Easy to use, maximum compatibility and a load of questions

Monotype

My needs and wants
My home entertainment system needs an overhaul.
I'll be using UPC and getting a new tv. This is still in the planning phase and I am trying to familiarise myself with the technology before I set a deadline and a budget.

Seeing that blu ray players don't run every file, I think a HTPC is the route to go. I would like as much compatibility with every kind of file, e.g., ISO and video_ts/vob files.

I'll probably build it myself but I want the end result to be easy to use.
I'm not interested in streaming videos from the internet, I watch just a little tv and the main use would be playing DVDs or library on HDD.

Main objectives

• File compatibility
• Ease of use

Q1 - Physical requirements and layout
I don't need a tv tuner... do I? I'm using analogue now so with digital, UPC will send a decoder box? So that connects to tv and htpc - Or is the tv the last in the chain?

Q2 - Blu rays
What's the situation with playing blu rays on a HTPC? A few looks around say that you either have to fork out a load of money for alternative software or work around. This would work against my easy to use vision.

Q3 - The software
Windows media centre looks nice enough and windows 7 has very good hardware recognition, but file compatibility doesn't seem great.

Boxee software looks handy although I have to say that it looks more like a social network. Possibly too bloated for me.

XBMC looks a bit more suitable with wide compatibility but scant in the tv/PVR area.

What about mythbuntu? I can't find recent reviews, so can anyone offer me their opinion?

Other recommendations?

Edit: OK, I realise now that the TV/DVR/PVR aspect requires different software in some cases.

I downloaded XBMC and Boxee. XBMC is nice and more along the lines of what I'm looking for. I didn't like boxee at all.

I'll download mythbuntu and see that it's like. I'll have to figure out the DVR software when the time comes, although I'm not as bothered about that since I don't look at much live tv.

BTW, how is compatibility of mythbuntu with things like remotes?


Q4 - Other interaction
What do people think of air mice and voice interaction for these uses?

Any input, suggestions, reviews, warnings and random rants are welcome!

Carter P Fly

Q1 - If you are getting UPC then a boxee box or similar would be better then a HTPC. With a Sat plus digital terrestrial hybrid card (need a dish and uhf aerial)you may well receive enough channels to not fork out for UPC at all. What is it you want to get from UPC in addition to the standard terrestrial channels?

Q2 - To run Blue rays From Windows media center ArcSoft total media theater integrates nicely. There is also talk about doing it a different way, It may be worth following this thread here: http://www.thegreenbutton.tv/forums/viewtopic.php?f=32&t=194&hilit=splitter

Q3: Specifically what sort of files are you referring to? there are lots of ways to allow all sorts of files including MKV and FLAC work perfectly fine with WMC.

Q3a: XMBC Is the best standalone media center app out there. Its a shame it is no good for TV.

Q3b: Mythbuntu is very good as a TV tuner backend but is not an 'works out of the box' solution. Linux enthusiasts really like it. Linux MCE is another option. I'm not good with linux and while I got a basic system working it every single little tweek was a torture for me to get it to work with different things that should be simple like correct TV resolutions etc. This, however is just my lack of Linux savvy. I may revisit it someday.

Q4: Voice interaction is a gimmick, Harmony Remotes are really really popular with HTPC users. Personally I use a Wireless keyboard with integrated trackpad for everything other then turning on and off the tv and PC.

Monotype

Thanks for the reply.

Carter P Fly wrote: »

Q1 - If you are getting UPC then a boxee box or similar would be better then a HTPC. With a Sat plus digital terrestrial hybrid card (need a dish and uhf aerial)you may well receive enough channels to not fork out for UPC at all. What is it you want to get from UPC in addition to the standard terrestrial channels?

The size of the boxee box is very nice, but I think I'd like to enrol as many functions as possible into the one system. Isn't a boxee box just an optimised htpc with boxee software?


