[laz]

With the capabilities of a LCD TVs as a PC monitor and PCs as TV tuners and recorders I would like to put together a system that will
1. play standard TV and cable stations in HD
2. record broadcast TV (in HD if possible)
3. play DVDs
4. surf the web
5. play sound in surround sound
6. network connect
Does anyone know what PC components might accomplish these things?

[Joshuashawharvey]

Well I think all of the other components are obvious, but I have found a TV card you might be interested in http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showpr...=56&subcat=169 it supports HD (if or when available)
For playing DVDs you just need a standard PATA or SATA DVD ROM drive unless you want to burn to DVDs, then you will need a PATA or SATA DVDRW drive
Well it depends upon your budget for your speakers but I will suggest these http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showpr...=22&subcat=165
For the OS you will be better off with either XP Media Center Edition or Windows Vista Ultimate

[bushwhacker]

Joshua, Any OS is fine, as long as you have the software for it.

You are speaking at much higher system requirement than we have right now.

I have seen some tv cards run on the xp machine using their own software just fine.

[Albert Lionheart]

The complication with this idea is the HD - much more demanding than bog-standard TV.

[Joshuashawharvey]

I know that, just that they have Media Center installed, thats all, and the system he has suggested looks to me as a HTPC or something along those lines, and Media Center goes nicely with HTPCs. I am perfectly aware that any OS can be used, i'm just making a suggestion. I've seen TV cards run on Win98 systems after all.
Yes HD is more demanding, but it isn't exacly widely available yet, and when it is, there will be very high capacity and quicker hard drives at lower prices to be able to manage HD

[Daveskater]

I'll edit this in a second to suggest components, but laz isn't in the UK, he is in the US. HD is much more widely available over there and component prices are quite competitive compared to UK prices.

Edit: I'll have to look things up later as newegg.com is being annoying and won't work.

[laz]

Thank you all for your replies

Yes HD is widely available and in March 2008 (I think that is the month) all stations will be broadcast in HD.
The local cable companies supply HD settop boxes for a monthly fee and then another fee for a dvr.

So there are TV tuner type PC cards that will display in HD? And is there a components and/or software that will record like a dvr? I guess the rest is what makes up a typical PC, excluding perhaps a sound card that will work with the TV tuner and play surround sound.