Windows Media Center

Windows Media Center is a mystical mysterious mystery.  It barely exists.  It's hiding, laying in wait on all Windows 7 computers.

All you need is:

• A reasonable, used even, quad core PC
• 4 Gig of RAM minimum
• 1 TB of disc minimum
• 1 TV tuner minimum, official support for 4
• 1 Antenna, higher in the air the better
• Some type of remote

You'll also need a bunch of wires, depending on your setup

• VGA or HDMI to your HDTV
• Audio if necessary
• Coax for the antenna, preferably RG6 for less signal loss
• Network cables

All this stuff may cost a couple hundred dollars if you're starting from scratch.  But how much to you pay for cable per month?  Though lots more people have dropped cable.  It's fun in any event.  Does take some maintenance, but it runs WAY better for watching live or recorded TV than any third party program I've ever used.

The software setup can be a little tricky, but that's for another day.