Media Center PCs

HLP2U is an authorized Microsoft Media Center Original Equipment Manufacturer. That fancy mouthful means that we build, configure, sell, and most importantly install, the most exciting thing in home electronics - Media Center PCs. What is a Media Center PC? Think about having a PC that connects to your main TV and stereo at home. Below are some items that this PC will do. If it's not exciting to you by reading this, you really must see one to believe it. Call us to find out our next open house demonstration time. But be warned; once you see one, you'll want one.

What can a Media Center do? Well, lots of things. Think of it as a convergence of television, DVD watching, FM radio, your entire music collection, all of your photographs and home movies, Internet radio, unbelievable TV recording features, family computing, home automation, and more. Let's break it down into the following categories:

Television like you've never seen

Connecting your Media Center to your TV unlocks the real potential of TV. First, the display will be much nicer because the computer can be exactly matched to the resolution of your TV - especially important with the newer widescreen TVs.

Pausing and rewinding live TV comes standard. You'll also enjoy recorded TV unlike anything else. HLP2U's Media Center PCs come with a minimum of 400GB and up to 800GB of storage space to record over 700 hours of TV.  You can keep shows almost forever. The television guide is easier to use and superior to anything else on the market. Moreover, there is no monthly subscription fees. Our Media Center PCs also have two television tuners standard with an option for a third terrestrial high definition tuner. The movie guide which is connected to the Internet displays cover art, reviews, and even allows you to schedule the future recording of movies that aren't even in the guide. Even if you have a TiVo, you'll like Media Center better. You can even setup the recording of shows through the Internet - great if you hear about something at work and you won't be home to set it to record.

With the built in DVD burner you can also easily burn your favorite recorded shows right to DVD to be viewed on any DVD player.

Movies

The built in Movie guide for television is very cool. However, you can also watch your DVDs too! Just pop in a DVD and you can play right through the system. Aspect ratio control is superior on a Media Center. Using Media Center you can "zoom" into the movie so it fills the entire screen -- without distortion! No more black bars!

Add additional software to rip your DVD to your hard drive so you don't need to worry about the kids breaking or fingerprinting your valuable DVDs!

PC Functions

Since the Media Center is a full computer (although it looks like a piece of stereo equipment) you get all of the functions of a computer. You can use it as your home computer or office computer. You can even use it while it is connected to the TV using a second monitor. Or use the included infrared keyboard with integrated mouse stick and surf the web and check your E-mail right from the living room. Instant Messaging is built right in too!

Other cool PC functions really set the Media Center apart. Programs such as Internet news, ESPN Motion, ABC Enhanced TV, The Weather Channel online and more provide a complete integrated experience.

Integration with your stereo

Connecting it up to your TV is one thing, but will it connect to your stereo too? Absolutely. HLP2U's Media Center PCs offer a standard Surround Sound interface as well as both Digital Coax and Optical outputs to connect to your sound system.

Games

Games are outstanding on the Media Center. With a powerful computer as the base, those interested in PC gaming will love the Media Center. Large hard drive, fast processors and outstanding PCI Express graphic cards allow for a great gaming experience.

Caller ID

An optional caller ID function allows you to see who's calling right on your TV! This feature is a must have for the true TV fan that doesn't want to be interrupted during your favorite show. But if you must, using the Pause live TV function makes it easy to take a call anytime!

Music

The Media Center's built in CD/DVD drive and connection to your stereo system allows your music to be played right through it! Moreover, the system automatically pulls down the CD cover art for the album you're playing and can show you very cool "visualizations" of the music as it plays! If that wasn't enough, you can easily "rip" all of your CD collection and create your favorite playlists to play all of your digital music anytime! With your Internet connection the Media Center will also connect to your favorite Internet radio stations and play them too!

HLP2U's Media Center PCs also come with an FM radio tuner. You can have presets and have the cool ability to pause and rewind live radio!

