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Sorry for being an idiot, but I just bought a Dell Ultrasharp 19" flat panel
monitor and haven't bought a new PC yet. I'm intrigued with the idea of
using the Dell as a monitor/TV screen, but do I really need a "media
center" PC with Windows XP Media, etc. for this or can I just buy a basic PC
and add a TV tuner card? Alternatively, should I just forget the whole idea
and buy a TV and use a PC as a PC?

Does Dell even offer a TV card on their PC's and should I go with a Dell
desktop or another brand? I've heard HP is decent. If I go for the TV
application, what will make it work properly - memory, etc?

Thanks to anyone out there who cares to advise me and I apologize for my
ignorance!

barry friedman wrote:
> Sorry for being an idiot, but I just bought a Dell Ultrasharp 19" flat panel
> monitor and haven't bought a new PC yet. I'm intrigued with the idea of
> using the Dell as a monitor/TV screen, but do I really need a "media
> center" PC with Windows XP Media, etc. for this or can I just buy a basic PC
> and add a TV tuner card? Alternatively, should I just forget the whole idea
> and buy a TV and use a PC as a PC?
>
> Does Dell even offer a TV card on their PC's and should I go with a Dell
> desktop or another brand? I've heard HP is decent. If I go for the TV
> application, what will make it work properly - memory, etc?
>
> Thanks to anyone out there who cares to advise me and I apologize for my
> ignorance!
>
>
>
I would get a "white box", and *not* a proprietary hunk of metal like
Dell, HP, Compaq, etc.
Costs less and easier to repair and upgrade.
Oh. Sorry. Forgot you are going to use Win XP.
In that case, get the *most* proprietary system you can possibly obtain.
Will not be able to change hard drives, motherboards, or CPUs from
what i hear.

dont buy a ready-made pc from dell hp or any of those. go to a computer
store in your area and get your moneys worth!!!!
"Robert Baer" <> wrote in message
news:NzzUd.7576$ ink.net...
> barry friedman wrote:
>> Sorry for being an idiot, but I just bought a Dell Ultrasharp 19" flat
>> panel
>> monitor and haven't bought a new PC yet. I'm intrigued with the idea of
>> using the Dell as a monitor/TV screen, but do I really need a "media
>> center" PC with Windows XP Media, etc. for this or can I just buy a basic
>> PC
>> and add a TV tuner card? Alternatively, should I just forget the whole
>> idea
>> and buy a TV and use a PC as a PC?
>>
>> Does Dell even offer a TV card on their PC's and should I go with a Dell
>> desktop or another brand? I've heard HP is decent. If I go for the TV
>> application, what will make it work properly - memory, etc?
>>
>> Thanks to anyone out there who cares to advise me and I apologize for my
>> ignorance!
>>
>>
>>
> I would get a "white box", and *not* a proprietary hunk of metal like
> Dell, HP, Compaq, etc.
> Costs less and easier to repair and upgrade.
> Oh. Sorry. Forgot you are going to use Win XP.
> In that case, get the *most* proprietary system you can possibly obtain.
> Will not be able to change hard drives, motherboards, or CPUs from what
> i hear.