Media center software without the O/S ?
- Thread starter FatRakoon
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It sort of depends how you define an OS... Wiki describes it as "a collection of software that manages computer hardware resources and provides common services for computer programs."
You'd have trouble running any kind of software on a device which didn't have an operating system of some sort, even if it's hidden from the end user as far as possible, or integrated into the application itself. As far as XBMC is concerned, check out OpenElec - it runs on its own inbuilt Linux OS, which is about as close to the "firmware" experience as you'll get.
XBMC can be downloaded and run on its own without having a Windows operating System installed or use Open Elec - I use this on my Media Player.
http://openelec.tv/
http://openelec.tv/
Captain Crash - Oh haha!
I suppose I was being too lireral I guess, but yes, that Openelec seems to be about as much as can be expected... as minimal resources as possible really.
I am in fact now even considering a fairly decent spec setup and get it folding all the time... Thay way the O/S would not matter would it?
See what this openelec does for me first though.
Thanks
And thanks to RJC too!
I suppose I was being too lireral I guess, but yes, that Openelec seems to be about as much as can be expected... as minimal resources as possible really.
I am in fact now even considering a fairly decent spec setup and get it folding all the time... Thay way the O/S would not matter would it?
See what this openelec does for me first though.
Thanks
And thanks to RJC too!
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It's probably me, I've often been accused of being a bit on the pedantic side.
Well, personally I have rather minimal requirements from an operating system - it should (in no particular order) (1) run the applications I need to accomplish task "x" (2) not crash and (3) not lose or destroy my data. Beyond that, its main function IMO is to stay out of the way and not be noticed as far as possible, hence I get a bit fed up with the endless ill-tempered Win7 vs Win8 "debates," or Windows vs Linux vs MacOS vs [whatever] for that matter.
The OS is just a means to an end - the *applications* are the important thing, as they're what you'll actually be using to do things, and what you'll be looking at for 99% of the time you're using your PC. The quality of the available applications might determine which OS you perceive as "better," but that's a different argument really.
So no, if you can successfully do what you set out to do, then IMO the OS doesn't really matter.
Im also sometimes accused of being sarcastic, so there.
I absolutely 100% agree... hell, I love Windows 7, I truly do, but my personal favourite of the Windowseseses is XP64... I love it to hell and back. I went with it the very moment it was released... Or as soon as anyway and I have been using it right up until about 2 years ago, when I tried vista... I really did try, but I could never get to grips with how much it would fail on me.
I also like Linux. I use Sabayon 13 KDE on my Laptop, and Mint Mate 14 on my Linux Desktop PC in the Attic and if it wasnt for the lack of games, Id jump to Sabayon full time. I do have team on it but the day they do Dawn of War and Company Of Heroes, im there!
Again, my most used computer is my Atari Falcon. I run Mint 1.17 on that with the Jinnee Desktop. It has full internet access ( but no scripting so lots of web pages are awful with it I will admit )
So yes, the O/S is only a means to an end, and so in that area, I am fully with you.
I absolutely 100% agree... hell, I love Windows 7, I truly do, but my personal favourite of the Windowseseses is XP64... I love it to hell and back. I went with it the very moment it was released... Or as soon as anyway and I have been using it right up until about 2 years ago, when I tried vista... I really did try, but I could never get to grips with how much it would fail on me.
I also like Linux. I use Sabayon 13 KDE on my Laptop, and Mint Mate 14 on my Linux Desktop PC in the Attic and if it wasnt for the lack of games, Id jump to Sabayon full time. I do have team on it but the day they do Dawn of War and Company Of Heroes, im there!
Again, my most used computer is my Atari Falcon. I run Mint 1.17 on that with the Jinnee Desktop. It has full internet access ( but no scripting so lots of web pages are awful with it I will admit )
So yes, the O/S is only a means to an end, and so in that area, I am fully with you.
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I have a soft spot for Windows NT4 - I used to run it with service pack 6a, but *without* the preceding SP4a, which added all the Active Desktop carp (hmmm... that reminds me of something else, but let's not go there). It was small, fast, tough and without any unnecessary frills, just the way I like it.
I had it on my home PC, which none of my friends (running Win98/ME) could understand until they actually used it:
Launching an app in Win98/ME: tssscccchhh... whrrrrr....tsSsSsss... kcllllkKcKckcKcKc...tTTTTtttt.... sTssss.... KKKKKKttttschh.... whrrrrrrr..... cKcKck... TsTsTsTs.... (application slowly lumbering into life).... tschchtschtch..... tstTTTTTTssss.... tchTsssss.... whirrrrrTsTsTsTs..... kkkkkkssssKsKskkkk.... (goes on for ages, app finally becomes usable, hopefully not falling over somewhere along the way).
Launching an app in NT4: CLICK CLICK kerCHUNK. kerCHUNK kerCHUNK. CLICK kerCHUNK. Application window snaps open. Done.
I'd probably still be using it today if it had USB support.
My soft spot is still MS DOS 6.22, first got into PCs (I was a Mac fan before then) at that level when I started out as a CAD Draughtsman using AutoCAD in DOS
It just did what you asked it to, no fluff.
I'm with FatRakoon on XP64 though, if you could get the drivers it was great.
It just did what you asked it to, no fluff.
I'm with FatRakoon on XP64 though, if you could get the drivers it was great.
XP64.
When I first got hold of it, I had I think 180 day trial of it.
At the time, I was using an Epson C42 Printer and a BT Voyager 100 USB Modem. These were the ONLY 2 things that I had not found drivers for.
