Recommendations for media center console? PC? PS3? 360?

[gtmtnbiker]

Anyone would like to share their thoughts/opinions on a media center console? I was thinking of getting a blu-ray player that had streaming support but would like to consider other options:

1. Media center PC
2. Sony PS3
3. MS XBOX 360
4. Blu-ray player with streaming support
5. Tivo
6. Something else?

I view the PS3/360 as having the bonus of gaming support but I heard their media center capabilities are not as good compared to a PC. My brother raves about Tivo HD (he has 3 of them).

What do people use and what do they like about their setup?

[fuctfuct]

PC.. you'll never to come across a file you cant play. All the other options you'll come across a file you can't play from time to time.

[gennss]

I like my 360, i use any video converter to convert files toss 'em on usb stick or just share my pc's hard disc over network. Simple easy relatively inexpensive.

[samsonlonghair]

Get an intel-based mac mini. You have all the versatility of a PC, the form factor of DVD player, the functionality of a dedicated media center, and the style of an apple, plus built-in bluetoothe for remote control. You can run Front Row, Windows XP Media Center Edition, Maximus Arcade, Xbox Media Center, or any other front end you please. An Intel-based mac mini is the perfect media center.

[lisalover1]

Get an original modded Xbox with XBMC. Cheap, powerful, versatile, and XBMC is, in my opinion, the best media center program available.

[JordanPlayer]

I use my PS3 in conjunction with Vuze (Azureus) and my sister-in-law's Netflix streaming account. The PS3 plays video games, functions as a Blu-ray player, and does a great job upconverting DVDs. On top of that I linked it to a Netflix account so I can stream movies/shows to it. The interesting part of the setup is Vuze (formerly Azureus); if you have the program set up on a PC in your house and your PS3 is online-enabled you can "stream" data from your PC to your PS3. So you can share music, videos, pics, whatever; I usually stream/share music to it to play during parties... the only issue is some file types aren't supported. This does not take any space up on the PS3 hard drive, you select files/folder to share from your PC.

NOTE: I just read up on Vuze a bit more and I believe the program converts files into a recognizable format if it is something the device won't recognize.

[fuctfuct]

Get an original modded Xbox with XBMC. Cheap, powerful, versatile, and XBMC is, in my opinion, the best media center program available.

It was, until HD.

[CRTGAMER]

Get an intel-based mac mini. You have all the versatility of a PC, the form factor of DVD player, the functionality of a dedicated media center, and the style of an apple, plus built-in bluetoothe for remote control. You can run Front Row, Windows XP Media Center Edition, Maximus Arcade, Xbox Media Center, or any other front end you please. An Intel-based mac mini is the perfect media center.

If on a budget, maybe even the older mini. Both are compact, fit right inside the TV shelf unit.

The PC and Mac has more streaming options and power/speed.

How about a vote in the OP?

EDIT
Okay voted Mini. Oh, you can vote for three. Also chose PC and Blueray player. Right now I use my DVD player with a hard drive attached to the USB port. A big "memory stick" full of videos and pics. So streaming would seem a natural way to go with that Bluray player. Is it proprietary?

[gtmtnbiker]

Get an original modded Xbox with XBMC. Cheap, powerful, versatile, and XBMC is, in my opinion, the best media center program available.

It was, until HD.

Agreed. I have one but I'm looking for HD capability. I would also like to explore the idea of it being able to record shows but it's not essential.

[gtmtnbiker]

How about a vote in the OP?

Done.