Projects: PVR: Overview

Being the gadget freak that I am, I've been thinking about building my own PVR (Personal Video Recorder), a la Tivo. There's lots of resources on the web that tell you how to build one, and free software to make it all work. Here are the proposed components and their esitmated costs:

Hardware:

Antec Minuet Micro ATX Case...	64.00
MicroATX motherboard w/ AMD Sempron...	130.00
ATI TV Wonder Tuner Card...	50.00
ATI Half-height graphics card (to fit the slimline case)...	80.00
80 GB HDD...	60.00
IRman infrared receiver...	35.00
Total...	$419.00

Software (all free):

• Debian Linux
  
• MythTV
  
• lirc

Now, the total cost may be a bit more than a new Tivo, but you also have to consider the lack of monthly charges and the ability to skip commercials, and no ads. To me I think that's worth it.

Any suggestions or past experiences are welcome.

Movies: Disney to release The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe

I recently found out that Disney, along with WETA (the effects team behind Lord of the Rings) will be releasing a live-action version of The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe, based on the book by C.S. Lewis. I'm hoping this is the start of a series of movies based on the Chronicles of Narnia, of which LWW is the cornerstone. I'm a huge fan of the books, and I'm dying to see if WETA and Andrew Adamson (director of Shrek/Shrek 2) can do for Narnia what they did for Middle Earth. The books are a fun and easy read - pick up a copy of the entire set in one book on amazon.com. Get it now, and you'll finish the whole series by the time the movie comes out.

Movies: Review: Hide and Seek

Hide and Seek (Rated R)

Nothing particularly scary in this one. I was hesitant to see it because of all the bad reviews I'd read, but my wife and our friends wanted to go see it. Needless to say, there were plenty of "I told you so's" coming afterward. During most of the scenes that were supposed to be creepy or disturbing, the audience was giggling.

Bottom line: this might be a renter (if there's nothing better available at the store). Don't waste 9 bucks to see it in the theater.

Movies: Review: The Aviator

The Aviator (Rated PG-13)

Excellent movie - performances by Leo DiCaprio, Cate Blanchett and Alan Alda were all top-notch. Scorcese has crafted a gripping, visually stunning film.

Bottom line: See it. Buy the DVD when it comes out.