Digital Photos and Movies

Most of us have digital cameras these days. With the incredible storage capacity of the HLP2U Media Center and the HLP2U provided built in 7 in 1 Media Adapter allows you to directly capture your digital camera memory card and store them right on this central computer. The built in slide show capability provides for an excellent way to view your digital photographs. Queue up some of your favorite music while you watch too! Naturally, you can create your own slideshows and burn them to DVD for your family and friends!

HLP2U's Media Center not only has the 7 in 1 Media Adapter, it also includes Firewire support so you can connect your Digital Camcorder! Using the built in Movie Maker software you can create, edit, and burn to DVD your home movies!

Extenders

Optional Media Extenders allow you to share the Media Center PC experience on another TV! These devices provide a way to watch your stored programming, listen to your digital music, and see your digital photos anywhere in your house. They can even connect wirelessly. These are great to be able to watch recorded TV in bed, or listen to your digital music while you get dressed in the morning. If you have an XBox, you can also connect an extender to it and allow the kids to watch their recorded content on their own TV without tying up yours!

Take it with you

You can connect your Media Center PC to a portable media player and take your TV shows, music, photos, and more on the go! Try that with a TiVo!

Home Automation

Because the Media Center is a PC, you can add software and hardware to control your house! Imagine having your lights dim when you insert a DVD for movie time, be able to turn them all off with your remote control, or your automated lawn sprinkler not turned on today because the PC found rain in the weather forecast! Home automation has come a long way and the Media Center PC is a great place to integrate!

Why choose HLP2U for your Media Center PC?

This is a good question. But easy to answer.

1. We actually use them. I have two Media Centers and a Media Extender in my house, and use them every day. I can't understand how I got along without one before. This is important. We've spent a tremendous amount of time testing components and making sure that everything works. When it comes to your TV it must work all the time. This is not like a regular computer that you expect to lock up. When it's connected to your TV, to quote someone famous "failure is not an option."

2. We install them as part of the price. Our competition will sell you a Media Center and ship it to you. We feel that this will result in unsatisfactory results.  Like many computers, these require a good bit of setup. Beyond that however, to get them to work the best, we'll probably need to setup a good wireless system to connect to the Internet, create a custom video resolution to connect to your TV, program your cable/setup boxes to communicate properly with the device and many more things.

3. We use the best components. Other Media Centers are built based on price. This could result in failure. When we provide you a demonstration, we'll show you the components we use and why you want ours.

4. We provide an outstanding system standard. There are very few options on our Media Centers. They are ready to go and perform at a high level right after setup. We include the following items standard:

High Powered CPU and double the Microsoft recommended memory

Wireless keyboard with integrated "point stick" to actually make it useable in the living room

400GB Hard Drive Standard option for 800GB!

Dual hardware TV tuners

Microsoft Media Center Remote Control

Dual IR Blasters to control your cable/satellite set top boxes through the main remote

Digital Coax and Optical Sound Outputs to connect to your Surround Sound system

7 in 1 Media Adapter that accepts most digital camera memory cards

High speed USB and Firewire inputs with both front and rear inputs

State-of-the-art PCI Express video adapter with TV out connection and custom resolution

DVD Burner and CD Burner

Quiet operation to make sure you don't hear the typical PC noise

Built in network adapter

5. HLP is a Microsoft Certified Dealer. This means that we get and install the DVD burning system that will allow you to burn TV shows onto DVD that will work in a regular DVD player. Many Media Centers don't offer this functionality. Also, you can be assured everything we provide is legal.

Case Styles

HLP2U's Media Center PCs will fit into the decor of any home theater setup. We offer two basic styles (each available in black or silver)

To learn more about Microsoft's Media Center, go to http://www.microsoft.com/mediacenter

To experience some of Media Center's features, take these interactive tours:
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/mediacenter/evaluation/tours/default.mspx

Hope to see you at our next Media Center Open House! Feel free to call me for more information.

Derek Rowan
President
HLP2U
703-536-5300