Comments on: Windows Media Centre, a good idea, but … http://graham.doel.org/index.php/2008/08/15/windows-media-centre-a-good-idea-but/ Life, Faith, Study and Techy Ramblings. Tue, 17 Jan 2012 15:12:21 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.2 By: Matt Fletcher http://graham.doel.org/index.php/2008/08/15/windows-media-centre-a-good-idea-but/ Life, Faith, Study and Techy Ramblings. Tue, 17 Jan 2012 15:12:21 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.2 Comments on: Windows Media Centre, a good idea, but … http://graham.doel.org/index.php/2008/08/15/windows-media-centre-a-good-idea-but/ Life, Faith, Study and Techy Ramblings. Tue, 17 Jan 2012 15:12:21 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.2 By: Matt Fletcher http://graham.doel.org/index.php/2008/08/15/windows-media-centre-a-good-idea-but/comment-page-1/#comment-968 Matt Fletcher Tue, 19 Aug 2008 08:57:59 +0000 http://graham.doel.org/?p=366#comment-968 As you know, I'm never one to shy away from linux, but that said, I've always found that it's worth assessing each new technologies on its merits, with its underlying operating system being only one consideration. I run a Windows MCE box at home. It's got a feeble 80gig hard drive, and 512mb of RAM, with two freeview tuner cards installed, but it's hooked up to 37" LCD TV and a cheap but powerful set of creative surround sound speakers and runs a treat. The problems you describe are not ones familiar to me. Okay, I'd be lying if I said it nevers crashes (maybe once in a month perhaps), but I have never seen mine "just reboot". That sounds to me like overheating. Is it a freeview card that the machines have? Because the TV stream is already digital, the PC has to do far far less work than when it digitises analogue TV. In fairness I have maintained a roughly 6 monthly re-install schedule on my box - but for me that is as normal as with any other windows box. Which reminds me, it's due another install, and its probably time I looked at a few upgrades. I've seen the LinuxMCE video though, and it does look impressive. Perhaps a little too impressive though. At the core of linux philosophy is that a tool should do one thing and do it well. Whether I need to be able to control my garage door using my toilet seat is debatable, but interesting to see that it is possible (at least it is as long as I use the same brand of loo roll as the creators of LMCE). At its core LinuxMCE is a layer over the top of MythTV. Now I have tried Mythbuntu (the ubuntu-rolled-in version of MythTV) on my media center, and found it to be an utter swine to get to work. The config was a nightmare, and the picture was choppy on the odd occasion that I had sacrificed the goat, shaved my hair, and sat in an ice bath in the right order and thus actually got a picture. If LinuxMCE really does work - with a 14 day guide, with my remote, with my WMCE infrared keyboard, and with twin freeview receivers, without requiring a degree in astrophysics to get the bleeding options right each time it is rebooted and forgets all its settings, then I'll switch in a flash. But past experiences tell me it won't be such an easy ride. If I find a spare hard drive, I think I will give LMCE a go and report back. But I suspect I'm gonna be off to Ebuyer soon for a copy of Vista Home Premium with the latest Windows Media Center kit built in. PS: You're not gonna be recording a different channel to the one you're watching after the digital switchover next October/November As you know, I’m never one to shy away from linux, but that said, I’ve always found that it’s worth assessing each new technologies on its merits, with its underlying operating system being only one consideration.

I run a Windows MCE box at home. It’s got a feeble 80gig hard drive, and 512mb of RAM, with two freeview tuner cards installed, but it’s hooked up to 37″ LCD TV and a cheap but powerful set of creative surround sound speakers and runs a treat.

The problems you describe are not ones familiar to me. Okay, I’d be lying if I said it nevers crashes (maybe once in a month perhaps), but I have never seen mine “just reboot”. That sounds to me like overheating. Is it a freeview card that the machines have? Because the TV stream is already digital, the PC has to do far far less work than when it digitises analogue TV.

In fairness I have maintained a roughly 6 monthly re-install schedule on my box – but for me that is as normal as with any other windows box. Which reminds me, it’s due another install, and its probably time I looked at a few upgrades.

I’ve seen the LinuxMCE video though, and it does look impressive. Perhaps a little too impressive though. At the core of linux philosophy is that a tool should do one thing and do it well. Whether I need to be able to control my garage door using my toilet seat is debatable, but interesting to see that it is possible (at least it is as long as I use the same brand of loo roll as the creators of LMCE).

At its core LinuxMCE is a layer over the top of MythTV. Now I have tried Mythbuntu (the ubuntu-rolled-in version of MythTV) on my media center, and found it to be an utter swine to get to work. The config was a nightmare, and the picture was choppy on the odd occasion that I had sacrificed the goat, shaved my hair, and sat in an ice bath in the right order and thus actually got a picture.

If LinuxMCE really does work – with a 14 day guide, with my remote, with my WMCE infrared keyboard, and with twin freeview receivers, without requiring a degree in astrophysics to get the bleeding options right each time it is rebooted and forgets all its settings, then I’ll switch in a flash.

But past experiences tell me it won’t be such an easy ride. If I find a spare hard drive, I think I will give LMCE a go and report back. But I suspect I’m gonna be off to Ebuyer soon for a copy of Vista Home Premium with the latest Windows Media Center kit built in.

PS: You’re not gonna be recording a different channel to the one you’re watching after the digital switchover next October/November

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