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Original material is licensed under a Creative Commons License permitting non-commercial sharing with attribution.
10/31/09
If all you're doing is recording shows to watch later then it's not any more illegal than using a VCR.
Legal issues only become a problem if you want to start building a long term/permanent library of shows and/or start sharing them with your friends and family.
That's not to say recording off the TV is legal. Strictly speaking it's not. You're still making a copy you don't have permission to make.
Similarly if we interpreted the license that comes with CDs/MP3s and DVDs in the strictest sense. Then loaning a DVD you have bought is illegal and leakage from your MP3 player headphones can pass for a public performance.
Personally I stopped worrying about these legal issues a long time ago. When I can no longer enjoy the music, TV and movies I watch because of draconian DRM or legal restrictions I'll simply find something else to fill my time. Which is what everybody else should do.
So in the end the only people that lose out are the idiots trying to shake every single penny from our pockets. #htpcs
10/31/09
A representative for the RIAA appeared at my cousin's school a few years ago to talk about illegal downloading, copying music and the like. Someone brought up fair-use, and an additional question was asked - "I can make one backup copy, and if my archive is destroyed can I legally use my backup?" To which the answer was yes. "If my archive is destroyed, but I still own it, can I copy someone else's CD as my backup?", Of course the answer is No, even though the end result is the same - A license and media is purchased, a copy is made, the archive is destroyed, user plays copy instead. The fact is, you are buying a package of license and media, and agreeing to the rules before you even read them.
Basic Point: Record TV shows all you like. No one's gonna bust you for it, but if you want to follow the letter of the law, you're prolly gonna need a lawyer. #htpcs
10/31/09
10/31/09
IR adapter upstairs, External USB Drive, External USB LCD display all in a small extruded aluminum project box which sits on a shelf under my TV. I have a Harmony remote programmed for Windows Media Center.
Completely quiet experience. no fan noise, etc. No restrictions on processor type, HD size, # of DVD drives, etc. Running Vista, hasn't crashed once. The only issue are the mandatory big updates sometimes hangs the system on reboot. I use it as a DVR box, but mostly don't see the frontend - I use it through the Xbox Media Extender more in both the living room and the bedroom. #htpcs
10/31/09
10/31/09
10/31/09
The Aeon skin is really nice, here's the url; [xbmc.org] #htpcs
10/31/09
01/26/09
11/14/08
11/14/08
I'm in the process of putting one in my car along with a 7" touchscreen
11/14/08
And you know what? The old girl feels like a brand new machine. Boots up quickly, chugs along nicely and gives me few if any problems. I thoroughly recommend doing a fresh OS install every few years --cleaning out all the cobwebs and starting fresh.
Sure the $150.00 I spent on this could have gone a long way to building a Core2 Duo machine that would leave mine in the dust, but do I really need that? I'm not a hardcore gamer. I'm perfectly happy with Unreal Tournament 2003, which this machine runs perfectly, and everything else is fine and dandy too. Plus I don't have to worry about disposing of an old computer.
Sure my next upgrade will probably have to involve a motherboard swap, but at the rate she's running now I can hold on for a couple more years at least.