My Dad has just bought a HDTV.

He has a Sky (standard) connected to it - As my mum likes the red-button option on E4 and such (esp for big brother).
He also has a Digital Box with a hard drive - in order to record stuff.
He then has also just bought a FreeSat as it has free HD channels. it doesnt seem to have the red-button option on e4?

He has now asked me for a blu-ray, but mentioned he would get me to d/l and burn dvds, so instead i mentioned a media center.

He has me to check out the prices and mentioned the media center would need to be quite small.

So how much for a blu-ray player?
and how much for a small media center? - i dont mind building if i have too.

I was also wondering, i might be able to get rid of the digital box if i could use the media center in order to record things. Would this be possible? could i record off the freesat onto the pc?

Id say media center, but make sure it has the power to play back hi-def content if thats what your going to be playing back on it. If you decide to go the Blu-ray route, the best option is still the PS3.

Just out of interest, what Freesat box did he go with?

Id say blu-ray player.

Media center will just replicate what theyve already got.

I got rid of my media center pc, replaced it with a freeview pvr, vhs player, dvd player, and the tv has a digital tuner as well.

Was working out, I can record 3 different channels simultaneously on digital, and watch a 4th completely different one.

If I include zattoo which I have set up on this pc, I could watch a 5th completely different channel too

He went for the Goodmans FreeSat. From first impressions it seems a bit slow, otherwise good.

PS3

best of both worlds

How is the media center on the ps3? Can it play avi/mkv etc?

The PS3 is quite good on media fronts, itll play almost all media files, with the exception of some obscure ones. And you can play games on it! Plus, the built-in wireless and 40gb HDD should suffice for internet movie watching/downloading. Cheaper than a HTPC and some blu-ray players, too.

Quote from: El JackoThe PS3 is quite good on media fronts, itll play almost all media files, with the exception of some obscure ones. And you can play games on it! Plus, the built-in wireless and 40gb HDD should suffice for internet movie watching/downloading. Cheaper than a HTPC and some blu-ray players, too.

The ps3 also has the ability to update itself when new bluray standards are released, unlike some players which can only play the basic content on new discs.

Though I would wait till christmas before buying one, I imagine that sony will release a new console bundle with the full spec ps3 and dual shock for the European Christmas market.

Sounds good. Does the ps3 play avi and mkv files without needing to be streamed?

It plays AVI, not sure about mkv but I cba to check

http://hubpages.com/hub/How-To-Play-MKV-Files-On-Playstation-3