Netherlands
I have been using MP for a living room setup for quite some years now. The family has enjoyed the functionality and the wife has been complaining about me spending too much time setting it up, too much time breaking it and then too much time fixing it again. Much like with many of you I suppose.
Last week I couldn't believe my ears when my wife suggested to build another MP setup for the family room. "It would be nice when the kids could watch TV and play on the Wii elsewhere than in the living room and that we could watch movies together on a big screen". She didn't want a big ugly LCD against the wall so it would have to be a projector. I don't know what got into her, but realized that I had no time to loose. I ordered the projector and sound system immediately, so that if ever she would change her mind it would be too late ...
So this is what it is going to be:
- Projector: Epson EH-TW2800, full HD, 3 LCD, 1600 lumens, 16.000:1 contrast, HDMI
- Sound system: Logitech Z5500, 5.1 channel 500 Watt, THX certified, S/PDif optical
- MP client: Acer REVO 3610, but I can't get one, see below
- Remote control: HP MCE remote and blaster (to control the sound system and projector from MP), USB
- Game console: Wii (moved from the living), composite or component
Don't tell me I should have chosen a different projector, as said I already have that.
The Logitech sound system is the same as in the living. It sounds great, has power, is stylish and can have an IR bug fitted inside for control from MP.
I still have to get the client PC. I'm looking for a small Atom N330 with ION graphics machine with HDMI and S/PDif. First I wanted a Zotac MAG, then I thought of an Acer REVO 3610 which comes with Windows 7 and a wireless keyboard. The best deals for the REVO are in the UK, which is good because I want an English OS and QWERTY keyboard. Unfortunately I can't find any supplier that is willing to send one outside of the UK. Zotac or Acer, any suggestions?
UPDATES:
I have meanwhile mounted the projector to the ceiling. The Epson bracket was almost 300 €, so I made my own for less than 15 € in material. That way I saved my money for a good quality HDMI cable (7.5 m). The screen size works out at 108", the image is simply flabbergasting. WOW!
Added PPT with the two client setups and the network setup. Pictures to follow.
Added picture of the Epson projector mounted against the ceiling. More pictures to follow.
Things are progressing well. One of my boys organized a sleepover, so he twisted my arm to finish the setup. The speaker system is installed now too. I still do not have a client so I moved the one from the living for now (Radeon HD 4350). With some trail and error I got HD playback to work as well (haali splitter, FFDshow DXVA codec, h/w acceleration enabled).
Made the decision on the client: I ordered the Zotac MAG (Intel ATOM N330 1.6 GHz, NVIDIA ION, 2 GB RAM, 160 GB HDD, HDMI, S/PDif).
Now that I have seen some HD trailers on this setup, I want all future movies in 1080p, so I also ordered a Blu-ray drive for in my development machine so I can 'move' Blu-Ray movies from discs to the movie collection on the media server.
VdR
Last week I couldn't believe my ears when my wife suggested to build another MP setup for the family room. "It would be nice when the kids could watch TV and play on the Wii elsewhere than in the living room and that we could watch movies together on a big screen". She didn't want a big ugly LCD against the wall so it would have to be a projector. I don't know what got into her, but realized that I had no time to loose. I ordered the projector and sound system immediately, so that if ever she would change her mind it would be too late ...
So this is what it is going to be:
- Projector: Epson EH-TW2800, full HD, 3 LCD, 1600 lumens, 16.000:1 contrast, HDMI
- Sound system: Logitech Z5500, 5.1 channel 500 Watt, THX certified, S/PDif optical
- MP client: Acer REVO 3610, but I can't get one, see below
- Remote control: HP MCE remote and blaster (to control the sound system and projector from MP), USB
- Game console: Wii (moved from the living), composite or component
Don't tell me I should have chosen a different projector, as said I already have that.
The Logitech sound system is the same as in the living. It sounds great, has power, is stylish and can have an IR bug fitted inside for control from MP.
I still have to get the client PC. I'm looking for a small Atom N330 with ION graphics machine with HDMI and S/PDif. First I wanted a Zotac MAG, then I thought of an Acer REVO 3610 which comes with Windows 7 and a wireless keyboard. The best deals for the REVO are in the UK, which is good because I want an English OS and QWERTY keyboard. Unfortunately I can't find any supplier that is willing to send one outside of the UK. Zotac or Acer, any suggestions?
UPDATES:
I have meanwhile mounted the projector to the ceiling. The Epson bracket was almost 300 €, so I made my own for less than 15 € in material. That way I saved my money for a good quality HDMI cable (7.5 m). The screen size works out at 108", the image is simply flabbergasting. WOW!
Added PPT with the two client setups and the network setup. Pictures to follow.
Added picture of the Epson projector mounted against the ceiling. More pictures to follow.
Things are progressing well. One of my boys organized a sleepover, so he twisted my arm to finish the setup. The speaker system is installed now too. I still do not have a client so I moved the one from the living for now (Radeon HD 4350). With some trail and error I got HD playback to work as well (haali splitter, FFDshow DXVA codec, h/w acceleration enabled).
Made the decision on the client: I ordered the Zotac MAG (Intel ATOM N330 1.6 GHz, NVIDIA ION, 2 GB RAM, 160 GB HDD, HDMI, S/PDif).
Now that I have seen some HD trailers on this setup, I want all future movies in 1080p, so I also ordered a Blu-ray drive for in my development machine so I can 'move' Blu-Ray movies from discs to the movie collection on the media server.
VdR
