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<blockquote data-quote="Tech Geek" data-source="post: 38710" data-attributes="member: 18181"><p>(part 2)</p><p>Insert the CD, load the drivers, iMon software and MultiMedian software.</p><p></p><p>IMon controls the VFD quiet well out of the box and lets you chose what is on the display including the message that appears when your computer is off instead of forcing some dorky msg from the manufacturer on you.</p><p></p><p></p><p>It can display:</p><p></p><p>The date and time. Date format is configurable.</p><p></p><p>Media Info. Stuff like song title or whatever the plugin for the current program is capable of displaying.</p><p></p><p>System info. CPU, OS, RAM Hard drive space, etc...</p><p></p><p>Email check. Enter pop server name, username and password. It didn't seem to work with my GMail account. Bummer.</p><p></p><p>Daily News. Looks like RSS news headlines.</p><p></p><p>City info... which is time temp (Deg C or F) and "Light Snow" or similar messages. Sadly you have to pick from a list of predefined cities rather than being able to configure any city or town.</p><p></p><p>Graphic equalizer. Just set the sound level threshold and audio device.</p><p></p><p></p><p>The display and software works pretty well. I would have liked some debug info about why the login to gmail didn't work but everything else seems to work fine. </p><p></p><p>The graphic EQ lags slightly behind the music but not bad. It probably won't bother most people. </p><p></p><p>When used with MultiMedian it displays the MP3 song info at the start of every song and then switches to graphic EQ after the last character scolls into view. I would have liked a slightly longer delay before the switch.</p><p></p><p>The IMon software also lets you set a wakeup time for the machine and a couple other cool things like sleep timer and custom key controls. </p><p></p><p>Bottom line... it works pretty well and is a good example of how a VFD display on an HTPC should work. It's really pretty cool and is a must if you have a Bach or Mozart case. </p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p>The remote is excellent! I like it much better than the Remote Wonder Plus that came with the HDTV Wonder I had to return and being able to turn the machine on and off from the remote is just too nice. I'd call it a HTPC must. Otherwise it just doesn't work like a DVD player, VCR, etc...</p><p></p><p>One major benefit of the remote is the eject button. It corrects the flaw of not having an eject button on the front of the case. And honestly, this case just isn't the same without the VFD for that matter. It's nice but it just looks right with it installed. </p><p></p><p>I configured the IMon software to launch MediaPortal with it's version of the Microsoft Green Button and it worked perfectly first try. Actually, it controlled media portal very well without any change in setup at all. </p><p>You can alternate between controlling the mouse pointer or using directional arrows at the touch of a button just above the directional control. The enter button is just below it. Lef / right mouse buttons are lower left or right of it. Etc. The excape is just below and to the left of the left mouse button. It's very easy to adapt to this layout and like I said, you should be able to control MediaPortal pretty well without changing the setup, though doing so will be required for all the buttons to work. The included software should be all that is required to do so unlike the ATi remote which needed a plugin. Oh yeah, and pressing the Blue Button (aka Green Button) loads MediaPortal and leaves it's screen active. </p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p>MultiMedian works pretty well as a simple front end and it might be a little more idiot proof than MediaPortal. Setup... if you just have a folder for each album I don't think you'll have any difficulty. Just select the folder all of those are in. Sadly for me it only seems to scan for files in the selected folder and ones immediately below it. My directory structure to separate all 4400+ songs from my CD collection goes by artist and then album. Well, it took a while to set up the software to scan all those directories. </p><p></p><p>Drawbacks... I couldn't just queue up the next songs. There may be a way to do it but I haven't read the docs yet.</p><p></p><p>Internet Radio... who created these presets? They had to be from Korea. Easy listening in Hard Rock, Rap in Classical and what the heck language was that one DJ speaking??? I could at least figure out some of the German but one of the other channels... yikes! I really need to figure out how to change presets.</p><p></p><p>For a simple, cool looking control interface it works pretty well. A DVR substitute it doesn't appear to be. However... it makes the ATi trash included with the HDTV wonder look like the crap it is.</p><p></p><p>BTW, don't expect much of a printed manual for any of this. You get a leaflet with an install diagram on the front and a quick guide for MultiMedian and the remote. Some of it was hard for me to read (small thin black letters on dark grey). Use the on disk manual instead if you need to.</p><p></p><p></p><p>Bottom line...</p><p></p><p>The VFD and software works well together and really adds to the system.</p><p>The remote is actually one of the best I've played with though there are several popular models I haven't tried.