Windows Media Centre Alternative?

funkyphantom · 5 Sep 2010 at 20:29

Hi guys,
I have a laptop thats basically just sitting around doing nothing, so thought id put it under the tv and use it as a media centre. The only thing is, I dont like the look of windows media centre, and, from what ive read, not many other people like it neither. My question is, what alternatives are you guys using?
Thanks in advance

P.s does the logitech dinovo mini cut the mustard for controlling a media centre? If not what would you suggest?

Pho · 5 Sep 2010 at 20:44

XBMC - http://xbmc.org/skins/.

funkyphantom · 5 Sep 2010 at 20:47

shexy, thanks

jbloggs · 5 Sep 2010 at 23:22

Mediaportal

MythTV

GB-PVR

funkyphantom · 6 Sep 2010 at 08:18

Pho said:
XBMC - http://xbmc.org/skins/.

Set this up now, works fantastically well, even using my iphone to control it, brilliant!

lurkio · 6 Sep 2010 at 09:27

+1 GBPVR , been using it for years it is awesome

Pho · 6 Sep 2010 at 09:55

funkyphantom said:
Set this up now, works fantastically well, even using my iphone to control it, brilliant!

It takes a little while to understand how it all works, but once you do it's actually all very intuitive. I've been a fan of it for years, I still run it on my original xbox daily to watch recorded TV which I record with GBPVR and listen to music

.

It's a shame the GBPVR interface just isn't as fancy.

Sp00n · 6 Sep 2010 at 10:04

I used to use Mediaportal before I got windows 7 so now I use the proper windows one.

However, I've had more codec issues using MCE, stuttering etc... so I might give xbmc a go.

robnut · 6 Sep 2010 at 10:15

Thead hijack, which of these has best live tv support?

lurkio · 6 Sep 2010 at 10:58

I have never had issues with live tv on GBPVR , both using SD/HD freesat or freeview

funkyphantom · 8 Sep 2010 at 00:15

Does anyone know of a way to boot straight into XBMC? Just a bit of a pain getting my butt off the sofa to boot it up, and to load XBMC

CaptainCrash · 8 Sep 2010 at 01:16

funkyphantom said:
Does anyone know of a way to boot straight into XBMC? Just a bit of a pain getting my butt off the sofa to boot it up, and to load XBMC

Shortcut in the startup folder?

jellybeard999 · 8 Sep 2010 at 01:55

robnut said:
Thead hijack, which of these has best live tv support?

I've come to the conclusion that WMC has by far the best TV interface. The only other real alternative, MP, is too clunky IMO.

Sp00n · 8 Sep 2010 at 09:48

funkyphantom said:
Does anyone know of a way to boot straight into XBMC? Just a bit of a pain getting my butt off the sofa to boot it up, and to load XBMC

I'm assuming you have an MCE remote, why not map the green button to open xbmc?

funkyphantom · 8 Sep 2010 at 17:37

Sp00n said:
I'm assuming you have an MCE remote, why not map the green button to open xbmc?

No i havent got a remote, just using my iphone to control xmbc. Although its a clever idea and good to 'show off' with, i dont think its all that practical. MCE remote might be the way forward, thanks

Pho · 8 Sep 2010 at 17:41

A friend of mine uses XBMC with a wireless keyboard so your dinovo should be fine once you remember the shortcuts

.