Having laid out many of the reasons why Windows 7 makes for a good HTPC , I’ll run you through a few good computers that you can buy if you’re looking to nestle something under your TV set. Better late than never, they say! The Dell Studio Hybrid Dell Studio Hybrid If you’re looking to buy something pre-built, the Dell Studio Hybrid is one of your best options, especially when it comes to selection of ports. It’s got HDMI and DVI outs, as well as optical audio out. The Studio Hybrid also packs full-strength Intel Pentium Dual-Core and Core 2 Duo processors, meaning it’s going to have no trouble with Flash or high-definition video – a Blu Ray drive option will help you put the computer through its paces. Not all is rosy with the Dell Studio Hybrid – its hardware appears to be about a generation out of date (it uses the Intel X3100 graphics processor instead of the newer 4500 series or something from nVidia), and (strangely) it is still being offered with Windows Vista instead of Windows 7. This says to me that it is either due for a refresh or due to be discontinued – I hope it’s the former and not the latter, because this is a great niche computer that could actually rival Apple in terms of design. Apple Mac Mini Apple Mac Mini You won’t have to deal with outdated hardware if you pick up Apple’s Mac Mini – it uses the latest Core 2 Duo processors and nVidia’s excellent GeForce 9400 chipset. This graphics processor will allow for some light gaming and, with the right software, GPU-accelerated computing under OS X Snow Leopard and Windows 7. You will, of course, have to purchase a Windows 7 license to go with your new Mac, but it’s worth it – ironically, Windows has always run great on Intel Mac hardware. It’s small, it’s quiet, and it can run all of the most popular operating systems on the market. What’s the catch? The drawback of the Mac Mini is the Studio Hybrid’s greatest asset. The array of ports Apple offers leaves a lot to be desired, and as with all Macs there is no Blu Ray option on the Mini – Apple would much rather you buy HD TV and movies from the iTunes store, thank you very much. The lack of HDMI port hurts especially badly, since TVs don’t (yet?) support Apple’s Mini DisplayPort. Mini DisplayPort to HDMI adapters do exist, but even then you’ll only get the video signal, since Macs won’t transfer audio data though Mini DisplayPort. It’s a shame, because the Mac Mini equipped with its GeForce 9400 and Windows 7 would make for a great HTPC. Build Your Own I’ll assume that if you’re into building your own HTPC instead of buying one, you’re familiar with the basics of PC building – other sites cover the ins and outs of that much more extensively than we can here. Still, I can at least make some recommendations. First, this is a space where I might actually recommend AMD processors to you over Intel’s. You can find very cheap, very low-power processors from them that still have enough computing muscle to perform most tasks. The main draw of AMD processors is that you won’t be tied to Intel’s lackluster integrated graphics solutions – nVidia and AMD integrated GPUs are much better for this sort of thing, and you’ll be able to do some gaming as long as your expectations are modest. If you’re working with the smallest form factor available (mini ITX), be aware of the limitations of a computer crammed into such a small space – trying to put in a quad core processor is going to make the thing melt. There’s just not enough ventilation. If you want a powerhouse computer attached to your TV, clear out some more room in your entertainment center and use larger Micro ATX or ATX components. For me, this defeats the purpose of the HTPC (to be useful but unobtrusive), but to each his or her own. The Flash Problem You’ll notice that I didn’t suggest any systems powered by Intel’s Atom, in spite of the fact that the processor’s quiet operation and low power requirements should make it a competitive alternative for an HTPC. This processor’s drawback is, at the moment, Adobe Flash. As of this writing, Flash stands at version 10.1 – a version of Flash without full support for GPU-accelerated video. Nvidia’s ION platform, which weds an Intel Atom to the same Geforce 9400 graphics chip found in all MacBooks and most MacBook Pros, will play DVDs and even Blu Ray movies at full speed because DVD and Blu Ray players can take advantage of the motherboard’s (relatively) strong GPU to compensate for the slow Atom processor. Unfortunately, even an overclocked dual-core Atom cannot smoothly play Flash video in fullscreen mode. Until Adobe fixes this problem (Flash 11 is supposed to add GPU acceleration, though no release date has been announced), I cannot recommend an Atom-based HTPC, no matter how cool and quiet my custom-built Atom HTPC runs. You’ll end up just like me – watching jerky Hulu videos in 360p and waiting for Adobe to fix their outdated plugin. Hopefully sooner rather than later. Copyright

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