I want to watch anything I want to watch on my big screen (instantly) or iPhone (easily). Believe it or not, I am almost there. Today I’ll focus on the big screen. After building a Windows 7 HTPC with HDMI networked to 1TB NAS drive via LAN, I am nearly there. While waiting for the tuner manufacturers to sort out their CableCard or alternate means of replacing the set top box (slated for this year), I have scaled back my cable subscription so that no box is required. I then subscribed to Netflix, which I use to watch movies seamlessly from Windows Media Center (WMC). All that I am missing is live ESPN sports in HD.
How so? I get network TV (HD over clear QAM and analog SD) with a Hauppauge 950Q hybrid tuner. I watch or record shows using this through Windows 7. The WMC wizard detected the tuner and walked me through setting it up. Works great.
Continue reading King of the Media Center Hill? Maybe Soon.
