LinuxMCE

http://video.google.ca/videoplay?docid=2176025602...SLXcNpD6qQPg6c2pDw

If you haven't seen this yet, its a must see. 24 minutes long, but well worth it.

I'm downloading it now to throw on a VM and try it out

...except for a descent GUI ...

Seriously, the GUI is just horrendous, and the person talking... wow...

I couldn't put up with that voice for more than 5 seconds. And the UI sucks.

horrible, i'll have my vista ultimate

Some nice ideas but horrible gui etc =p

wmc ftw

I have some experience with a few media-center distributions / applications.

When I bought my Mediacenter, I've decided to put LinuxMCE on it. I didn't because I found a nicer alternative: MythBuntu.

Since LinuxMCE uses MythTV + a few addons, but uses their own mediabrowser, the "extra" stuff LinuxMCE offers isn't that impressive.

MythBuntu installed in less then 5 minutes. I used it for a week and I really got fed up with some of the quirks. Alsa, the Linux Sound System, sucks bigtime. I couldn't get proper sound, I wanted to do Stereo upmixing ("Stereo-Surround") so it wouldn't only use my two front speakers. Doing so decreased the sound quality and well.. lets just put it this way: it sucks and is hard to use.

I have to say I am experienced in various Linux distributions but this really sucked

So, now I am using a nicer alternative: MediaPortal. This is a port of XBMC for Windows.

It works perfectly. The coolest part is that there are very nice plugins. Stuff like home automation is still possible, but is optional.

The best plugin I have is "MP-TV" which indexes and categorizes my television shows. This one really rocks!

Best part: Its still free & opensource. It works on XP and Vista and is much better then WMC. Why you might ask?

• Its Free!
  
• Its Opensource
  
• The support (IRC & Forums) are very good
  
• There are plugins, lots of them
  
• Its skinnable. And there are skins (LMCE didn't have skins, Myth had but they weren't as good)
  
• Its still based on Windows, so you can use it for whatever you want.

yeah i remember mediaportal being announced and the first few builds, i think i downloaded it but never installed when i was still on XP, seemed cool, but i just desperately want a TV card

TV cards aren't that special. A random TV produces nicer pictures then a TV card.

well yeah obviously, but i just wanted to watch stuff on my computer and record to digital formats

Personally I agree that the UI could've been a lot better in terms of buttons. However, the concept of keeping media in the centre is a good idea, since media centres are supposed to focus around media.
Though, I'm surprised to see very little talk about the features of LMCE, instead you all seem very focused around those ugly buttons and list items.

quote:

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Originally posted by Sypher

MythBuntu installed in less then 5 minutes. I used it for a week and I really got fed up with some of the quirks. Alsa, the Linux Sound System, sucks bigtime. I couldn't get proper sound, I wanted to do Stereo upmixing ("Stereo-Surround") so it wouldn't only use my two front speakers. Doing so decreased the sound quality and well.. lets just put it this way: it sucks and is hard to use.

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I have XBMC on my xbox, and I must say it is really win.