Building an HTPC - Keyboard, Mouse, Conclusion
When examining available keyboard/mouse options, you will run into several options. Depending upon your responses to the following issues, you have several solutions:
- Will you want to play FPS or similar games on your HTPC?
- How close will you be sitting to your HTPC?
- Are you on a budget?
In taking the above list into consideration, you have several options:
- IR/RF wireless keyboard/mouse combo
- IR/RF wireless keyboard & IR/RF wireless mouse
- Wired keyboard & mouse
- RF wireless pointing device/mouse
IR (infrared) solutions will work well provided you have line-of-sight to the receiver. RF (radio frequency) solutions need to be rated for the distance you will be from the receiver. Keep in mind, most RF keyboards and mice are only rated for 1m (3 feet). We found and used a great RF wireless keyboard/mouse combo that will serve our needs well. There are no plans to use the
HTPC
for active FPS (first person shooter) or similar games,
so we went with a dual-channel RF keyboard with integrated
mouse. As the seating position is over 8 feet from the
HTPC, a wireless solution was essential to a successful
HTPC experience. With this in mind, gaming is not the focus of an HTPC - but it can still be cool.
Install OS and Update Drivers
Now is the time to install the OS (we recommend Windows XP Media Center Edition) and associated software. While we'll address the actual multimedia software in a later article, you'll want to upgrade WindowsXP to the latest version and update all of your drivers (especially nVideo or ATI display drivers where appropriate). You can also test your hardware, making sure that your DVD-ROM drive and hard disk are on separate IDE buses (you should notice this during the boot process). You may also wish to install some preliminary DVD software and test your ability to output AC-3 digital audio. We will be using PowerDVD.
What's Next?
Well, you have (hopefully) just successfully learned the basics to putting together an HTPC. Your next step, and ours, will be to install and configure the software and get your unit up and running. After that, we'll get into the real meat and potatoes and convert what is essentially a PC connected to a monitor into a home entertainment media center. We'll do this by integrating DVR functionality, channel guides and a host of other software solutions that bring out the best in a HTPC.
Right now, however, I'm going to go watch a DVD on the big screen!
