Media PC frontends?
 

Hiya, guys. I'm trying to set up a book computer as a media PC. No preferrence between linux and XP, but I do have two catches to this setup:

- It won't be hooked to a DVR/PVR card; it will just play downloaded ---- off the 'net and stuff I rip elsewhere on my LAN, so EPG and supported vid cards means little to me.
- PC is connected to a 32" tube screen with SDTV aka 320X240 resolution. 640X480 resolution with big fonts makes this doable, but it's a pain to operate sometimes; I want a big button simplistic media GUI I can playback music and movies on.

I'm thinking one of the car PC front ends is the ticket, but wanted feedback since I'm a multimedia n00b.

Re: Media PC frontends?
 

MythTV has gotten great reviews, have you looked into that?

It has PVR functions but can also just be used as a frontend to play your files with big buttons.

Re: Media PC frontends?
 

I'm kinda hesitant to fool with linux, despite my original statement, because I'm totally unexperienced in linux, but there is no time like the present, I suppose.

PS - myHTPC.net has a Windows variant of MythTV, looks interesting. I have some stripped down flavors of XP that install off a 180 MB .iso and occupy 42 MB of RAM, pretty snappy on the older P3s and VIA stuff.

Re: Media PC frontends?
 

Most of the car ones have more carlike features like a big fat GPS button and some other ---- I can't remember.

There are ones like SageTV and others for windows but they cost money. Perhaps a torrent exists, but give linux a shot! It's easy and you won't feel like such a noob anymore.

Re: Media PC frontends?
 

I took a spy photo of JD's LAN

http://www.bleacheatingfreaks.com/fi...nice%20lan.jpg

Re: Media PC frontends?
 

It's....incredible.... it's like.... like a nerdopolis! All hail JD and his nerdopolis!

Re: Media PC frontends?
 

JD, throw out that 32" and buy a fine 50" plasma from me for a grand. Then play all your stuffs in 1280x720. I'm also looking for a media frontend for the htpc we're gonna use with the 120" projected 1280x1024 screen ;D so people make some suggestions!

Re: Media PC frontends?
 

I use Snapstream products with much success. True that I am using there BeyondTV PVR Software the most, but they offer a "Beyond Media" product too. Here is the sales pitch from teh website.....

Beyond Media is a perfect addition to your Beyond TV home theater PC. Beyond Media is a DVD player, a music player, and a photo browser--an all-in-one media player that will take your entertainment PC to the next level.

Beyond Media lets you…

Access all your photos, music and videos from one, user-friendly interface
Access movies on-demand with SnapStream Spotlight
Access weather information and Caller ID
Have fun with photo slideshows
Watch DVDs with Dolby 5.1 channel surround sound
Sort and browse your music by genre, title, artist and keyword
Seamlessly integrate & access Beyond TV
Beyond Media provides a complete solution that brings all of your digital media files together into an organized, manageable and easy-to-use menu that you can see and control from the comfort of your couch.

And the link - http://www.snapstream.com/products/beyondmedia/

Craig

Re: Media PC frontends?
 

Pfffft, jago/Torgan, I only have seven computers plus the roomate's makes eight. ::)

I am sorely tempted, but it's famine in my wallet right now. I've been paid in parts for my last two tunes, not many people have money so soon after xmas so tuning is slow, and my regular job barely pays my bills this time of year. I have some trade of top notch car ---- to offer, dunno if that's remotely what you want, but check your PMs.

Re: Media PC frontends?
 

use .NET to write something with huge buttons and yoink a windows media player control or whatever you need to play your files. If you want to run linux, you're going to have alittle more hassle trying to set your system up to play the media types that you want, unless you're using an automatic RPM installer like YUM or something. Its a learning experience though, and free.