Kinetic's HD:Hub HTPC now shipping, HD DVD still a selectable option

We've got to hand it to 'em -- these guys aren't ashamed to be clearing out excess inventory, and honestly, we're still fond of the choice. Sure, HD DVD may be defunct, but what's the harm in having the capability in your HTPC should an old friend pop over with a disc to watch? All that aside, Kinetic UK's trio of media center PCs are now shipping after being introduced initially in March, with Blu-ray / HD DVD compatibility, up to 6TB of storage space, Core 2 Duo / Core 2 Quad / Core i7 processor choices and a healthy array of CTO options elsewhere. As for prices, you're looking at starting tags of £849.00 ($1,351) for the Mini HD:Hub, £1449.00 ($2,306) for the Home HD:Hub and £1569.00 ($2,497) for the flagship X HD:Hub.

[rocky_boss @ May 23rd 2009 4:12PM]

Too bad there was no "Dawn of the Dead" on HD-DVD !!!

[Andrew Fujimura @ May 23rd 2009 4:25PM]

Your joke aside that is still one of my favorite HD DVD's. Its to bad the movie industry pulled what they did, now I am streaming my movies and paying much less then I was buying HD DVD's. No more buying movies for me, except of course clearance HD DVD's. They took a perfectly good format, that movie collectors were buying and killed it. Watch blu ray fail, the kids that own PS3's will only buy 3 movies. The attach rate said it all, but Sony paid them to ignore it. Because there were so many PS3's that each bought a copy of spider man 3.....

[Haikibutsu @ May 23rd 2009 4:56PM]

That case is sweet

[Porkchop Flavored Cupcake @ May 23rd 2009 5:15PM]

Then go buy it and make your own HTPC: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129054
It's the Antec Fusion Remote Black, only runs avg. $150.
Then go buy the HD-DVD|Blu-ray drive from LG: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827136133
Price on that drive fluctuates between 90-100.
Then go get whatever else you feel like putting into it and it's pretty safe to say you'll save a pretty penny.

[kd0b100011 @ May 23rd 2009 5:06PM]

test

[Jon Doe. @ May 23rd 2009 5:57PM]

Fail

[lucian @ May 23rd 2009 5:12PM]

wtf

[Soulsaber @ May 23rd 2009 5:26PM]

wow really a core i7 in a HTPC? is that really necessary?

[jon @ May 23rd 2009 8:30PM]

If you use your HTPC as your main media pc, it can be nice for ripping and transcoding.

[Mr. Ford @ May 24th 2009 4:44PM]

...and for gaming on a big ass TV

[OneLove @ May 23rd 2009 5:52PM]

nice

[Beelzebub @ May 23rd 2009 6:10PM]

As usual with HTPCs way overpriced.

[Video Master 2 @ May 23rd 2009 6:27PM]

What is the advantage of a HTPC over a lets say Denon receiver? I never thought about taking this route. I already have a Mac dual G5 and it kicks arse!

[jakem @ May 23rd 2009 7:02PM]

Better software for starters.

[Mr. Ford @ May 24th 2009 4:46PM]

Do you honestly not realize that those two things aren't even comparable? That's like asking, "what are the advantages of a Ferrari over a slice of pizza?"

[John Bailey @ May 24th 2009 6:55PM]

Simple.. Instead of having different inputs for various media types. you have one fully customised machine that plays everything. Multi tuner PVR, multi format optical disks, all video files, Youtube in full screen, the list goes on and on. Plus, up scaling on a computer is way better for SDTV.

[Video Master 2 @ May 23rd 2009 6:41PM]

@ Porkchop Flavored Cupcake,

if I were to build my own HTPC with your suggestions, what audio components do you add for 7.1 surround (HD Audio formats), where do you buy them and what operating system runs on these? I surely hope Windows doesn't run on these. Yuck.

[Damo @ May 23rd 2009 8:12PM]

If you were to build a HTPC, i would go for an

Intel E5200
Asus P5N7A-VM (Best 9300 board in australia, but there might be better in other countries.)
4gb Ram
Hauppauge HVR2200
Antec Fusion Remote Black
LG HDDVD/Bluray Combo

On board sound will work fine, though the CPU is base model, it is MORE than enough.

[Damo @ May 23rd 2009 8:12PM]

Oh, and W7 RC1, for W7 Media centre.

[az1324 @ May 23rd 2009 7:28PM]

i can haz cablecard?

[jakem @ May 23rd 2009 7:32PM]

I presume this is UK/ROI only.

[Video Master 2 @ May 23rd 2009 9:24PM]

These support DTS-HD Master Audio and Dolby TrueHD ??

[martialoffrance @ May 24th 2009 1:17PM]

Why not just get an Iphone and netflix online streaming? The Iphone from ATT. Your World Connected


CDMA SUCKS