Vista MCE and MP feature comparison

[dubstar]

Has anyone used the new vista MCE yet? I am considering buying it for my parents as they frequently become annoyed with MP as they don't know how to solve little problems that happen from time to time, where as I'm perfectly happy with it, but I think they could benefit from the OEM stability as I'm moving out in a month.

however saying that I have moved from MCE 2005 to MP as I found it was terrible and caused nothing but problems.

Just wondering what the features are like in comparison to MP and any opinions of those who have experienced it.

At £200 I want to be sure its gonna be somthing special before I buy it for them.

[shagster]

I have spent some time with the Vista MCE, and am now back with MediaPortal.

It does kinda depend what you want from your media centre. I would consider it for technophobes who just want to watch and record TV as it hides pretty much everything.

Things to watch out for / research further....

1. The timing of recordings
I had a couple of recordings end before the scheduled end time and no idea why! (nothing else scheduled that overroad it) This caused huge waf, or in your case might cause paf!

2. Stutering recordings
I had a day when I was out that every single recording suffered from bad stuttering. There was nothing else running, and I have no idea why. A reboot resolved it, but not sure why as the machine wasn't loaded in any way.

3. Memory
Make sure you have at least 6000Gb of ram!! Sorry, you will need at least 1gb preferably 2!

4. Hard drive space
The dvr-ms files it records are over twice the size of those from MP for a comparable length of recording.
e.g
Vista 1:29mins - filesize=3,174,985Kb
MP 1:28mins - filesize=1,445,883Kb
(both recorded on same hardware)

You can go down the line of auto compressing overnight if it's an issue, but I couldn't get DVRMSToolbox working on Vista and DVR to WMV takes an eternity and has to be done manually overnight (not ideal)

5. DRM!!
If a program is broadcast with protection you will only be able to watch it on the machine it was recorded on. I think that also includes burning it to DVD.
I also think, but am not sure, that it can also prevent you from recording programmes. I am in UK using dvb-t and did see programmes that were protected.

6. Folder monitors
This did cause me some confusion as all you can tell it to do is monitor a folder, and it will monitor it for all media. This leads to some oddities, for some reason my vista drive would always show up as a folder in my picture view no matter how many times I told it not to monitor anything on that drive.

The nice things for the oldens

1. The recording interface
It is very nice and very intuative (see Vista TV scheduling (search and conflict resolution) I have posted a low quality video there)

2. Probably not their issue but the set up is very easy.
3. It's also pretty basic in operation but once they're used to its way of working it may suit them.
4. Recordng runs as a service

All that taken into account, if I were setting up an media centre for my oldens I'd probably give them vista over MP (no offence devs ), as it has far less ways of doing the same thing (if that makes sense) which makes the learning curve easier.

I have no dobt that some of the issues they currently have with MP will be ironed out as the speed of development is outstanding. When all is said and done, I have tried lots of htpc software and none of them are 100% ready for mainstream, Vista included.

[dubstar]

Its sounds like most of the problems i had with the 2005 version still exist. I think i might just stick with Media Portal and keep messing with the config until they are happy. I have media portal on my pc and it runs 100 times better than mce 2005 just with the odd freeze. plus I can change the skin when i fancy a change.

What I don't understand is that I have the two pcs both built by me both similar spec, and mine is awesome, fast as hell, and Media portal has a smooth OEM feel to it (other than the odd freeze) but the lounge pc does some strange stuff like when i'm watching one channel it will just return to 'my tv' on its own and its is jerky and slow and freezes all the time!!

The weirdest thing is that the hauppauge 1300 hvr tv card was terrible in the lounge machine, real slow at changing channels, I put it in my machine and its excellent fast reliable, better than any other.

Both run windows xp pro sp2 mp 0.2.2.0 and are set up the same. both were formatted in october to get rid of the mce 2005 software!! its crazy!!


I don't know what this has to do with vista but I had a nice rant!!

Dubstar.

[shagster]

lol

I'd give the oldens the one that works and fix the other one in your own time.
(Sounds like hardware to me)

That's what a good son/daughter would do....... hehehe :p

[dubstar]

i have considered that but the only problem is my pc is a full side atx shabang and theirs is a mini little siverstone case thats is:

A. much nicer looking
B. fits in the hole in the tv standy-McThing!!

So does that make me a good son??

I might put mine in the lounge and reformat that one and see if it makes any difference.

I'm hoping the tv engine is released soon then It will have the recording service seperate to the MP GUI, as I thinks thats the main thing i miss, MP has to be running for anything to record.

How did you get vista so soon?

[shagster]

Originally Posted by dubstar

So does that make me a good son??

lol, yes all if forgiven.... :p

Originally Posted by dubstar

How did you get vista so soon

I work for a software company and we have MSDN subscriptions, so I downloaded the RTM (Released to Manufacturing) version. Strictly for testing purposes you understand.

[dubstar]

Some people get all the luck!!

I think I need a job in computing, its got to be better than engineering!!