Purpose of an HTPC

[VIhul]

I guess I've never really understood what the draw of an HTPC is and who it's for, and despite my research I still haven't found an answer. I was hoping someone here could show me why it's worth the time/money to have one. (Other than having an excuse to build a PC *wink)

[Chriz6097]

Here's your answer:

[Guest Philosophy]

I use mine as a Netflix machine rather than using an xbox. 

[Sernyhough]

I use mine to stream movies and tv shows using XBMC from my custom nas.

[Peter Vaughan Truslow]

my HTPC functions as the set top box receiving encrypted TV signals from my TV provider and DVRing it through windows media center. beyond that it handles whatever streaming service I feel like.

[othertomperson]

Well the one I'm planning to build will be for gaming on my TV downstairs (using Steam In-Home Streaming, limiting the hardware needed for 1080p 60fps wut), playing blu-rays, playing films and music off of the NAS, and eventually it's going to have a dual tuner TV card in it which will be recording to a 128GB internal SSD. And obviously internet streaming services as well.

 

It's basically going to be an epic console and DVR.

[VIhul]

Thanks for the replies guys, unfortunately the only benefit I would get is in-home streaming through Steam, so for now it's not worth the investment.