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Message: <blockquote data-quote="jonno280674" data-source="post: 26318" data-attributes="member: 16443">I am fairly new to mediaportal, although I have been using MCE for almost a year as my main TV viewing tool.The main reason I use a mediacenter is for the TV benefits, with the second most important aspect being music.  I rarely, if ever use it for pictures.The *only* reason I decided to take a look at mediaportal was due to the EPG (uk) in MCE becoming annoying.  By annoying I mean that once or twice a _month_ it fails to download the EPG and you cannot record anything until you reboot.  It also does not understand the EPG thats broadcast with the DVB streams.  This is pretty much my only grip with the product.So, I decided to try mediaportal to see if you guys had got a better EPG...The simple answer is no.  The MP EPG is even worse than MCE.  Its buggy, slow and a PITA to setup.  Almost every time I switch back to the EPG its decided to refuse to show BBC1 again, if I try and import the EPG data again it makes the TV go choppy, which isnt great whilst trying to record something!!.Now, I know that MCE is commerial software and must be juged as that, but if you compare the two products for general consumer use, MCE wins hands down.  OK, its not that configurable and Mirosoft kind of force you down their approved hardware route, but as long as you do what it says on the tin its pretty good.  Mediaportal howevever is in heavy development and one of the problems that causes is instability, on a machine in my lab that is acceptable but my girlfriend just doesent understand the fact that she cant watch or record Casualty because there is a problem with VMR9 or that the guide isnt working!.Dont take this the wrong way, I love opensource software, but only when its good enough to compete with the commercial stuff.  I will also add that I am using the 0.1.3 release for the majority of my comparisons, largely due to the fact that I cant seem to get timeshift to work on 0.2.0RC1.  I am also aware that alot of development work is going on to make v2 stable enough for the mainstream - I for one sincerly hope it is, since without competing products we will all suffer in the HTPC market.My opinion, for what its worth is that the following areas need to become bulletproof...1. EPG (Surely somebody can come up with a decent way to do this?)2. EPG (It really is THAT important!!)3. SPDIF out for DVD's - People use media centers to watch DVD's too <img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite1" alt=":)" title="Smile    :)" loading="lazy" data-shortname=":)" />  I know it works but its hardly simple to setup!.4. Speed - its too choppy when switching between channels.5. Thumbnails for videos and recorded TV.6. Why does the screen go blank when I dont press anything for 10 seconds?  Unless its in fullscreen TV mode.7. Better DVD handling - how the hell do you watch a DVD that is already inserted?I will be going back to MCE for the rest of this year (I will be single if I leave 0.1.3 in the front room).  Good luck with V0.2.0, I will be back in February to have another look!Neil.</blockquote>

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