What Is HTPC - Media Experience

In the very first module, you will learn what you can do with a HTPC:

What is HTPC
What people do with HTPC
What is a front-end and back-end
How you can use your HTPC
How to plan your ecosystem properly
Example HTPC Builds

You may wonder whether it is still worth it to have a home theater PC (HTPC) or media server in light of services like Netflix and devices like Android TV boxes.

After all, streaming sticks and streaming devices like Amazon Fire TV, Roku and Apple TV are quite affordable compared to desktop computers.

But, Aren’t HTPCs Dead?

In the late ’90s, my computer sounded like an airplane on takeoff and the graphics quality was terrible.

Over the past decade, people were hoping that computers would become small, power efficient and quiet enough, so that they can enjoy digital media in their living rooms.

Then, by the year 2011 technology evolved to fulfill this dream.

And what many technology journalists did after that?

They declared HTPCs dead.

In the year 2015, Microsoft announced to kill Windows Media Center.

And what many technology journalists did after that?

They declared HTPCs dead again.

The face of HTPC has clearly changed, so I think it is time to define HTPCs differently than they used to because our consuming habbits have evolved thanks to the technology advancements.

The HTPC for the Smart Home

According to the Wikipedia, a home theater PC (HTPC) is a convergence device that combines some or all the capabilities of a personal computer with a software application that supports video, photo, audio playback, and sometimes video recording functionality.

Here is Media Experience’s extended definition of a home theater PC.

A home theater personal computer, HTPC for short, is a bespoke (adapted for a specific purpose) computer that is the central hub of your entertainment to store and play your media content (TV recording, movies, home videos, music, photos, games, virtual reality and more) and home automation to provide convenience and comfort (commercial skipping, curtains, air conditioner, lights and more).

HTPC should be viewed as a do-it-yourself hobby for those who want to the extra power and functionality to consume their media content exactly how they want it.

If you want to reach the full potential of smart home entertainment, then getting a HTPC is the way to go.

While HTPC brings most of the home automation devices into one box, it is not only a bespoke device – it’s a way to create a personalized media experience.

HTPCs are Not for Everyone

The biggest problem is not anymore which components to choose to build a power-efficient and quiet computer, but how to create an easy and seamless user experience to consume your media content exactly how you want it.

It is important to note that HTPCs are not for everyone.

There are all kinds of small media streamers and smart TVs, so why would you need a HTPC in your living room?

Many of my friends view videos through their Xbox, PlayStation or Blu-ray player, yet they had no idea what a HTPC was.

After they had seen my HTPC setup for the first time, they were amazed at what you can do with your TV.

The key reason to build your own HTPC is the flexibility and quality. You can have exactly the kind of hardware and user interface you need.

If you enjoy tinkering with technology and like to customize the front-end and back-end services exactly according to your needs, then HTPC is a great hobby.

However, if you are looking for a simple device that is very easy to set up and “just works”, then HTPC are not good choice for you.

There are other good streaming player alternatives such as Apple TV or Android based Fire TV or Roku for those who look for more simpler media devices.

Let’s continue to see the benefits of the HTPC.

This screenshot from a Kodi home theater software (using an Aeon MQ6 skin) illustrates well what is the main benefit of the HTPC.

The thing is:

You can personalize the HTPC to exactly match your needs.

What are the benefits of a HTPC?

It reduces the number of home theater devices
It provides a large degree of flexibility
It has a faster user interface
It has custom fanart and metadata for your media
It has large storage capacity for local media
It can play any codec in software
It can play any web content
It supports many media formats
It has built in DVR capability
It can be used as a game console
It can be used as a quick DJ console (if you’re into that)

Thanks to the open source community, if you have a specific need for your HTPC, someone has probably already made an app for it.

Here are some example ways you can use a HTPC:

These are some common ways how you can use your home theater computers.