CompTIA A+ Complete Deluxe Study Guide Recommended Courseware: Exams 220-801 and 220-802, 2nd Edition

Home Theater PCs

Home theater PCs (HTPCs) continue to gain in popularity as a specialized computing appliance. An HTPC might have multiple capabilities, such as storing large amounts of video media and streaming it to an output device, streaming it directly from the Internet, or acting as an A/V tuner and receiver, mating input sources with output devices. The versatility of an HTPC makes it a logical choice for people desiring to exercise more control over their existing set-top boxes, most of which do not even offer the option of flexible storage. HTPCs are personal computers with operating systems that allow easy access to local storage, allowing the user to add whatever media they want whenever they feel the need.

The average PC can be turned ...