Building the perfect Media Centre (1 Viewer)

[esieens]

Hello All,

I'm looking for some assistance.

I'd reviewing the feasibility to build a one box that would meet all my needs (playing blue-ray, Full HD 1080p, internet access, freeview HD TV...). Does mediaPortal allows me to build that dream machine?

I'm also not clear if I can boot straight into the MediaPortal menus (without having to pass via the OS).

Thanks for your help.

 

[alank]

I'm also not clear if I can boot straight into the MediaPortal menus (without having to pass via the OS).

HTPC_looknfeel

 

[etheesdad]

Hello All,

I'm looking for some assistance.

I'd reviewing the feasibility to build a one box that would meet all my needs (playing blue-ray, Full HD 1080p, internet access, freeview HD TV...). Does mediaPortal allows me to build that dream machine?

I'm also not clear if I can boot straight into the MediaPortal menus (without having to pass via the OS).

Thanks for your help.

1080p - yes, also 1080i

internet access - yes... there are a couple of web browser plugin options. It will also do youtube, hulu, zinc and last.fm etc

freeview HDTV - yes - has a very good interface for this

bluray - yes ...but ... has to pass to a 3rd party application to do it (two options - powerdvd and something else ... the name escapes me) however as I understand it MCE 7MC and VMC all have to do the same thing as there are no filters yet that will do the job without using these 3rd party apps. Something to do with the way the disks are encoded/encrypted

regarding the 'booting into menus' - as you are using MP as a PVR solution it wouldnt actually boot much. The machine would go to suspend mode when not in use (can do this automatically) and then wake up to record programs. In other words, it comes opn pretty much straight away when you press the on button, as its resuming from standby, not going through a cold-boot process.

It is possible to set up MP as shell, but there are a number of disadvantages to doing this. All depends on what you plan on doing with the machine though and if you dont plan to use windows often, or are able to use something like a concurrent login hack and VNC to do the admin, then its probably less of an issue.