Envive E-Center A/V Vista Media Center PC

High-end Media Center PCs aren't exactly rare, but we're still in the early days of Vista, so it's still slightly novel to see one running Microsoft's new OS. The E-Center A/V, which runs on Windows Vista Home Premium Edition, does have up to 4GB of DDR2 RAM, up to two NTSC and two ATSC tuners, up to 1.5TB of storage, HDMI, 7.1 channel surround sound, and your choice of either a dual-layer DVD+-RW, Blu-ray or HD-DVD drive. No support for CableCARD, which is sort of a dealbreaker for a few us around here, but obviously not a huge deal for everyone. Units start shipping at the end of the month.

[Thanks, dark54555]

[Kyle @ Jan 8th 2007 9:56PM]

i really like the way this thing looks.

[teknokracy @ Jan 8th 2007 10:47PM]

It's just an Antec case with parts in it....

/ nothing special

[Kyle @ Jan 8th 2007 11:17PM]

i think nothing special is what i would go for.

[Monkey @ Jan 10th 2007 2:34AM]

I have that same Antec case. It's very nice, but I wouldn't pay someone else to make my pc for me.

[HTPC Pete @ Jan 9th 2007 9:02AM]

Why do these have to be so huge? Come on, Apple managed to design small media center PC, why cant anyone else?

http://htpc.info-on-the.net/

[Rick Lyon @ Jan 9th 2007 9:15AM]

Hmm, looks unfinished. No label for buttons? No logos for compatible formats? Just looks cheap.

[Bill @ Jan 9th 2007 11:44AM]

Rahter than be original and make a custom case, the crack team spent all of five minutes browsing Newegg to fint the Antec Fusion...

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16811129131

--Bill

[Chris @ Jan 9th 2007 1:09PM]

"Why do these have to be so huge? Come on, Apple managed to design small media center PC, why cant anyone else?"

This is bigger than Apple's Mini because it has way more capabilities. It can hold up to three hard drives, has a VCD with integrated remote possibilities, can add up to four internal peripherals (video card, sound card, tv tuners etc), and can accommodate the fastest running cpus and gpus because it has room to breathe. These are all features that Apple completely lacks making Minis pretty worthless as an HTPC.

"Rather than be original and make a custom case, the crack team spent all of five minutes browsing Newegg to fint the Antec Fusion..."

I think they just used an Antec case because they didn't bother to reinvent the wheel, this case has received rave reviews from all users that I have seen.

"Hmm, looks unfinished. No label for buttons? No logos for compatible formats? Just looks cheap."

Do you really need labels for the two buttons on the case? Does it really need stickers for the millions of formats that is supports? -just read the box.

I wouldn't buy a pre-made HTPC because I could make one myself but this company really looks like they offer a good product for the best price I have seen for a pre-made HTPC, they even use the exact case that I would use for my planned HTPC.