Okay. so over the weekend at Harvey Norman store. My partner and I went down for a nosey and in the end, we walked away with a huge purchase...

first. we got the philips's 32 lcd screen with HDMI and AmbiLight and PixelPlus2, $4999!

secondly. we decided to replace most of our gadgets and devices that we are using with Windows Media Center... so this mean Dell PC, Sony HDD-DVD, Sony Home Theatre System are gone... in with HP's M7199a, $4299 (oh and it comes with hp 21" WS monitor!!! 1680x1050 droools!)

Then we squeeze them for a deal on chucking in a Microsoft Media Center wireless keyboard remote controller, priced at $199.

Then we found out that they overcharged us for $200, so we got ourselves 2x Logitech wireless Xbox controller and a MadCatz wireless PS2 controller, shame they ran out of stock for the wireless PS2 controller... in the end, we added another $50 for the excess.


HOWEVER! not all things have good ending... we took our LCD home and put it on, and was greeted to a big screen and all joy! When we put it on the stand, we noticed the locking screws are hard to bolt in. And I also noticed one of the screen on the backpanel is skewed. (BAD SIGN!) Anyhow, we proceeding with the installation. surely enough, the display is funked! got the sound, but not display, not even the menu!

So on monday, we took it back... good thing though, our 21" monitor is great! :-)

Our HP MCE system wont be here till perhaps tomorrow or thursday as they need to courier it in from Dunedin. (finger crossed hope it is all good!)




We are also looking at getting the Logitech Z5500 Digital speaker to replace our Sony's DVD Home Theatre, and utilising MCE as our media box/receiver...





Now, questions...
1) I still can't find relevant information on how to get NZ's EPG for MCE 2005. i went to thegreenbutton.com/ but still don't find any good info about it.


2) i also read from thegreenbutton.com/ that you need to use 3rd party plug in to creat DVD-video archive of the recorded programmes... what is good out there?


3) how to filter/edit/cut out commercial from DVR-MS? plug in and tools, please suggest!


4) Is MCE a "home" or "pro"? I read that it is a variant of "pro" but without the ability to join domain, is this true?


5) I need suggestion how i should configure/connect my gadgets together... I have a few plan and idea but i like to hear a few other views/ideas.

Philips LCD TV:
AV1: Composite, S-Video, Component, Audio L/R
AV2: Composite, S-Video, Component, Component+H/V, Audio L/R
AV3: HDMI (DVI), Audio L/R
Side: Composite, S-Video, Audio L/R
Monitor Out: Composite, Audio L/R

HP MCE:
AV1: Composite, S-Video, Audio L/R
AV2: Composite, S-Video, Audio L/R
Common: SPDIF In, SPDIF Out, 6.1 Analog Out, Line In, Composite, S-Video

XBox: Composite+Audio (possibly looking at getting Advanced AV Kit)

PS2: Composite+Audio, SPDIF Out (possibly looking at getting optical cable)

TelstraClear Saturn Digital TV: 2x Composite+Audio

Joytech AV switcher (4x in, 1x out: Composite+Audio, S-Video, SCART, SPDIF)

Sony DVD Home Theare (for the time being until Logitech Z5500 Digital)
AV1: Composite+Audio (in and out)
AV2: Composite+Audio, SPDIF
DVD out: Component-Out, S-Video
monitor out: Composite (and S-Video i believe)

Logitech Z5500 Digital (DTS decoding):
Analog: 6.1 direct in OR 3x stereo in
Digital: SPDIF in, Coaxial In


mmmmm I would like to keep the connections as simple as possible.



Hope you guys have as much fun as i am planning the connections! LOL

(if you think this is fun! wait till i have to rearrange the power cable arrangement this coming weekend!)