Poll: Is your Mac/PC connected to your home Entertainment System? [Archive]

Nermal

Oct 2, 2003, 01:14 AM

A "Home Entertainment System" is virtually nonexistant in this house! At least I don't think a mono TV and 2-head VCR can be considered a home entertainment system :rolleyes:

Occasionally I connect my iBook to the TV, but not very often. It'll happen even less once we get a DVD player. We've got enough loyalty-programme points* for one :)

*In case they don't do stuff like that in your country, you basically set up an account with a loyalty company (this one's called Fly Buys because they specialise in free flights but they give other rewards too). They give you a card which you use at their partners (supermarket, petrol station, restaurant, etc) and you collect points. Once you've got enough points you can trade them in for a reward.

azdude

Oct 2, 2003, 01:23 AM

Dedicated speakers... but I love them... They sound great ;-)

shadowfax

Oct 2, 2003, 01:30 AM

does it count if i sometimes have my Tibook plugged into the sound sytem, but usually just the iPod? i don't listen to stuff on my computer, usually, now that i have my iPod, but i would if i were iPodless, and in that event it would be through a home stereo system.

VIREBEL661

Oct 2, 2003, 01:33 AM

Sound Sticks on my main Mac... They sound awesome! I prefer appliances for my TV's, though... I don't really see myself hooking everything up to my computer, I mean, it would take all the fun out of shopping for and buying electronics - a real money pit for me!

SilentPanda

Oct 2, 2003, 01:41 AM

Mac -> ethernet cable -> router -> ethernet cable -> cable modem -> coaxial cable -> splitter -> coaxial cable -> vcr -> coaxial cable -> tv -> rca cable -> surround sound

Or an easier route would probably be mac -> power cord -> ups -> outlet -> stuff behind the wall -> outlet -> surge protector -> tv or surround sound power cord

Granted it's of no benefit but... once my Tivo gets here (Monday?) and if I decide to get the home media option then that might count a little more validly.

:D

Squire

Oct 2, 2003, 02:18 AM

No.

El cheapo speakers on my PC and the regular Pro speakers on my iMac. Hopefully, just after Christmas, I'll be in a different boat. This is what I'm considering: Logitech z-680 speakers and a 32" Samsung LCD TV. They should come to just under 4 grand (ouch).

Squire

theipodgod16

Oct 2, 2003, 02:24 AM

Aiwa mini system with an isub plugged into imac. Its quite nice being able to control the isub from my keyboard and the mids and treble from my remote control.

revenuee

Oct 2, 2003, 02:32 AM

My G4 Tower is hooked into my surround sound system Via analog out.

With Dolby Digital Selected and on my system, and 3D sound selected in the sound control panel, watching a DVD gives me exellent surround sound

next steps

getting a USB to DTS converter

getting some sort of video out to composite or S Video set up - not very exiting watchting DVD's on a 17"

Getting a large TV would be nice

oh well dare to dream, Not much i can about that now - damn school costs... :mad: :(

evil_santa

Oct 2, 2003, 03:20 AM

G4 & 16 channel mixer feeding Quad Amp/celestion speakers upstairs & Arcam Amp / tannoy speakers downstairs. with 52Gb of mp3s. itunes usualy left on shuffle.

gerardrj

Oct 2, 2003, 03:59 AM

My Mac is occasionally hooked up to my home theater. The trouble is the answers available don't really reflect the technicalities of it:
My Mac only gets connected to my stereo/reciever. But that includes s-video. I do use the Mac to play videos that I watch on my TV with sound through the reciever. The only think my TV connects to is the reciever, the Mac,VCR, DVD and Sat reciever don't connect to the TV, but to the reciever.

