WHICH? JANUARY 2006 47
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Media PCs

A media PC is a
computer that
receives TV 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 select TV
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.
PCsvs 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
digital TV. 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
Sony
Apple

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.

Sony Vaio

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 your TV 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 digital TV stations.

Apple iMac G5 with

Elgato EyeTV 200

Elgato EyeTV200, £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 Eye TV. This is a discreet white box
with a digital TV tuner inside.
Unlike other media PCs, it can access Top-Up
TV – for more on Top-Up TV, 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.