What software to put on an HTPC?

**Kebab The Cat** · 06-07-12, 08:51

Originally Posted by fulltilt

There is, however, a new choice, XBMCbuntu - basically a bootable installation of XBMC which also has a full Ubuntu OS if you need it..

Nice, didn't know about that. Thanks.

**yourguitarhero** · 07-07-12, 11:05

Yeah, I don't like Linux.
It's like Windows, but worse - needs a lot more fucking around with to get stuff done.
The computer is plenty powerful enough so it's not going to be slow.

**fulltilt** · 08-07-12, 00:39

Originally Posted by yourguitarhero

Yeah, I don't like Linux.
It's like Windows, but worse - needs a lot more fucking around with to get stuff done.
The computer is plenty powerful enough so it's not going to be slow.

Stop yapping about Linux, you don't have to like it or use it, but you might be grateful it's there if you need it.

XBMCbuntu, install it and if it doesn't work for you then try W7.

**Metz** · 09-07-12, 10:32

Hmmm....well, this is a pointless thread, isn't it? As far as I'm aware...there's Microsoft Media Center......and then there's Linux. So, your 'choice', if you don't want Linux, is MS MC.

End of thread. You can close it now.

**fulltilt** · 09-07-12, 15:16

Originally Posted by Metz

Hmmm....well, this is a pointless thread, isn't it? As far as I'm aware...there's Microsoft Media Center......and then there's Linux. So, your 'choice', if you don't want Linux, is MS MC.

That's not true, he can boot Windows and then run various media centers and players, XBMC, for example, is C and Perl, not Linux. The question is why he'd want to use Windows when the XBMC/OpenElec alternatives are probably better in every way for HTPC.

**yourguitarhero** · 09-07-12, 22:15

Forget the OS, Windows is going on it. I've used Linux before and I hate it. The PC won't just be being used as a HTPC, so I'm sticking with the desktop OS I like.

The question is, is what is the best media centre software - Windows 7's Media Centre, or XBMC, or something else?

**yourguitarhero** · 10-07-12, 13:44

Looks like Win Media Center is going on as it has add ins for Lovefilm, doesn't seem to be one for XBMC.
Plus, Lovefilm uses Silverlight so a Linux OS is out.

**Lutin** · 10-07-12, 16:14

Originally Posted by yourguitarhero

Looks like Win Media Center is going on as it has add ins for Lovefilm, doesn't seem to be one for XBMC.
Plus, Lovefilm uses Silverlight so a Linux OS is out.

Just being awkward here: Ubuntu - Install the silverlight plug-in.

**fulltilt** · 10-07-12, 18:17

Originally Posted by yourguitarhero

Looks like Win Media Center is going on as it has add ins for Lovefilm, doesn't seem to be one for XBMC.

Now I feel sorry for you, you could've saved yourself the money and watched Lovefilm on your games console if that's your primary aim.

You can, of course, use both WMC and XBMC from within Windows, you need only use WMC for Lovefilm once you see how comparatively shit it is. And, if it's still the case, Lovefilm isn't available on XBMC because Lovefilm only allow it on platforms of their direct partners which, presumably, means some sort of commercial licensing agreement.

**yourguitarhero** · 11-07-12, 16:46

See my original post - I've sold all my other stuff (including blu ray that I used to watch Lovefilm on) to get this HTPC, so saying "watch lovefilm on a console" isn't very helpful.

So, what makes XBMC better than Windows Media Centre?

If it's much better then I'm sure I could have both set up and then skip to WMC or a browser to watch Lovefilm

**Editor** · 01-08-12, 18:50

Originally Posted by yourguitarhero

So, what makes XBMC better than Windows Media Centre?

I've just tried XBMC Eden (11.0 about 50.3MB as an .exe) on my old AMD64 tower (2GB Ram). Looked nice, couldn't follow down paths on browse & thoroughly crashed on exit. Installed it twice actually & it did the same.

Perhaps I'm using the wrong edition? But I'm not impressed so far.

**fulltilt** · 01-08-12, 21:02

Originally Posted by yourguitarhero

So, what makes XBMC better than Windows Media Centre?

Everything and in every way. It's like comparing MS Paint to Photoshop.

If it's much better then I'm sure I could have both set up and then skip to WMC or a browser to watch Lovefilm

Pretty sure that's what I suggested you do last time

**yourguitarhero** · 02-08-12, 07:04

Yeah, been using it for a while now. XBMC is good, I like it. Some of the menus are a bit weird, can take a while to figure out where different settings are and I can't get any of the add-ins to work they all give various errors.
Kind of annoying you can only get movies and tv shows on the main menu too under videos - I'd like to have a music videos and documentaries section there too.

The little ASROCK Core100-HT is a belter of a PC, runs great and had a good feature where it restarts itself after shutting down then saves its state to memory on the board. So from hitting 'on' to using the machine is ~3 seconds.

**Editor** · 02-08-12, 07:35

Originally Posted by Editor

I've just tried XBMC Eden (11.0 about 50.3MB as an .exe) on my old AMD64 tower (2GB Ram) & thoroughly crashed on exit. Installed it twice actually & it did the same.

any thoughts on this freeze up on exit you two? I can see there's a socking great XBMC forum, but I was hoping..

otherwise I did clock Metz's suggestion about openElec build. Have you tried that one?

**fulltilt** · 22-09-12, 18:46

Originally Posted by fulltilt

And, if it's still the case, Lovefilm isn't available on XBMC because Lovefilm only allow it on platforms of their direct partners which, presumably, means some sort of commercial licensing agreement.

How weird, I was just searching for a Lovefilm XBMC app and came across a post saying there wasn't one and why. I clicked for more information and it was this one! Must be getting old.