So my anwer was: stereo only (techically correct), but could also be: stero and TV(correct in practice)

cb911

Oct 2, 2003, 07:47 AM

i regularly hook up my PB to the stereo and TV to watch something, like a DVD. (i don't have a seperate DVD player)

but when ever the PB is at my desk it's hooked upto the AlteLansing speakers. :)

teabgs

Oct 2, 2003, 08:16 AM

I didn't vote because my Mac IS my entertainment system. One monitor also acts as TV, PS2 is connected, I listen to all my music off of my mac. All with "dedicated computer speakers".

It's all right here. :D

macnews

Oct 2, 2003, 08:29 AM

I voted no, although I do have formac's video/sound connection device. I have hooked up my iPod to my home stereo though - much more interesting. Now if I can just get it wired in my car....

iPC

Oct 2, 2003, 10:28 AM

My g/f does not own a DVD player, so my iBook gets connected to her TV from time to time to play a movie. (yes - she has digital cable, dsl, VCR, but no DVD player)

pjhornak

Oct 2, 2003, 10:41 AM

should have been a few more options... interface to powered alesis monitors

edenwaith

Oct 2, 2003, 11:10 AM

Perhaps there should have been another option: "My Mac IS my entertainment center."

Since I got the JBL Creature speakers, I've used my Mac as my main music center, especially since my old stereo's CD player is dying and doesn't play very well any longer. I also watch DVDs occasionally on my computer too. Probably even more so when I can get enough money for a 20" display.

PretendPCuser

Oct 2, 2003, 11:28 AM

I have an extra mac that's not doing anything, maybe i should hook it up as a MP3 server to my home theater. That's only a G3 with 2Gb HD, i do have an "extra" G4 400 that sits and does folding, (one protein in 8 days! Stellar-SLOW!!!)

I heard that Microsoft is trying to do something with Windows Media Center. Can you imagine? "Sorry, you have to upgrade to Windows Media Center 2005 *so you can watch TV*." Please, sign me up!!!.

Digital hub makes more sense. Use it, or don't, but putting another (or your main) computer in the middle of your home entertainment center? Why? So people have to buy more M$ software?

Please, spare me. If people go for it, i'm gonna puke.

EDIT:
OK, I am going to integrate my "folding" G4 into my "home entertainment center" for a week and see if absolutely have to have it there. I'll bet i don't even use it for anything. i'm too used to going to my room and switching on my computer if i want to see anything that's on it.

I'm angry. And i don't know why. :confused:

Tim Flynn

Oct 2, 2003, 11:32 AM

When I get my G5, the optical input/outputs will be connected to my entertainment centre amps optical I/O.
I think of this setup as the ultimate (non-portable) iPod. :D

It should sound great !

Flowbee

Oct 2, 2003, 11:49 AM

My Cube is connected to my TV and stereo via Tivo with the Home Media Option. Music and photos stream wirelessly (but not video).

painandgreed

Oct 2, 2003, 11:51 AM

No. My Mac is my entertainment center. It's my stereo and TV with DVD player built in and VCR player and cable connected through the Eskape MyTV. At one point, I had a Peavy 350 watt amp and two 5' monitors plugged into my Mac as my home stereo. Sounded great but I was afraid to go above 1.5 on the volume before offending the neighbors too much.

awulf

Oct 2, 2003, 12:09 PM

Well I use my PowerMac 7600/132 as a TV and Video player with my VCR connected to it (because the computer doesn't have a tuner).

My PowerMac G4 is connected to the VCR for sound out, and the VCR is sometimes connected to the radio, and sometimes radio goes into the VCR to my Computer speakers (it's an illogical set up).

I use My PowerMac G4 as a DVD player and MP3 player. I am planning on buying it a PCI Televio (http://www.televio.com/) card so I have a remote control to control DVD player and iTunes and have a FM radio and a TV in my G4. Just need to save up AU$250 and convince my parents to use their credit card.

hvfsl

Oct 2, 2003, 12:43 PM

I conected a networked PC to my TV a while back and used it to play music off my Mac, videos off my PC and DVDs. But I did not like having the sound of fans going while watching TV. So I got rid of it and now just use my PowerBook G4 if I want to watch DVDs on my TV.

