You guys voted (and we agree) that a custom-built home theater PC is by far the best set-top box for on-demand video. Whether you've built yourself an XBMC machine, a Boxee box, or a Windows Media Center PC, here are our ten favorite ways to turn it into a media-watching powerhouse.
10. Load Up on the Plug-Ins
If you haven't gone into your media center's plug-in repository, you're missing out. XBMC alone has a ton of cool content available, including those that let you play Netflix, Blu-Rays, Grooveshark, and more. You also have skins galore, which can make your home theater PC a gorgeous beast suitable for impressing all your friends. And, of course, you can grab plug-ins for Windows Media Center and Boxee as well.
9. Whip Your Metadata and Art Into Shape
Of course, if you want to take full advantage of those beautiful skins, you'll need to make sure your media's metadata and art are up to snuff. Programs like XBMC follow specific rules to determine which files are what, so you'll need to make sure your library follows all those rules This can take a bit of work if your library starts out disorganized, but it's worth it for the wow factor it adds to your machine.
8. Add a TV Tuner
So you've got on-demand movies and TV shows on your machine, but there's still something to be said for seeing what's on the tube when it's on the tube. With an inexpensive TV tuner, you can turn your on-demand-only home theater PC into a full-featured, DIY DVR. You can watch live TV, record your favorite shows, and funnel them right into your media center program of choice. There's no need to buy an expensive separate device like a TiVo when you can integrate it into your existing system.
7. Automatically Download TV Shows as Soon as They've Aired
If you've ditched cable for good, or the TV tuner route isn't quite your style, you can also download your favorite shows using BitTorrent or Usenet and get them funneled into your favorite media center program. Our detailed guide will help you set up an automatic downloader that'll grab new episodes as soon as they've aired, so it's almost like having a real live PVR right on your system—but without the hassle of antennas and cable.
6. Set It Up to Work With Your Remote
Sure, the Windows Media Center remote might have worked fine when you first bought your machine, but why add more remotes to your coffee table when you could control everything with one, universal remote? We've shown you how to control a PC with any infrared remote using LIRC, which is a perfect setup for home theater PCs (I've now got a single $16 remote controlling my HTPC, audio receiver, TV, and more). If you'd like something a bit easier but more tuned to your media center of choice, you can always turn your iPhone or Android phone into a killer remote, too.
5. Set Up an HTPC that Non-Geeks Can Actually Use
Programs like XBMC are great, but let's be honest: they really aren't that friendly to the less tech-savvy. It's a sad fact, but if you have a spouse or roommate that isn't quite as in tune with the inner workings of your PC, they'll have a hard time watching TV without you around. We've gone through how to set up a more friendly media center before, and it's worth a look if you're getting sick of turning on the TV for your roommate every time they continue their Dr. Who marathon.
4. Build It Into Your Entertainment Center
If you've got a box or old tower stashed inside your hotbox of an entertainment center (or worse—sitting next to it, looking all ugly), it's time to turn it into a more permanent fixture. We've gone through one cool way to do this, and all it uses is a bit of IKEA furniture and some elbow grease, and it does a great job of keeping your entertainment center looking clean and your PC running cool.
3. Rule it From Afar with Wake-on-LAN
Unless you keep it on and running full steam all the time, you'll actually need to get up and press the button to turn it on. Since most of us are a bit lazier than that (come on, this is America!), consider setting up a Wake-on-LAN system for your home theater PC. With it, you'll be able to turn it on from anywhere in the room, just like you would a normal set-top box for your TV. Some IR receivers even support Wake-on-LAN, so you could turn it on using the power button on your universal remote.
2. Synchronize Your Media Center Between Every Room in the House
If you have more than one home theater PC in your home, you probably like to watch TV as you move around the house. With a bit of set-up, you can actually get XBMC in sync across all your machines, so you can pause your media center in one room and continue watching where you left off in another room.
1. Turn Your Media Center into a Video Game Console
If you aren't satisfied with just the usual music, movies, TV, and photos, you can actually turn your media center into a video game console as well. With a plug-in and a bit of work in XBMC, you can add emulators and ROMs galore, browse through them just like you do movies and music, and play them on demand. No longer do you need to waste space and clutter your cabinet with old game systems and controllers—you'll be able to play nearly anything from one device, with whatever controller you want. You can also do the same thing in Boxee as well.
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