HP updates its media center lineup

HP is rolling out a whole slew of new Media Center PCs and media extender devices. First up, HP is rolling out a couple of HDTVs with embedded media center extender capabilities. The SL4282N and SL4782N TVs both work as V2 extenders, meaning you'll be able to stream content across your home network from your Windows Vista PC tucked away in the closet. The 42 and 47 inch TVs also sport 1080p displays, 3 HDMI inputs, 2 component, 2 composite/S-Video, and 1 VGA port. You also get an Ethernet and 802.11/a/b/g/n adapter.

If you've already got a MediaSmart HDTV, HP is offering a software update that will upgrade your device to function as a V2 extender. The update also supports additional media codecs.

If you're just looking for an extender to stick next to your TV and don't need a whole new television set, HP has also got the MediaSmart Receiver. This set-top-box shaped device connects to your home network over Ethernet or 802.11/a/b/g/n and lets you control your media center PC and stream audio, video and pictures around the house. The receiver also comes with a couple of media bays if you want to run your media from a flash or hard drive.

And finally, if you're looking for a more traditional PC that just happens to be designed with media center users in mind, the HP Pavilion Elite m9150f is a desktop tower PC with everything a media enthusiast could ever need. You know, until holographic discs come out or whatever the next big thing is. This PC packs an HD-DVD drive, a DVD burner, NTSC/ATSC/FM tuners, HDMI/DVI outputs, and ships with a media center remote. The only thing that would make this $1,159 PC more appealing would be CableCard tuners, but that would probably drive the price way up.