definition: HTPC - Home Theater PC, computer media center
I figured it was time to break this need to consume physical digital media and invest in a good HTPC, which set me back about $500. But how does that replace my DVD collection? Here's what it can do:
- Netflix. Instead of paying $25 for the one new Blu-Ray, rent it instead for $8.99/mo for 1-Blu-ray at a time on Netflix. Sure you can't keep it to display your artistic tastes, but it is available to rent almost anytime. In addition to that, with my HTPC, Netflix also allows you to stream movies directly to your computer. Advertising more than 40,000 movies to watch instantly, it has most of the movies in my DVD collection, and makes my collection pale in comparison.
- Hulu. This is my alternative to TV DVD collections and DVRs. Fox, NBC, & USA have teamed up to provide web surfers the ultimate in streaming video in 480p HD! Think of it as a HD YouTube for TV and Movies. It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, one of my favorite shows, has the entire 1st and 2nd season available online, for free! If I bought the DVD box set, I would have spent $30+. Not only that, they have all the recent NBC and Fox shows to watch instantly, making DVRs a thing of the past.
- ABC.com, CBS.com. Hulu-like network independent players. They have all their recent episodes available to watch instantly in HD, making a DVR not necessary.
- Movie6.net. It may be questionably illegal, but you can watch all the newest in theater flix here!
Cost of Cable/Satellite HD DVR:
- DVR Box Rental- $5.99/mo
- HD Service - ~$49.99/mo+
- Yearly Total- $671.76/yr+
- 3-Year Total - $2015.28+ for cable/sat hd service & DVR rental
- HD Service - ~$49.99/mo
- Tivo- $149.99- $599.99
- Tivo Service - $12.95/mo or $399 lifetime
- Yearly Total- $905.27 - $1355.27 on monthly Tivo plan
- 3-Year Total- $2348.63 - $2798.63 on lifetime Tivo plan
- Blu-Ray Player - $200.00
- Blu-Ray- ~$25.00
- Yearly Total- $300.00/yr
- 3-Year Total- $1100.00 for 36 movies & Blu-ray player
- HTPC (One Time Cost)- $300 - ~$1,000
- Internet Service - Most of you already pay for this anyway
- Netflix- $8.99/mo
- Yearly Total - $107.88 for Netflix 1-DVD at a time plan
- 3-Year Total - $623.64 - ~$1,323.64 More than 50,000 TV shows & Movies on demand.
If you have cable/sat service and buy a blu-ray every month for 3 years, you're looking to spend about $3,100!!! If you have Tivo service and get a blu-ray every month for 3 years, expect to pay even more!
About Cable Satellite programming. One thing I have yet to mention is that, a lot of the satellite/cable programming is not available online just yet. A few have followed the major networks road to streaming media, like MTV, but who knows when the masses like HGTV, Food, VH1, etc... will follow. For those of you who think that this is a major con in your decision to switch to an HTPC, here is my argument, "TV rots your brains!" I think network TV is enough for anyone! And the amount of stored tv shows, movies, and videos on the sites I provided above is more than enough to keep you occupied for months of watching!
Not ready to buy/build an HTPC? Don't worry, any fairly new computer w/ high speed internet is still capable of viewing the sites above. What that means is, if you have a computer in your room, you have TV! Just visit those sites above.
Gone are the days where you walk into the store to buy a dvd, go into Blockbuster to rent a Blu-ray, wait until 8pm to watch your favorite show, or forget to set a recording on your Tivo. Everything online is on-demand, watch it when you want to watch it. I know it is hard to break our consumeristic habit and stop our urge to physically have the newest movie or control the recording of our tv shows to our DVR. But if you can break it, you'll end up saving money and more prepared for the future of digital video in the end.
Coming soon: Basic Guide to Buying or Building an HTPC
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