</p><p>The included media software, though limited, seems to work pretty well.</p><p></p><p>I'd say the package is a little pricy at almost $100 but overall I'd have to give it 5 out of 5 stars.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Tech Geek, post: 38710, member: 18181"] (part 2) Insert the CD, load the drivers, iMon software and MultiMedian software. IMon controls the VFD quiet well out of the box and lets you chose what is on the display including the message that appears when your computer is off instead of forcing some dorky msg from the manufacturer on you. It can display: The date and time. Date format is configurable. Media Info. Stuff like song title or whatever the plugin for the current program is capable of displaying. System info. CPU, OS, RAM Hard drive space, etc... Email check. Enter pop server name, username and password. It didn't seem to work with my GMail account. Bummer. Daily News. Looks like RSS news headlines. City info... which is time temp (Deg C or F) and "Light Snow" or similar messages. Sadly you have to pick from a list of predefined cities rather than being able to configure any city or town. Graphic equalizer. Just set the sound level threshold and audio device. The display and software works pretty well. I would have liked some debug info about why the login to gmail didn't work but everything else seems to work fine. The graphic EQ lags slightly behind the music but not bad. It probably won't bother most people. When used with MultiMedian it displays the MP3 song info at the start of every song and then switches to graphic EQ after the last character scolls into view. I would have liked a slightly longer delay before the switch. The IMon software also lets you set a wakeup time for the machine and a couple other cool things like sleep timer and custom key controls. Bottom line... it works pretty well and is a good example of how a VFD display on an HTPC should work. It's really pretty cool and is a must if you have a Bach or Mozart case. The remote is excellent! I like it much better than the Remote Wonder Plus that came with the HDTV Wonder I had to return and being able to turn the machine on and off from the remote is just too nice. I'd call it a HTPC must. Otherwise it just doesn't work like a DVD player, VCR, etc... One major benefit of the remote is the eject button. It corrects the flaw of not having an eject button on the front of the case. And honestly, this case just isn't the same without the VFD for that matter. It's nice but it just looks right with it installed. I configured the IMon software to launch MediaPortal with it's version of the Microsoft Green Button and it worked perfectly first try. Actually, it controlled media portal very well without any change in setup at all. You can alternate between controlling the mouse pointer or using directional arrows at the touch of a button just above the directional control. The enter button is just below it. Lef / right mouse buttons are lower left or right of it. Etc. The excape is just below and to the left of the left mouse button. It's very easy to adapt to this layout and like I said, you should be able to control MediaPortal pretty well without changing the setup, though doing so will be required for all the buttons to work. The included software should be all that is required to do so unlike the ATi remote which needed a plugin. Oh yeah, and pressing the Blue Button (aka Green Button) loads MediaPortal and leaves it's screen active. MultiMedian works pretty well as a simple front end and it might be a little more idiot proof than MediaPortal. Setup... if you just have a folder for each album I don't think you'll have any difficulty. Just select the folder all of those are in. Sadly for me it only seems to scan for files in the selected folder and ones immediately below it. My directory structure to separate all 4400+ songs from my CD collection goes by artist and then album. Well, it took a while to set up the software to scan all those directories. Drawbacks... I couldn't just queue up the next songs. There may be a way to do it but I haven't read the docs yet. Internet Radio... who created these presets? They had to be from Korea. Easy listening in Hard Rock, Rap in Classical and what the heck language was that one DJ speaking??? I could at least figure out some of the German but one of the other channels... yikes! I really need to figure out how to change presets. For a simple, cool looking control interface it works pretty well. A DVR substitute it doesn't appear to be. However... it makes the ATi trash included with the HDTV wonder look like the crap it is. BTW, don't expect much of a printed manual for any of this. You get a leaflet with an install diagram on the front and a quick guide for MultiMedian and the remote. Some of it was hard for me to read (small thin black letters on dark grey). Use the on disk manual instead if you need to. Bottom line... The VFD and software works well together and really adds to the system. The remote is actually one of the best I've played with though there are several popular models I haven't tried. The included media software, though limited, seems to work pretty well. I'd say the package is a little pricy at almost $100 but overall I'd have to give it 5 out of 5 stars. [/QUOTE]
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