I decided to go for a Router instead as I needed one for Linux anyway, and the Printer was even back then, starting to show its age, and so I said bugger it, I will get a better printer.
By the time I had those sorted, the missus bought me XP64 for an early birthday pressie and I never looked back.
From that day onwards I never once found any issues at all with drivers or software.
Sure, ok, there was a few things, but these were sorted with simply downloading the 64Bit versions, such as O&O DeFrag etc, and I do miss PAGEDEFRAG but anything else was simply not worth worrying about. As for drivers, I simply made sure that everything I bought was 64 bit compatible and really... Everything pretty much was, and if not, it was simply not worth buying.
Ok, on to the O/P
XBMC - Downloaded but it came up with a notice saying that I needed OpenGL capable Display... Im only using OnBoard. the Pc is simply not worth me wasting any cash on it for a low profile gfx pci card and so for now, I will simply stick to Windows XP ( Although I do still have a Media Center Licence somewhere and I might actually chuck that on for a kick as I even have the remote control and the little receiver but never bothered with it... That might be worth a laugh,
The thing is only a Celeron 1.8 and I am quite frankly disgusted at just how slow it is!
I need my kids to check in the attic for what CPUs I have for an old P4 S478 as I know I have a few 478 CPUs, maybe a 2Ghz up there in the CPU box.. Maybe?
Other than that, I might even try the MM for an old base unit suitable.
When I first got hold of it, I had I think 180 day trial of it.
At the time, I was using an Epson C42 Printer and a BT Voyager 100 USB Modem. These were the ONLY 2 things that I had not found drivers for.
I decided to go for a Router instead as I needed one for Linux anyway, and the Printer was even back then, starting to show its age, and so I said bugger it, I will get a better printer.
By the time I had those sorted, the missus bought me XP64 for an early birthday pressie and I never looked back.
From that day onwards I never once found any issues at all with drivers or software.
Sure, ok, there was a few things, but these were sorted with simply downloading the 64Bit versions, such as O&O DeFrag etc, and I do miss PAGEDEFRAG but anything else was simply not worth worrying about. As for drivers, I simply made sure that everything I bought was 64 bit compatible and really... Everything pretty much was, and if not, it was simply not worth buying.
Ok, on to the O/P
XBMC - Downloaded but it came up with a notice saying that I needed OpenGL capable Display... Im only using OnBoard. the Pc is simply not worth me wasting any cash on it for a low profile gfx pci card and so for now, I will simply stick to Windows XP ( Although I do still have a Media Center Licence somewhere and I might actually chuck that on for a kick as I even have the remote control and the little receiver but never bothered with it... That might be worth a laugh,
The thing is only a Celeron 1.8 and I am quite frankly disgusted at just how slow it is!
I need my kids to check in the attic for what CPUs I have for an old P4 S478 as I know I have a few 478 CPUs, maybe a 2Ghz up there in the CPU box.. Maybe?
Other than that, I might even try the MM for an old base unit suitable.
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The trouble is, all these CPUs are *very* weak by today's standards, or even yesterday's or the day before... to stand any chance of playing back anything other than low-bitrate SD video, you'll need some kind of GFX hardware acceleration, and even then you'll probably still find yourself regularly tearing your hair out. And as you said, it's hardly worth wasting cash trying to upgrade a really ancient piece of kit.
If you can find an old (but better) base unit for next to nothing just to mess around with and see what XBMC's all about (or HTPCs in general), by all means go for it - I wouldn't even consider anything before a C2D though, and maybe partner it with something like an ATI/AMD 5450 or equivalent.
True.
I was never expecting anything special. Im not ignorant to things, but I expected it to be able to at least do something!
Such as plonk a DVD into it and it will autopmatically play the thing because even my 20+ year old Atari does that just fine, but this thing simply failed.
No, you're right, I have grabbed a 2.2Ghz P4 from he-flay and this would at least be enough to do what I need it to, and be honest, it would.
The GFX, again I didnt expect to be blown away with any uber score on 3D Mark but I at least expected it to play a Video at 1024x768 but it even fails to do that without it flickering like hell ( and then hanging after a few seconds )
So again... I will ask the kids to go rooting through the boxes of old junk as I know I have a couple of Matrox cards up there and that will solve that issue.
Its only a laugh though... Im probably going to get it all done and then never bother with it... I am really only doing it out of pure boredom more than anything else... If I really wanted to do it seriously, Id simply either buy it new, or use a tower on the side of it... After all the bass speaker is on one side and a tower on the other would even things out.
I was never expecting anything special. Im not ignorant to things, but I expected it to be able to at least do something!
Such as plonk a DVD into it and it will autopmatically play the thing because even my 20+ year old Atari does that just fine, but this thing simply failed.
No, you're right, I have grabbed a 2.2Ghz P4 from he-flay and this would at least be enough to do what I need it to, and be honest, it would.
The GFX, again I didnt expect to be blown away with any uber score on 3D Mark but I at least expected it to play a Video at 1024x768 but it even fails to do that without it flickering like hell ( and then hanging after a few seconds )
So again... I will ask the kids to go rooting through the boxes of old junk as I know I have a couple of Matrox cards up there and that will solve that issue.
Its only a laugh though... Im probably going to get it all done and then never bother with it... I am really only doing it out of pure boredom more than anything else... If I really wanted to do it seriously, Id simply either buy it new, or use a tower on the side of it... After all the bass speaker is on one side and a tower on the other would even things out.