Although my main PC is now a home entertainment centre. I can watch and pause live TV through my ATI card, I have cable internet and 5.1 sound for DVDs/games.

wdlove

Oct 2, 2003, 12:47 PM

No.

Just have dedicated stereo speakers hooked up to my G4. Nice for listening to my CD's and DVD's. By the voting there is a great untapped market!

nick8ascot

Oct 2, 2003, 12:50 PM

What do I have to do to connect them up? I still have a beige G3, albeit with a 500mhz G4 upgrade plus USB/Firewire cards. Do I need special connectors on my hi-fi and TV?

mactastic

Oct 2, 2003, 01:04 PM

I plug my PB into my amp all the time, sometimes to watch DVDs (just got season 3 Simpsons:D ) but mostly to listen to iTunes through my Infinity speakers and Velodyne sub. Sounds a heck of a lot better than my crappy Labtech speakers.

I'm torn about what to do next though. I want wireless transmission to my home theater. I would dearly love to see a box that sits on my stack of components and functions as an AE base station, and has RCA, S-video, and optical inputs from, and outputs to, the amp. Tivo comes close, but doesn't cut it for me yet. Severly tempted by it though. I don't want to have to plug a headphone jack into my PB. Perhaps an iTrip-type device would be a short term solution..

DigDug

Oct 2, 2003, 01:47 PM

I'm connected by TiVo Home Media Option

Trekkie

Oct 2, 2003, 01:57 PM

my macs are hooked in via the home media option on my TiVo. so in a roundabout way they are.

mc68k

Oct 2, 2003, 02:46 PM

it's connected to my sony ES reciever
so is my iigs and everything else i want amplified in my room

seven5

Oct 2, 2003, 02:51 PM

My mac hosts my media files and then i use SMB to share them with my Xbox using Xbox Media Player. I then use that to play my music, videos, movies, and even slide shows for digital photos with it.

MattG

Oct 2, 2003, 03:08 PM

I'm strongly considering disconnecting my regular CD player for good and just connecting my Power Mac to the AUX in on my receiver. I might as well...that way I can enjoy DVDs, cable (whenever I get that working), and CDs (most of which I have ripped into iTunes already anyway).

bryanc

Oct 2, 2003, 04:14 PM

Originally posted by edenwaith
Perhaps there should have been another option: "My Mac IS my entertainment center."

I agree. I don't have a TV or stereo. I listen to music and watch the occasional movie on my PowerBook.

The other day some telemarketer from the local cable co. phoned me up to tell me about the great deal I could get by signing up for their package this month...I told him I didn't have a TV and he was at a loss for a couple of seconds, then said "you mean it's in the shop for repairs, right?" I told him I really didn't have a TV and haven't since 1983, and he didn't believe me.

Cheers

big

Oct 2, 2003, 05:14 PM

I have a TV, only because it is essential for mine & my wife's well-being to take naps, and let the kids watch a movie...

cable is nice, but expensive for what you get out of it, frankly, I love not having on demand boob tube, and enjoy the occassionaly movie night with the family. Still, its funny to see rabbit ears in my house, reminds me of being a kid again.

then there's the Atari 2600, we couldn't hook that into the Mac, or could we?...

scem0

Oct 2, 2003, 06:08 PM

yes - connected to my stereo only

scem0

vniow

Oct 2, 2003, 06:19 PM

Originally posted by teabgs
I didn't vote because my Mac IS my entertainment system.

Replace Mac with PC and that's the same as me.

a1291762

Oct 2, 2003, 08:25 PM

It's hard to have the computer hooked up to the stereo/tv when they're in different rooms. Computers are too general purpose to be considered 'entertainment' devices and be put in the lounge/tv room.

