The HTPC or Home Theater Personal Computer was an idea before its time. Something only well-heeled and tech-savvy tinkering media geeks could even achieve, and then, more often than not, the juice wasn’t worth the squeeze. Yet, we have the HTPC to thank for our myriad modern media options. So let’s look back at the HTPC and give it the respect it deserves.
The HTPC was ahead of its time
At its core, an HTPC is the combination of a PC and a TV, or at least some sort of AV (Audio-Visual) technology. This goes back further than you might think. The Amiga’s Video Toaster—an expansion card with multiple video source inputs—is responsible for much of the titling and special effects we saw on TV in the 90s.
By the late 90s, video capture cards were commonplace and relatively easy to get for your computer. In the early 2000s, I had a used Pentium II computer equipped with an ATI All-in-Wonder, which combined a 3D accelerator with a capture card, so that you could record TV, digitize VHS tapes, and then watch it on your computer or play it back on a real TV.
HTPCs are cheaper and easier than ever. With tons of TV being broadcast by streaming, a browser gets you pretty much anything you could want. Grab a cheap mini PC and a wireless keyboard/trackpad combo, and you don’t have to deal with your “smart” TV’s “quirks”. If you hit a good deal, the whole setup could end up under $200.
Plus an HTPC can use a VPN, adblocker, browser extensions, etc. So the overall experience is so much better than the underpowered SBC those smart TVs have, and all without the ads and spyware.
And if you’re still not satisfied, grab a couple of bluetooth controllers and load up some light gaming. Even a mini PC with something like an N150 can handle stuff like Minecraft and Jackbox games.
I’ll be holding on to my last dumb TVs for as long as they still turn on.
I think “HTPC” is rather distinct from “Another box (even super suped up box) for streaming services”
HTPCs had local storage and Blu-ray (or 2) drives or whatever. I built an HTPC back in the day when we still had cable. I actually picked up some PCIe CableCard tuner thing and went to our cable company to pick up a cablecard card for it (some FCC ruling forced all cable companies to allow you to rent one in lieu of a STB) and had an HTPC that was literally a cable STB+DVR lmao
I see what you mean. I had a similar thing back in the day (OTA tuner card). Amd honestly, I think those were actually the downfall of the HTPC (if we allow HTPC to mean a PC that is meant to be used from the couch on a TV).
An ideal DVR has almost the opposite hardware you’d want in a PC—a low-power CPU, and niche hardware for tuning (ideally more than one). The DVR needs to be always-on amd more or less run forever. That sounds more like one of my headless servers than a (desktop) PC.
I found I didn’t end up using my HTPC as a DVR even when I had the hardware in it. I more used it for games and eventually streaming (when that eventually became a thing). I’ve got a Jellyfin server set up at home now too.
I guess what I mean is: there’s never been a better time to have a dedocated PC for your TV. With ad invasions and general enshittification dominating the entertainment industry, having full control of your media PC feels great.