Basically I have 2 or 3 40GB hard drives that I would like to utilize as backups, and I have a fully working old computer which I built myself a few years ago and which still works quite well (Athlon 1.1 GHz, 384MB PC133 SDRAM)

So... Here are the options as I see them.

1) Go out in 30 minutes and by a 120Gb hard drive at Circuit City for $40 AR and not bother with the second computer (I will probably buy it regardless)

2) Buy a 50ft patch cable and run it to my router to connect to the rest of the home network. The problem here is that I don't wanna run another cable.

3) Buy a hub and connect my computer to the secondary one right next to it

4) Buy a KVM switch and go with option 2 or 3 because I'll still need it on the network

5) Buy that 120Gb hard drive while selling my 40Gb hard drives on eBay to recover some of the costs and make an external backup (I like this idea)

6) OOH, I like this one, just thought of it... Put the computer in the living room, hook it up to the network and buy a VGA-to-TV adapter and make it my media computer to watch the movies from my computer on the TV and listen to mp3s on the 5.1 fluance speakers... Hmmm...

What do you think?

Man, your timing couldn't be better as far as I'm concerned. Last night I was watching TV with my wife and I said I would like to have a HTPC (Home Theatre PC) to connect to our entertainment system. I have too many VCD's, SVCD's, DVD's & CD's and I'm running out of room. I'd like to put it all on a HTPC and have everything at my fingertips. She got excited about getting rid of all those discs and gave me the go ahead

Just now I'm starting to do my homework on building "Alan's HTPC" and was planning on starting a thread about it.

I think it's a great idea. Go for it!!!

And, if you want additional incentive to go with the HTPC idea, check this out: http://myhtpc.net/

My problem is that I don't even have VCDs because our 3 year old DCD player doesn't play anything except DVDs, so I really can't even watch any movies on my PC except on my monitor... I'll check out that link, thanks

I think HTPCs are great. I'd probably go with that if I were you. You could use it as a hub for movies, photos, and music, record shows (as a DVR), maybe even play games with an emulator (I've seen media center frontends with gaming built in).

I've thought about it myself, but it wasn't practical for me to spend money on another computer at the moment when the one I have is doing fine, and I don't have any decent sapre computers around here.

Other links to check out:
Freevo (Linux, I believe)
Snapstream
Girder, for use with infared remotes to map controls

more useful links (i've been interested in this as well, just lack of funds)

http://www.mythtv.org/

http://www.hauppauge.com/pages/prods_pvrs.html

http://wilsonet.com/mythtv/

OK, I'm definitely going to build me one of these HTPC's. Now it's a matter of specing out all the parts and deciding what I want to go with. I think the hardest decision will be the case. I would order this today if the front was black.

Another link: Small Form Factor News

And a question: A while back I not only considered making an HTPC for myself, but also perhaps making a few and selling them on the side, so I followed this for a bit. In January 2003, Antec announced the introduction of their new line of cases, including the LANBOY and Sonata. You can see this here. However, also in the announcement was a new case geared towards those interested in HTPCs. I've included the image below. What made me so interested in this wasn't just the design (which would fit in most entertainment centers), but the fact that it could use full sized ATX boards.

Almost a year and a half later, this case is nowhere to be found. I believe I remember seeing a preorder on it last summer on Newegg, but that's about it. Does anyone know what happened to it? I still believe it would make for one of the better cases out there. Thanks.

OK OK whoa guys, I'm glad that I was the originator of such beautiful ideas

But now I'm leaning more towards buying a DVD player that can just play VCDs and burning the movies that I have into VCDs thereby being able to watch them on the TV and freeing up hard drive space, which would kill two birds with one stone.

As far as recording TV shows, all I have is an antenna so the quality isn't up to par. If I want a copy of a show I can always download it from someone with an HDTV as source

This all seems like a more feasible (i.e. cheaper) way to go.

Spare computer... well, then I'm still not sure what to do with it.

Never shipped. Very disappointing.

as far as a dvd player that will play vcds, check dvdrhelp and look under compatability.

apex are usually the winners

Should have kept #6 to yourself j/k

I'd go with making it a backup system and also get the KVM switch.

yeah, start messing around with linux on that old computer or something. that's always fun if you're into computers

I have this, love it 100 bucks after rebate at CC a year ago

http://www.hauppauge.com/pages/products/data_250.html