Are the better Media Centers and why/why not? (1 Viewer)

[Steve]

Is there any reason to use Media Portal if I won Windows Media Center,
I read the reasons post, but I need a more personal answer. Thank you. Also, are there other media centers such as GB-PVR?

 

[chili]

I think it's all a matter of personal preference. Try several out and see what you think. The front ends that I have tried (Media Portal, MCE, Got All Media and Meedio) all have their good and not so good. As I don't use TV functions Media Portal was my 1st and is still favorite because:

1. It is a freeware, open source app. that has great potential.
2. It is by far more actively in development than the rest.
3. It has the features working that are important to me.
4. I like the people and community support here.

 

[johnna]

i agree with chili, its all a matter of personal choice. I have tried, MCE, Media Portal, SAGETV and meedio, they all have ther good points and bad points but i came back to media portal. But you gotta try them for yourself, but i think you will come right back here.

john

 

[tklon]

Same for me. I build my htpc in may/june 2004. After the system was completed I was looking for the perfect software to use with my Hauppauge PVR, to record tv, watch tv and to listen to mp3 and...

I tried many different programs (MCE, sageTV, BeyondTV, Meedio, TVcentral, GBPVR, GAM). All had/missed something that didn't make me happy. So I searched around the net.

Finally in September 2004 I found MP and I am still here ... and not searching anymore for another htpc software.

 

[mama]

I also tested a lot HTPC software, but got stuck with MediaPortal. Unfortunately, it doesn´t support softcams anymore, so I changed to DVBViewer.

It has only two skins for HTPC mode and the MP3/picture support ist far better in MP, but the TV is rock stable, supports recording more than one channels (if they are on one transponder, which is automatically shown) or recording while timeshifting another chan. [EDIT: All with ONE card!]

The support is very good and fast. For me faster than here, but it´s support for a paid software. Well, it costs 15,-€, not that much...

MP is more the "allround HTPC soft" (starts on the start screen, this is your home). DVBV is more a TV soft with HTPC functions and skin (starts directly in TV mode, so TV is your home).

Just my 2 Cents.

 

[talos]

I've been using MediaPortal for over a year now, but I saw that Meedio was having a sale this month, so I installed the trial version. I have to say that although it's a pretty good piece of software, I still prefer MediaPortal. Strangely, it was one of the simplest things about MediaPortal that I missed whilst using Meedio Pro, and that was having the TV minimised so I could still keep track of it whilst I navigated around or looked at the EPG. That, and the fact that MediaPortal works virtually flawlessly for me (I'm using RC1, no cvs).
I suppose one of the attractions of Meedio was it's "newness", its good looks (large range of themes) and the chance for me to have a fiddle with some different software, but as Dorothy says at the end of The Wizard of Oz, there's no place like home...

 

[Sparcky]

If you want a personal answer ......

I support opensource and it's parents : XBMC
...and as always just google it ;-)

Now a serious note: MP and XBMC work better for me then the others. Try them and come back with your opinion.

 

[rolfkunst]

I use Media Portal, becouse it is, as far as I know, the only program that supports DVB-S. All the others don't, Microsoft is working on it, but til then Media Portal is the one...

 

[mama]

Ehm, DVBV does. rock solid by the way...

Oh, and to relativate my post above regarding the paid software: I donated about 10 times more to MP than DVBV costed.

 

[wewe]

Hi Steve,

if you are looking for a software that you install by clickin' "setup" and that's it ... go with MCE. You will find a well defined (but limited) function set - easy to use.


if you like to try out software, to check out many options, and to be part of a fast developing software and a fast growin' community ... go with MediaPortal. You will find endless functions - and you are part of the project.


thanks+regards
WeWe