Chris_B Posted November 27, 2007 Report Share Posted November 27, 2007 As per my "HD broadcast" thread, I'm debating the future of Freeview, so my plans to buy a Freeview twin-tuner PVR are called into question, and a media PC might be a better option. A simple question that gets more complex: Linux & MythTV or Windows Media Centre? Windows seems to be the "just works" (ie low effort) solution, but with less flexibility. Myth seems like a lot more work, but with more potential. What I ideally want is the ability to record multiple video streams (SD or HD) and/or rip content from DVD etc to a central server, and have lightweight diskless clients able to play it back and control the recording scheduling on the central server. Assuming I'm looking to build a 'server' to live in the loft, and 'clients' to be small, low-noise playback units, what's WMCE like for remotely controlling recording? I know MythTV can network fairly transparently, so a server with multiple DVB-T tuners can record multiple channels, and be asked to do so by multiple clients, but does Windows do anything similar? HD should be possible in both, but does Myth have such wide hardware support for HD receivers? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chav Posted November 27, 2007 Report Share Posted November 27, 2007 why not just get a freeview recorder now and then bin it in 2009 when they introduce mpeg 4. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Turrican Posted November 27, 2007 Report Share Posted November 27, 2007 Also look at Linux MCE . Haven't had chance to try it yet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris_B Posted November 27, 2007 Author Report Share Posted November 27, 2007 [ QUOTE ] Also look at Linux MCE . Haven't had chance to try it yet. [/ QUOTE ] Oooh, that looks shiny! The nice thing about media PCs is that I could build one for Myth and then just buy MCE for it, erm I mean for the new hardware I've bought the OEM license with of course, and stick that on it if Myth proves a flop. At least the tuners are easily replaceable, and Hauppage already have an H.264-capable (albeit sat only) tuner card out, so there's some hope for an HD terrestrial tuner card when the dust settles. So I'll probably end up with second SD Freeview recorder, a Myth install with SD Freeview tuners, and I might also end up with Sky HD even though right now I've fallen out of love with Sky and have cancelled my Sky+ package! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thorburn Posted November 27, 2007 Report Share Posted November 27, 2007 I've been very happy with Windows Vista Home Premiums Media Center. The Green Button is a great Media Centre resource site. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Turrican Posted November 27, 2007 Report Share Posted November 27, 2007 Just found a page which has a comparison between Linux MCE and Windows MCE with some youtube videos. http://forums.cnet.com/5208-10152_102-0.html?forumID=97&threadID=240123&messageID=2441632 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thorburn Posted November 27, 2007 Report Share Posted November 27, 2007 The problem I have with Linux is always the fact that when it works it can be very nice, but getting it to a usable state is a complete pain in the arse. I managed to render a x64 install of the 'easy to use' Ubuntu 7.10 absolutely useless trying to install the NVIDIA drivers for a few years old 6800GT. Followed the instructions on the NVIDIA site which simply involved running a shell script. Rebooted and X no longer worked and logging in at the command line produced a permission error on /devices/nul which looped into infinity. That said I should have a new PSU tomorrow for my test rig so I might have a poke at Linux MCE, my advice would go on Vista's MCE though, it just works without having to tear your hair out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snail Posted November 27, 2007 Report Share Posted November 27, 2007 Or what about an Apple?? [/Rachel\Ritey\etc] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thorburn Posted November 27, 2007 Report Share Posted November 27, 2007 [ QUOTE ] Or what about an Apple?? [/Rachel\Ritey\etc] [/ QUOTE ] As far as I know they don't have a real TV solution, the Apple TV just streams from iTunes and Front Row doesn't have TV tuning support. