Windows MCE alternatives?

Whoop

Whoop

Whoop

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Hi,

Without the search forum function I'm a bit stumped :o

I've decided to reinstall my MCE machine as it seems to be growing steadily unstable each time windows update runs :D

I have done a quick google and seen MythTV that requires Linux to run and also MediaPortal that looks ok but can anyone review or recommend one that is easy and great to use or am I better sticking with MCE? :)


Whoop
 
Take a look at this website http://linuxmce.com/

View the demo video and if you can ignore the microsoft bashing that goes on in it you will see that its probably a very good mce alternative. I intend to set it up myself when i finish all my uni exams.
 
Watched the demo from a while ago and LinuxMCE seems like an absolutely brilliant product.

Unfortunately I have no spare machine to use as a media center pc, so havent been able to try it.
 
MCE is simple, but lousy.
Going back to Media Portal, which is miles better.

Watched that Linux MCE, looks good however usual lack of driver support means no point spending hours configuring it, if it doesn't work (ie soundcard)
 
squiffy said:
MCE is simple, but lousy.
Going back to Media Portal, which is miles better.

Watched that Linux MCE, looks good however usual lack of driver support means no point spending hours configuring it, if it doesn't work (ie soundcard)
Click to expand...
What is better about media portal than WinMCE then?
 
Can use your own plugins.
Fast music browsing
Can have variable fast forward & rewind
Can integrate Theatretek DVD player and ffdshow scaling.
You have built in aspect ratio options
Probably others but I can't recall them at this time.
 
squiffy said:
Can use your own plugins.
Fast music browsing
Can have variable fast forward & rewind
Can integrate Theatretek DVD player and ffdshow scaling.
You have built in aspect ratio options
Probably others but I can't recall them at this time.
Click to expand...

Are you on nightly build? Hows the stability as I see a lot of the skins are requiring the nightly builds to run and I'm curious on the difference from Stable and Nightly. :)


Whoop
 
squiffy said:
Fast music browsing
Click to expand...

Do you really think so? I think its the worst build feature in MediaPortal, its unintuitive in my opinion.

I am using MediaPortal now on a Media Center machine hooked up to my 27" TV. It's good, just make sure you get a media centre remote. Currently have all my movies and music shared accross the network. I haven't really bothered trying to setup the MyTV though, despite having a DVB-T card in the machine, its always been too slow for my liking.
 
Last edited:
Added : the ease of adding thumbnail images to your movies (IMDB scanning), movie reviews, love the music video plug-in and also the Movie previews plugin :)
 
sup3rc0w said:
Added : the ease of adding thumbnail images to your movies (IMDB scanning), movie reviews, love the music video plug-in and also the Movie previews plugin :)
Click to expand...

Is that the My Films plugin?

By moving previews, I assume you are talking about the My Trailers plugin?
 
Conrad11 said:
Do you really think so? I think its the worst build feature in MediaPortal, its unintuitive in my opinion.

I am using MediaPortal now on a Media Center machine hooked up to my 27" TV. It's good, just make sure you get a media centre remote. Currently have all my movies and music shared accross the network. I haven't really bothered trying to setup the MyTV though, despite having a DVB-T card in the machine, its always been too slow for my liking.
Click to expand...


Media Centre- takes about 2 minutes to show anything, and dog slow. Collection of FLAC, Mp3, MPC and ogg titles. Using ogg/flac plugin for media player.

Media Portal- straight away.

So yeah I think MP is faster. Not that bothers me anymore as using Squeebox instead. :) and that's better than both, as you don't need the display on.
 
So what skin is everyone using on MediaPortal? I have been through a couple and some need svn and some don't, generally I have had the program hang/exit at some point on most of them. Is this a hardware thing?

It isn't a media machine its on, its the one next to me to take a look at until I sort the media one out at home :)


Whoop
 
I've found Media Portal just as stable as MCE. However I would like the following to be fixed in MP.

a) ability to use MP on secondary Monitor, and remember which monitor it was opened on last, and to full-screen. At the present time it only works on primary screen

b) Problems with non working remote control upon startup, pressing stop fixes it- you can then move the selector around. I don't know why this this is. MCE doesn't have this problem.
 
squiffy said:
I've found Media Portal just as stable as MCE. However I would like the following to be fixed in MP.

a) ability to use MP on secondary Monitor, and remember which monitor it was opened on last, and to full-screen. At the present time it only works on primary screen

b) Problems with non working remote control upon startup, pressing stop fixes it- you can then move the selector around. I don't know why this this is. MCE doesn't have this problem.
Click to expand...

a) I don't think this can happen due to the overlays and stuff....

b) Which remote are you using. I am using the MCE remote and have no such problem.
 
Conrad11 said:
a) I don't think this can happen due to the overlays and stuff....

b) Which remote are you using. I am using the MCE remote and have no such problem.
Click to expand...

MCE IR reciever, used the registry debounce edit, and using a URC MX-700 learning remote control.
 
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