HTPC or Micro server

[tonyfillony]

So Im thinking about getting one of these and setting it up in my gaf.
Just wondering what are any using these days? and what would people recommend ?> whst the pros and cons to each?
Im leaning more towards the micro server as i can use that as a NAS , also i intend to run ps3 media server on it and also the squeezebox server on it
here is the server im looking at
http://www.ebuyer.com/281915-hp-proliant-turion-ii-n40l-microserver-100-cashback-658553-421
and htpc
http://www.ebuyer.com/319567-acer-revo-rl70-nettop-pc-pt-sj4ec-003

 

[Merowech]

I'll be setting up a Debian box, mainly for backup and storage and some streamripper, gona use my old tower for that.

There should be some port for the PS3 media server as well, didn't look into it yet.

 

[tonyfillony]

Going to go down the HTPC road i think
prob going to get this
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Zotac-Zbox-...sr_1_sc_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1336751985&sr=8-1-spell
Along with 4gb ram and a ssd . Will put windows on it and run XMBC over it and squeezebox server .
Further down the line i might try http://openelec.tv/

 

[Merowech]

This openeelec also doesn't look too bad. I got my monsterbox shipped over now and set the operating system up, now I'll have some fun making the TV card working

 

[tonyfillony]

Back again with this , so I decided to go down the custom build route
here is what I order:
Case : Themaltake Element Q
APU: AMD A6-3650 quad core
Motherboard :AsRock a75m
RAM : 4gb Kingston
I have a few HDD about the house so will use them for the meantime but planning on getting a SSD futher down the line, and then even furhter down the line I will prob get a NAS box
The APU is a bit of over kill but I might do a bit of light gaming/emulators on it. Will prob start out with xmbc running over windows , then I'll probably give openelec a go