[Techie714]

So I'm getting rid of my old PS3 and I want a home media center to replace it. So I could use a little guidance in this arena. Below is a list of what I want the device to do & perhaps someone can point me to a pre-made box that will do the following? Please do not exceed $800.00...Thank you

Device needs to do the following:
Built in Blu-Ray drive
Ability for me to RIP all my current DVD's & store them on the device via ISO for easy watching & streaming on my TV.
A super nice UI that is simple to use
Internet access for Netflix & Hulu
Will work with my Harmony Remote
Will plug into my Audio Receiver Via Optical Cable

What I dont care about:
Surfing the Internet from my TV
Recording TV shows (I have a Tivo)
Playing Internet Radio or any other "audio" applications

[thideras]

I don't know of a pre-built box that you could purchase, but you could build a nice i3 based system for under that. Since you would be going with a full blown system, that gives you substantially more freedom (and computing power!) to run what you want on it. For media center software, I use nothing but XBMC. If you would be running Windows, you could use the software with the remote (if it has any) or AutoHotKey to setup the remote. If you were in Linux, you could map them just as easily.

[Adragontattoo]

You could build a box to handle all of that for sub 800.

SW to rip BD/DVD would probably be the only item outside the budget.

I need to pick up a BD drive for my "HTPC" but I used an old rig (AMD x3, Gigabyte MB, EVGA GTX 550 (IIRC), Corsair TX650. 4gb Gskill, etc...) and have not had any issues. It streams from my fileserver without complaint and I use VLC to play my DVD Backups. I rip them as a complete Disc and VLC can play them without complaint. Only issue I have is that I need to rebuild the box to get it to 7x64 instead of 7x32...

[mjw21a]

Personally I'd build this around an AMD APU based solution. Their integrated graphics is miles ahead of Intels in both performance and picture quality. You're rips will take a bit longer on an AMD, though you will indeed get there. I think the 3 core A6-3500 is the way to go.

I think you're main choice in the build is whether you want to build something which will take plenty of internal storage or a system which looks like a piece of stereo equipment but has little room for internal drive expansion. If you want internal storage I strongly recommend the Fractal R3, if not then the Silverstone GD06 is a great choice. The Fractal case in the Titanium colour will blend in with any HT setup whereas the Silverstone just look like another stereo component.

Here;s how my R3 looks, sitting to the left of the right speaker:



You can use literally anything to rip the BlueRays so long as you're running something to decrypt the content. I recommend Sysoft AnyDVD HD. It sits in the background and detects whenever media is inserted in the drive. It's a software layer in between the drive and whatever software that reads it and the disc will show as completely unencrypted to whatever reads it, basicly in unencrypts the discs on the fly. It's not overly expensive so a good way to go.