Best Mac/HDdisplay/dvdplaying/tivo setup

Hi, I need help coming up with a hardware and peripherals spec to best solve our "dilemma".
Life is too hard and we are going to live on a boat!
We will have access to broadband and cable services. We both need our own laptops for work on the boat. One of us will need a new intel Mac.
One of the requirements while on the boat is to be able to watch paid digital TV with the ability to time shift programmes, record and burn shows to dvd/store them and watch rental movies on dvd.
A big factor is space, so we need a flat external screen around 20-23", but whether it is lcd or plasma not sure. I suppose HD is the way to go, but my Titanium screen with downloaded video clips looks pretty sharp to me so that is the sort of quality to aim for.
In general we are after the minimum of hardware cluttering the place up and we have to be able to head out to sea with everything stored safely and easily away.
My first thought for the TV/dvd playing side of things was a mac mini + lcd screen or an iMac, and either of those would need some sort of EyeTV hardware and software/Tivo. I am however thinking it would be more practical ie one CPU less, if our laptops are able to run an external monitor, so if we are both using our laptops, one of them could still run the TV side of things on an external "TV screen". (So the MBP seems a good option for power work and running two screens.)
I guess it reads like we are tv heads, bt not really. Only occasionally do we sit surfing the net separately while watching TV together, we hardly watch any TV now, but we are both running our laptops 24/7 and need the option to have a tv running too.
I see a few products around on the dvr/tivo side of things, but dont know which if any will accomplish what we are trying to do - Evolution TV or HDTV, Eye TV?
Also with reference to the "TV hardware" not sure what different PAL, SECAM etc options mean and how we need to proceed to make sure we are able to hook up in other places in the world.
And what are the basic advantages or important things to be aware of re TiVo, DirectTV, Titan TV, tvtv? These are all just words to us, but seem to be intrinsic to what we are trying to do
I am not saying cost isnt an issue, but primarily we want to get the set up right, and as I am conditioned with a Mac mentality, set up so that things just work.
Can anyone please advise me.
thanks

For your TV display, I recommend the Apple 20inch Cinema Display. Although it costs $799, it will serve double duty as an excellent external display for your laptops and/or a Mac mini if you get one. It is very light, has a low profile, and has small foot print - perfect for tight places. Although it isn't full HD 1080 resolution, it is very close, and 720P content will look great on it, especially if the source is a Mac or PC.
http://store.apple.com/1-800-MY-APPLE/WebObjects/AppleStore.woa/wo/0.RSLID?mco=9 55BB9EF&nclm=AppleDisplays
Even though you do not sound like "TV people" you might still want to consider a MacMini to serve as a full time TV time shifter. And you could still use it as a 3rd computer (in addition to your laptops) when you want (and it will be hooked up to your cinema display already). The MacMini is small, light, etc. so its perfect for this. It just seems like it would be a hassle to manage the display and unplug and replug a display into your laptops just to watch TV. Also, by leaving the MacMini on when you are off the boat or busy doing other things, you will be able to schedule it record programs without having to leave on of your laptops hooked up.
Also, by setting up the mac mini as a wireless base station (System preferences, sharing, internet, etc.) you'll be able to connect to it and grab video files (or other files) to watch TV in bed, or watch different programs on your different laptops at the same time. You could probably just stream the videos right off the macmini without copying, either through standard filesharing, or with itunes or front row.
Keep in mind that eyeTV or or any-other Tivo like solution will not allow you to receive HD content from your cable or Satalite TV provider... everything will be in standard TV resolutions... except for HD content you download from the internet. But thats OK, and remember that video content eats up hard drive space, so if you can live with standard quality TV your better off anyway.
I know this isn't a complete answer to your post. But i gotta run. There are many ways to do what you want to do, but at the end of the day, even if you don't watch TV often, don't underestimate the hassle factor of hooking up and managing cables - get a dedicated machine.

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Micel 811 wrote:
what the best and easier linex to setup EBS 12.1.1 in VMware ؟
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