Essential Reading

[David]

Please feel free to point out some useful links for HTPCs :)

Digital Sound FAQ (http://www.ocforums.com/showthread.php?t=427256)

[kovboi]

some of my obligatory bookmarks:

HTPCnews.com (http://www.htpcnews.com/)
"Stuff for HTPC" @ [H] (http://www.hardforum.com/showthread.php?t=759011)
Home Theater Computers @ AVS Forum (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/forumdisplay.php?f=26)
Home Theatre PC @ DenGuru (http://www.denguru.com/media_center/)
media center software list @ erikso.com (http://eirikso.com/2005/10/25/the-media-center-software-list/)
The Green Button (http://thegreenbutton.com/)
Missing Remote (http://missingremote.com/)

[Evilsizer]

here is some good reading on helping to choose which screen/tv is for you. IMO nothing beats a CRT, maybe a plasma screen but i dont carry that kinda cash.
http://forum.ecoustics.com/bbs/messages/34579/295588.html
http://www.futurelooks.com/386-Holiday-2006---Know-your-HDTV-Options-This-Holiday-Season.html

[Jon]

PCAlchemy (http://www.pcalchemy.com) is an HTPC-only retailer. You can, of course, get alot of the items they sell at better prices elsewhere, but it is a good reference when looking to piece together an HTPC build. They typically only carry the most popular HTPC hardware/software.

Also want to add that VideoHelp (www.videohelp.com) has a pretty good forum covering STBs, capture cards, codecs - basically anything audio/video related. They also have a good review database on tuners, capture cards, PVRs, etc.

[drshivas]

http://www.avsforum.com/

and

http://www.antennaweb.org

are good resources.

[Bodegus]

I found this interesting, lists bitrates for networks and providers

http://forums.highdefdigest.com/hdtv-programming-info/68632-question-about-hdtv-bitrate.html

Lists Service provider bitrates.

Lists network bitrate choke points.