Building HTPC, need advice

[Merovingian]

I just purchased a 50" Pioneer PRO-1150HD for the living room and could use a little help in where to start looking when trying to set up an HTPC.

I have my DVD collection backed up onto a server which is quietly tucked into a near by room. I also have access to an apple tv and a mac mini. Money isn't too much of a concern if I need to purchase new hardware.

With that in mind, does anyone have any thoughts about what I should use as an HTPC that can access my server? Also, my collection is a mixture of ISO's and video_ts folders and I was wondering if there was software that would allow me to access these files in an organized way preferably using just a remote, ideas?

Thank you for your time

 

[Slammy1]

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/forumdisplay.php?f=26/

Still the best place for this sort of advice. I do some of the things you're trying to do but would not be able to give as good of advice as you'll find there. I shuttle upstairs to my lappy with Vista, but still prefer the mouse. A decent wireless card would be a start.

 

[Quasmo]

What kind of mac mini is it? Intel or PowerPC?

If intel, try running Media Center Edition on the mac mini, you should be able to map the file directory on the server. MCE has a plug-in that allows you to see Video_TS and divx files. Just add the mapped drive, and that should work.

 

[Merovingian]

Slammy1, I posted at avsforums first but thought I would duplicate the post in anantech and a few other forums as well, here is what they say.... http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=887560

Point me to this page for mac... http://www.htguys.com/archive/2007/March09.html

Quasmo, I'm running a new mac mini with an intel processor capable of windows boot. Does WinMCE play hddvd rips, bluray rips?

 

[Quasmo]

I'd put together a SFF media PC with MCE hack You'll want to make sure you have a wired network. You can install Tuners on your server and stream everything to your SFF box.

 

[Slammy1]

Will Vista MCE allow you to read ISO's? I know WMP does, but I had troubles figuring out MCE.

 

[Quasmo]

http://thegreenbutton.com/forums/thread/77389.aspx

 

[Slammy1]

Killer. Thanks!