I do have my computer hooked up to a speaker in my bedroom so I can play music at night. I can see how it would be useful to hook it up to the stereo for playing music. The problem is that it's not dedicated to this task. When I get a new computer, the old one will be good for DVDs, MP3s and iMovie. Then it'll become a dedicated entertainment device.

Link

PawnTrader

Oct 2, 2003, 11:55 PM

I don't have a TV. My Mac runs into an Onkyo DS484 receiver feeding some seriously vintage KLH speakers. I download things like Futurama, Sealab, Reno911, etc. to watch on the monitor (21" Trinitron).

There is no Step 3!

blizaine

Oct 3, 2003, 10:52 AM

I use the GameShark Media Player for my PS2.

It will play all kinds of stuff. MP3's, Ogg Vorbis, MPEG 1/2/4, Divx, XviD, etc...

Also, slide shows.

A small "server app" installs on OSX that can share as many directories as you wish. I have a Movie folder and my iTunes folder shared. This allows me to play any media that is on my Mac, on my TV via a PS2. Mine runs over 802.11b and it works great.

Also you don't need to Mod your PS2 it's an actual PS2 boot disc.

Highly recommended.

- Blizaine
:)

evilfunkgenius

Oct 3, 2003, 02:42 PM

You forgot to include the means of connection.

In my case, I have my stereo connected wirelessly to the TV and stereo through the Home Media Option in my TiVo, using AirPort. Thus, technically it is not physically connected to anything, but actually conencted wirelessly to the TiVo unit.

bennyek

Oct 3, 2003, 06:28 PM

Well I have a Dual 867, TiPB 550, G4 Cube all hooked up wirelessly through my Tivo. I can access over 10,000 songs and 5000 photos through my TV! I think this is the most innovative thing and practical thing that has been done for awhile.
Well worth the price of a Tivo

neutrino23

Oct 4, 2003, 05:41 PM

To watch a DVD we take a PowerBook (wallstreet or Pismo) and hook it up to the TV. For parties, we connect the iPod to the stereo in the living room. That is really nice. We get a full night of music without having to play DJ.

Most of the time my Mac is my entertainment center. I have an Onkyo CD/MD/Tuner with Celestion speakers attached to my Quicksilver 867 Tower. This has a 22 inch cinema display. For personal viewing or for two people watching this is much better than watching on a TV.

Originally posted by nick8ascot
What do I have to do to connect them up? I still have a beige G3, albeit with a 500mhz G4 upgrade plus USB/Firewire cards. Do I need special connectors on my hi-fi and TV?

You can run a cable from the headphone output on the Mac to the audio input of the TV. Check the connectors then go to an audio store and get the right cable.

PowerBooks and iBooks have video outputs that connect directly to a TV. For a desktop Mac you need additional hardware to get video out. There are a couple of manufacturers. Look for either a VGA to TV adapter or a graphics card with TV outputs.

robotrenegade

Oct 4, 2003, 08:30 PM

My stereo is in the other room.

peterjhill

Oct 4, 2003, 08:34 PM

My G5, when it arrives will be connected with the optical connectors both in and out of my Harman Kardon DD/DTS receiver. I am getting the DVI to S-video adapter for video output to the television. The G5 will be fairly close to my entertainment system.

matthew_goldin

Nov 3, 2003, 09:29 AM

My mac is my home entertainment system.

manitoubalck

Nov 4, 2003, 02:46 AM

My computer is my home entertainment unit. My Computer supports Free to air TV via a $100AUD PCI card, with a set of Energy C5 Flaw standing speakers, Denon CD player and an NAD amp. Who needs a TV

Awimoway

Nov 17, 2003, 12:30 AM

Not just because of my music on iTunes but also because of my in-home satellite radio, I needed a way to get sound from a central point to anywhere in the house. So I got some Advent wireless speakers that receive a signal sent from a device attached to my stereo which is in turn attached to both my computer and my satellite radio. The Advents are not for audiophiles, but I'm happy with the result.