I don't really have any need for any tv channels; I pretty much just watch DVDs but others like to watch stuff... I've been impressed with the channels freely available with satellite setups, but the main reason is that I'm thinking of UPC is that their phone and broadband prices are good and last time I checked, their tv wasn't much more (looking at them now, the prices don't seem as close!). I'll have to rethink this one.

Q2 - To run Blue rays From Windows media center ArcSoft total media theater integrates nicely. There is also talk about doing it a different way, It may be worth following this thread here: http://www.thegreenbutton.tv/forums/viewtopic.php?f=32&t=194&hilit=splitter

Thanks for a point in the right direction. I suppose the best thing to do here is to try out what's available when I am it up with the hardware in front of me to see what my options are. It's annoying that it's that restricted.

Q3: Specifically what sort of files are you referring to? there are lots of ways to allow all sorts of files including MKV and FLAC work perfectly fine with WMC.

Really, it's pretty much DVD isos and video_ts. I've read that you need to go mounting images etc with WMC. I wouldn't care if it's just me but I want it easy for anyone to pick up.

Q3a: XMBC Is the best standalone media center app out there. Its a shame it is no good for TV.

I tried it on my PC and it really was nice. I gave mediaportal a go too. Apparently that is more suitable for tv but it wasn't working right, maybe I need the tv connection.

Q3b: Mythbuntu is very good as a TV tuner backend but is not an 'works out of the box' solution. Linux enthusiasts really like it. Linux MCE is another option. I'm not good with linux and while I got a basic system working it every single little tweek was a torture for me to get it to work with different things that should be simple like correct TV resolutions etc. This, however is just my lack of Linux savvy. I may revisit it someday.

My linux skills are okish. I wouldn't mind an extra bit of work for a good setup but I wouldn't like to be chiselling away for days try to get drivers working.

Q4: Voice interaction is a gimmick, Harmony Remotes are really really popular with HTPC users. Personally I use a Wireless keyboard with integrated trackpad for everything other then turning on and off the tv and PC.

Yeah, it would be very gimicky but I was surprised how good it was when I tried it again recently in windows 7. It's come a long way. I'm not sure I'd like a keyboard for general use. Maybe I'd have one on hand for configuration or a quick youtube video - or one of those small keyboard remotes - but I don't really really want it to turn into a general pc.

I'm not overly fond of the harmony remotes, maybe that might change after I read some reviews. I thought it would be nice to just point like a wii remote at dvd menus. The logitech MX air was close to what I wanted but there's very few alternatives. I know you can use phones and ipads, but I'd rather not buy one just as a remote. A harmony/air crossover would be nice.

Carter P Fly

Yea a boxee box is just a boxee optimised linux pc at the end of the day but it works and people swear by them.

I couldnt remember the name earlier but lots of HTPC folk love Gyration gear. Ive never used any so cant comment.

here's how to mount ISO's automatically in media center http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/11071/automatically-mount-and-view-iso-files-in-windows-7-media-center/

media center has a lot of tweaks and add-ons available to do stuff that people want it to do with it. howtogeek and hack7mc.com have loads of tweaks.

with regards to blu ray youre not going to see it run nativly like dvd for some time, inc windows 8 I believe. you'll run into this issue no matter what platform you run into. my blue ray player shipped with powerdvd 9 which also works with wmc but total media theater is better.

I bought my sat card (haupauge nove DVB-S2) for 50 and my digital/analog tuner (avermedia super 007) for 15 euro on ebay . I get all the FTA UK sat channels and HD ones. and all the saorview channels for free after the cost of the cards. (and mounting an aerial). I dont watch enough TV to warrent paying a subscription.

Monotype

Maybe I shouldn't write off Windows MC so fast then.

The gyration remotes don't look to bad. I'm not sure about pressing a button underneath while pressing one on top. Sounds slightly awkward. The price differences are huge. Amazon.com sells them at half the price of amazon.co.uk.

How does the tuner connect to the HTPC? Do you connect it to the HTPC and display everything on the TV or are both connected to the TV?

Carter P Fly

They're both internal PCI cards. sat and aerial feed directly into the back of the case which is connected to the TV via HDMI