User Interface:
All that is really important regarding the user interface is that you can see well enough to access the applications you want to run. If you have the screen size / resolution to do so, even your typical Windows desktop will be adequate for interacting with your HTPC. The Windows desktop may work fine, but it has more than you need on it for basic HTPC applications, and it generally looks more like a work environment than a play environment, so there are ways to address that.
There are Windows and Linux based shells to make the HTPC interface more user friendly, and these generally involve the use of large icons and text that provide access to only the most common application: MP3 player, DVD player, web browser, image browser, and so on. These shells add functionality to your typical desktop operating system that can make them much easier to navigate in an HTPC setting, regardless of the TV size/quality being used. For a free and easy to use HTPC shell for use with Windows XP, check out Media Portal.
If you don't want to install a shell on top of an existing operating system, or need to buy a new license of an OS for your HTPC anyway, Microsoft recognized the emergence of this segment of the market, and has something for you (of course they do). Microsoft's Windows XP Media Center Edition may be the most familiar name when it comes to HTPC specific interfaces, and it combines an easy to use 'shell' with many other back-end features that make it custom tailored to a multimedia existence.
There is another aspect to the user interface that is also a bit different with an HTPC. Your typical mouse and keyboard will obviously still function with a computer in your living room, but do you really want to be constrained to within three feet of it? A wireless setup is ideal, as it allows the computer to be located with the rest of the electronics, while you can be comfortably seated on the couch across the room and still have full control.
There are numerous wireless mice and keyboards on the market, but for basic interaction, perhaps a combination unit would be the best bet. There are some wireless keyboards with a small joystick-style pointing device that lets one convenient device handle both tasks. These may be great for basic system navigation and launching of applications, but considering video games once again implies better hardware. You can still go wireless for serious game play, but the precision of the components is more critical in a high-paced game, and a high-end wireless mouse like the Logitech MX1000, for example, may be worth the extra money.
Another way to interact with your HTPC takes on a feel more familiar to components found in the living room: a remote control. The Ahanix iMon is one example of an infrared remote control, much like you would use on your TV or DVD player, but fully capable of controlling your computer. It allows for control of mouse functions, typical multimedia controls (play, stop, volume, etc.), as well as programmable buttons for launching your favorite applications. We have previously discussed the ATI HDTV Wonder for its video capturing abilities, but the included remote is also a nice feature as it handles enough desktop features that it may minimize the need for a mouse or keyboard as well.
|
|
