Apple p44-49 Elonex Exentia, SonyVaio, VGC-V3S, Apple iMac G5with Elgato EyeTV200, Media PCs

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Media PCs

A media PC is a computer that receivesTV and acts as a hi-fi or digital photo album. It also apes a PVR (personal video recorder); you use a simple on-screen menu to selectTV programmes to record on its hard drive. (You can also use it like a normal computer.)

It has a remote control and large-text menu options so you can select them from the sofa.

PCs vs PVRs

There are now media PCs that work pretty well – the Sony and Apple we’ve tested, for example. But you need to bear a few things in mind.

First, they’re more hassle to use than a normal PVR – for a start, they take longer to turn on. Unlike with a good PVR, you can’t usually watch and record different channels at the same time. And unlike all PVRs, some have only an analogue tuner, so you can’t watch digitalTV. What’s more, programmes you’ve recorded tend to look more digitised than on a PVR.

And, finally, they

make a bit of a noise. Most people could live with the Sony and Apple we tested – but if you go for another brand, ask to listen to it in action.

However, the media PCs do have more sophisticated features. You can set both the Sony and the Apple to record a programme over the web – from work, for example.

Elonex Exentia

£1,199 from www.elonexshop.com

This is a Windows-based computer that uses Microsoft’s Windows Media Edition Software.

The media software itself – which is available on lots of other computers – is great. And it works brilliantly with the new Xbox 360 (see p49).

However, we found problems with the hardware. The wireless keyboard, mouse and remote control have a limited range.The screen is less clear than on the other two models. And although the built-in subwoofer sounds like a good idea, in practice it was uncontrolled and boomy.The particular model we bought also had a fault that stopped it playing CDs.

In short, the software’s good but the Exentia isn’t. Go for another brand such as HP, which does well in our surveys of customer satisfaction.

SonyVaio

VGC-V3S

£1,499 from www.sony-style.co.uk

This is another Windows-based computer, but Sony uses its own media software rather than Microsoft’s.

It’s a great-looking machine, with its neat black case and luscious 20-inch black monitor. And the media software is just as slick – it’s easy to work out what buttons you’re supposed to press and it all works smoothly. Another factor in its favour is that it makes the best recordings of the three models we tried.

If you want to send music or video to yourTV or hi-fi, you have to buy Sony’s own media extender, the Sony VGP-MR100E. It’s around £140 online.

The only real downside here is that the Sony uses an analogue, rather than digital,TV tuner – so you can’t pick up digitalTV stations.

Apple iMac G5with Elgato EyeTV200

Elgato EyeTV 200, £219 from www.apple.com/uk Apple iMac G5, £899 from www.apple.com/uk

As usual, Apple is doing its own thing. Here, you buy an ordinary Apple computer and then simply plug it into the Elgato EyeTV.This is a discreet white box with a digitalTV tuner inside.

Unlike other media PCs, it can accessTop-Up TV – for more onTop-UpTV, see www.which.co.uk/ settopboxes. And it will work with any new Apple computer but we tried it out with an iMac G5. (The cheapest is the £359 Mac Mini, not including screen or keyboard.)

Elgato supplies a remote control, along with software for recording and accessing videos and music. Recordings are a little softer and more jerky than on the Sony but the colours are vibrant and there’s a good sense of depth.

Elonex

Sony

Apple

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WHICH? JANUARY 2006 47