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craigyb Posted November 27, 2007 Report Share Posted November 27, 2007 I'm using windows MCE 2005 on Elonex Silent PC's. These are playing all my HD, SD, mp3, jpeg content from the NAS filers without any problems. They are basically 3.0 Ghz DUAL core (not core duo) with around 1GB RAM. The low profile graphics card is a 7300 passive cooled and these have DVI, VGA & HD outputs. I'm using it in DVI mode at 1900x1200 no problems to a true HD Panny plasma. WinMCE 2005 seemed easier to use and setup compared with VistaMCE. Digital TV support is included with multiple tuner support and EPG. I'm currently working on getting Sky working using FloppyDTV cards and firewire ports. I can watch Sky ok, but it's unreliable currently. When I move I will just stick in dual freeview PCI cards for general viewing, but where I currently live the signal is too poor for analogue or digital TV, hence the use of Sky for viewing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thorburn Posted November 27, 2007 Report Share Posted November 27, 2007 [ QUOTE ] WinMCE 2005 seemed easier to use and setup compared with VistaMCE. [/ QUOTE ] Yep, Windows XP MCE 2005 is worth a look too, it has some elements that are better finished than Vista's Media Centre, but overall I think Vista edges it despite some silly quirks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rachel Posted November 28, 2007 Report Share Posted November 28, 2007 [ QUOTE ] Or what about an Apple?? [/Rachel\Ritey\etc] [/ QUOTE ] I use a 1.83GHz CoreDuo Mac Mini with around 500GB of storage and 2GB RAM as my HD/digital TV/PVR/DVD movie converter that I bought a year or so ago. Current models are Core2Duo based (2+GHz IIRC) and are generally a little quicker... Elgato EyeTV is the digital TV software of choice and is pretty awesome. You can record stuff (losslessly) and at a later time export it into a wealth of formats - including DivX (if you grab the codec), .AVI, .MP4, H.264, iPod, and so forth. The single input dongle version I have allows you to watch live media and a recording simultaneously. If you choose wisely, there is a dual tuner/input dongle variant with which you can watch 2 live streams simultaneously and the recorded stuff too. They also have a variant of dongle that will allow input via a composite video/stereo audio (as well as the DVB) allowing you to transcribe your old video collection. It also cleanly integrates with Apple's Front Row - so you can use the Apple remote, (or the one that ships with the software and USB dongle). I just use the Terratec remote that came with my version (I have a Terratec Cinergy2 dongle). Ripping my purchased DVDs is pretty simple - I use Handbrake (also called MediaFork) to turn them into AVI files that are MP4 video and MP3 audio. You can pick a variety of output formats for the video and audio - all just point and click. For those DVDs I own that are not region 4 (in Oz, consumer players by law must support all regions) I use MacTheRipper to rip to the HDD in a region free format - then do the conversion with Handbrake. For watching all sorts of media - VLC is the way to go. Go and check out the screen shots for the OS X version to get an appreciation of how different (and advanced) it is compared to the Linux and Windows variants. VLC is also a full media streaming server - so you can also use it to stream media (and also convert it on the fly!) to other systems on your home network. On top of all that, you have iTunes out of the box, and if you feel the need to buy an AppleTV, can push your media to it. Does that help? R Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris_B Posted November 28, 2007 Author Report Share Posted November 28, 2007 [ QUOTE ] I'm using windows MCE 2005 on Elonex Silent PC's. These are playing all my HD, SD, mp3, jpeg content from the NAS filers without any problems. [/ QUOTE ] Thanks for the input, good to know from somebody who's already doing what I'd like to do (central NAS with multiple remote clients). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris_B Posted November 28, 2007 Author Report Share Posted November 28, 2007 [ QUOTE ] Does that help? [/ QUOTE ] No! I did consider a Mac Mini a while ago, and I do quite like the look of them form the point of view that it would make a nice home computer for general web browsing and email etc as well as a media player. The small size is also a bonus. However, I'd discounted them on the basis that I was thinking of a server with all the disc space and three of four tuner cards in it hidden away in the loft, and diskless clients just to display media streamed from it. Now I've got Mac to consider as well, so you've increased the scale of my dilemma! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Riz Posted November 28, 2007 Report Share Posted November 28, 2007 What about something like this HTPC Riz Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
loafer27 Posted November 29, 2007 Report Share Posted November 29, 2007 theres mythbuntu too an obvious mix of ubuntu and myth TV but in one install package http://www.mythbuntu.org/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris_B Posted December 1, 2007 Author Report Share Posted December 1, 2007 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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