 16th 2006 11:00PM]

I love Ubuntu. It can definately power a media center well. Can you use the OS or just the MythTV?

[iskra @ Aug 17th 2006 2:29AM]

Yup... Asus Pundit - ordered (and set up) one myself some years ago. Celeron processor, 80GB HDD and 256MB of RAM but XP still runs smoothly (for about 420$ back then in EU). Plus with all possible connections out of the box (SPDIF, tv-out, DVI,...). Good piece of hardware if you ask me.

[BabySimon @ Aug 17th 2006 6:11AM]

I have a couple of these (Pundits) at home, one running MythTV. They're fairly quiet with a cool CPU (e.g. old Northwood Celeron) but with a hot CPU (e.g. the Prescott-based P4 that I assume the builders are using) they make a hell of a racket. Unless Monolith have squeezed in an aftermarket cpu fan (tricky, it's a small box and comes with a proprietary fan) this isn't going to be great for the living room.

[Intrepid @ Aug 17th 2006 6:41AM]

Buy a real Media Center or you'll regret it... and shouldn't MS sue Myth for making it look so much like MCE2005?

[Nate @ Aug 17th 2006 9:03AM]

I wish the PS3 looked like this!

[Ryan @ Aug 17th 2006 10:40AM]

Just a warning about MythTV: It uses MySQL as a backend. MySQL has a habit of corrupting database tables. This will make your MythTV box stop working.

A MythTV box is quite simply a lot more trouble than a TiVo. If you like the additional features of MythTV (streaming video, web interface, games, burn recordings to DVD, etc) and are willing to do a bit of maintanence on the system (i.e. repairing broken database tables) it's a great suite. But you still basically need to be a sysadmin to use it.

[cesar @ Aug 17th 2006 11:15AM]

Ok looks like a good system for the price, if you don't want to waste the time building it yourself that is. BUT why the hell do they keep putting the S/PDIF ports on the front of the case? I have a shuttle case that does this and I can't understand it, it makes no sense to me. Or atleast put some S/PDIF ports on the backside so the cable isnt hang in the way.

[anonymous @ Aug 17th 2006 12:15PM]

"MySQL has a habit of corrupting database tables. This will make your MythTV box stop working."

WTF are you talking about man? MySQL is an extremely capabable, fully functional DB being used by millions of individuals and businesses across the world.

[Bryant @ Aug 17th 2006 12:27PM]

anyone know the name of the skin they're using there?

[marshall @ Aug 17th 2006 12:29PM]

Don't get me wrong, I like Ubuntu, but I still think that the Linux distros need more work on the user-friendliness before being declared "for technophobes." If anything goes wrong, I can hardly walk my mom through "Go to the start menu", so I'll leave behind the "open a command prompt" service I would have to give her with this box and go with MediaPortal (http://www.team-mediaportal.com) instead.

This is probably a good way to get those slightly more advanced users to make the jump to linux though.

[Flamekebab @ Aug 17th 2006 4:27PM]

£345 for that? And you're suggesting it's not a good deal?!

Wow, I may have to think about buying one of these in the near future!

[MediaPimp @ Aug 17th 2006 4:33PM]

"This is probably a good way to get those slightly more advanced users to make the jump to linux though."

Yup. I can vouch for that, spent last weekend doing just that, plus torrentflux. Done away with eyetv software and use the terratec t2 usb dvbt tuner, works a treat. Still a few things to iron out in XBMCmythtv, then its all good.

I was a linux novice before, and am chuffed to bits that i have so far managed to pull it off.

yay

[Oliver @ Aug 17th 2006 4:35PM]

It doesnt included all of that. most of those specs are options

[Rufus Pimpcane @ Aug 17th 2006 4:40PM]

I built a mythtv system on a used Dell GX115 850MHz p3 ($75), with the Hauppage PVR-150 kit with remote ($75) and a 200GB drive ($75).

After an hour with Knoppmyth, I had a working DVR for $225. With all of the encoding handled by the hauppage card, 850MHz has been sufficient. The form factor of the GX115 is nice, too.

[Slamma @ Aug 17th 2006 5:50PM]

I'm a MythTV user for over 4 years now. Monolith has put together a fantastic deal here, and I'll tell you why: If you put your own MythTV together and are lucky enough to get the base Myth install up in a few hours without any strange issues with the combination of hardware and distro you've chosen, you've still got weeks of tweaking to get all the extras up and running. Buying this setup you've got a system with plenty of horsepower for Myth plus a great starting point and you know you're buying a whole bunch of stuff that's not only going to work but is already setup and configured--that's huge for Myth. And if that's not enough, you've got tech support if you have questions.

I have a TiVo, but I use my MythTV so much more. It has so many things over a TiVo IMO, and it holds a rediculous amount of programs before filling up. It has just over 1 terrabyte of storage with a RAID array to keep all my digital photos and other important data in addition to being a MythTV machine.

[LindySlack @ Aug 17th 2006 9:04PM]

I run a hosting company and have hundereds of sites run on MySQL databases... never have a problem! 100's of databases runing on one box at one time and no problems. MythTV is lightweight for MySQL. And Ubuntu is by far the easiest to use Linux around today... And you can count on quality hardweare from ASUS... Simply can't go wrong with one of these... Of course you could save a few $'s and build one yourself but it seems to me it would just be nice and easy for everything to work out of the box...

[Vitiris @ Aug 18th 2006 8:31AM]

I would like to see a review of this box. I'm really curious about how loud it is.

[paullyboy @ Aug 19th 2006 1:58AM]

The free programing guide is a standard feature of MythTV, and would be in there regardless of Monolith. Thank Zap2it for it, not Monolith.

[Lon @ Nov 28th 2006 2:04PM]

Tvease.net does the same thing only for 549, and it comes in a case that looks like it belongs in your living room. For 999 you get a dual tuner Hauppauge 500 and 750 GB of storage. For 1349 you get 1.5 TB of storage. It also comes with a 18X DVD burner. Not to mention instead of a basic install of MythTV you get all kinds of added things for free. Like MythStream which lets you view any streaming content on the internet. They have set it up with over 300 internet TV channels and webcams. You can add any you want at any time. It also has built in Bit Torrent downloading and you can burn your Bit torrent downloads to DVD with your remote. Its crazy. For under the price of Monolith or anything else out there.