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[TheBoy]

Since the demise of the excellent WebGuide a couple of years back, I've been on the lookout for a decent, similar replacement.

The one I have now settled on is Remote Potato, which is proving to be reliable, and its free

I have also been playing with the Remote Potato iPhone app, and that also seems mega stable, and good for its primary use of record scheduling whist out and about

It the one piece of the puzzle thats been missing since Webguide died.



So, if you have Win7 Media Center, and you'd like to be able to schedule recordings from a browser anywhere on the 'Net, check out Remote Potato

[Pitchfork]

Spud-U-like?

[pscocoa]

Win7 Media Center has had its chips..

[Dishevelled Den]

I'll certainly have a look at that one. 8-)

[Pitchfork]

sounds half-baked!

[tunnie]

i've junked Media Centre, too unreliable and slow, it would be ok if it was not based on Windows 7.

Had too many network glitches with 7, booted it up one day, refused to connect to any sites, could ping them fine! Would it web browse? Nooo. My Mac could web browse fine, so could my iPhone, next day Win7 box worked fine! It would randomly drop net work connections too, got pissed off with too many random bugs so junked it.
 
Now use app on my Mac called Magestic which shares some folders & my external media drives, it links to the xbox, just browse the videos section, job done. Don't have to fart around loading/using MCE.

MCE took an age to index some of the bigger folders too, with Magestic its instant!

[TheBoy]

i've junked Media Centre, too unreliable and slow, it would be ok if it was not based on Windows 7.

Had too many network glitches with 7, booted it up one day, refused to connect to any sites, could ping them fine! Would it web browse? Nooo. My Mac could web browse fine, so could my iPhone, next day Win7 box worked fine! It would randomly drop net work connections too, got pissed off with too many random bugs so junked it.
 
Now use app on my Mac called Magestic which shares some folders & my external media drives, it links to the xbox, just browse the videos section, job done. Don't have to fart around loading/using MCE.

MCE took an age to index some of the bigger folders too, with Magestic its instant!

You either have hardware issues, or lack the ability to properly set up a PC .  I have seen weird network issues under Windows 7 when those illegal loaders are used.

I have found Vista and Win7 Media Centers very reliable, only issue I have suffered was a duff updated Intel audio driver (Rolled back, problem solved).

I should say, with all MCEs, it works better if its a dedicated unit, and doesn't have all the normal trash that you stick on a desktop. Additionally, and this is where everybody with a lonely brain cell go badly wrong, never, ever, ever use those useless bloody gay codec packs such as K-Lite and its ilk. Sure way to bugger up any PC, esp PC's who's primary role is playing media!

The only additional codec needed on a Win7 Media Center is FFDShow, and thats more for AC3 than video.  If you want to play HD rips, often in MKV format, then a splitter for that as well. Nothing else. Especially stupid gay codec packs put together by gay idiots like K-Lite.


I believe my MCE reboots early hours of thursday morning following black Tuesday (MS's monthly patch release date). It only gets additional reboots under special circumstances - eg, the other day, AVG was being isistent about an upgrade.


As to using a crappy mini Mac as a media center, thats a bit of a joke, as the choice of tuners is minimal - ability to receive TV and radio broadcasts is pretty important .  And Majestic, thats not a Media Center, its little more than a fileserver



And, as I sit and type this, I'm watching Ronin via the MCE's DVD drive, she's in the kitchen streaming one of her programmes (Downtown Abbey, or some such crap) via the Xbox, and if Top Gear is on Dave, it'll be busy recording them

[tunnie]

i've junked Media Centre, too unreliable and slow, it would be ok if it was not based on Windows 7.

Had too many network glitches with 7, booted it up one day, refused to connect to any sites, could ping them fine! Would it web browse? Nooo. My Mac could web browse fine, so could my iPhone, next day Win7 box worked fine! It would randomly drop net work connections too, got pissed off with too many random bugs so junked it.
 
Now use app on my Mac called Magestic which shares some folders & my external media drives, it links to the xbox, just browse the videos section, job done. Don't have to fart around loading/using MCE.

MCE took an age to index some of the bigger folders too, with Magestic its instant!

I have seen weird network issues under Windows 7 when those illegal loaders are used.

And Majestic, thats not a Media Center, its little more than a fileserver

Its a genuine copy from MSDN. 

File server is all I need, having cable TV the ability to record would mean I need cable tv tuners...

All i wanted was to watch download TV/Films, the Virgin media box does ample job with standard TV with its 3 tuners.

For films Films I use Sky Player on the Xbox. I use Magestic for TV shows which are always about 1 season ahead in the US.

I found MCE too bloated for my needs

[TheBoy]

i've junked Media Centre, too unreliable and slow, it would be ok if it was not based on Windows 7.

Had too many network glitches with 7, booted it up one day, refused to connect to any sites, could ping them fine! Would it web browse? Nooo. My Mac could web browse fine, so could my iPhone, next day Win7 box worked fine! It would randomly drop net work connections too, got pissed off with too many random bugs so junked it.
 
Now use app on my Mac called Magestic which shares some folders & my external media drives, it links to the xbox, just browse the videos section, job done. Don't have to fart around loading/using MCE.

MCE took an age to index some of the bigger folders too, with Magestic its instant!

I have seen weird network issues under Windows 7 when those illegal loaders are used.

And Majestic, thats not a Media Center, its little more than a fileserver

Its a genuine copy from MSDN. 

File server is all I need, having cable TV the ability to record would mean I need cable tv tuners...

All i wanted was to watch download TV/Films, the Virgin media box does ample job with standard TV with its 3 tuners.

For films Films I use Sky Player on the Xbox. I use Magestic for TV shows which are always about 1 season ahead in the US.

I found MCE too bloated for my needs

Never knew you had a MSDN subscription, Mr tunnie, thats a lot of money for somebody claiming poverty

[Taxi_Driver]

i've junked Media Centre, too unreliable and slow, it would be ok if it was not based on Windows 7.

Had too many network glitches with 7, booted it up one day, refused to connect to any sites, could ping them fine! Would it web browse? Nooo. My Mac could web browse fine, so could my iPhone, next day Win7 box worked fine! It would randomly drop net work connections too, got pissed off with too many random bugs so junked it.
 
Now use app on my Mac called Magestic which shares some folders & my external media drives, it links to the xbox, just browse the videos section, job done. Don't have to fart around loading/using MCE.

MCE took an age to index some of the bigger folders too, with Magestic its instant!

I have seen weird network issues under Windows 7 when those illegal loaders are used.

And Majestic, thats not a Media Center, its little more than a fileserver

Its a genuine copy from MSDN. 

File server is all I need, having cable TV the ability to record would mean I need cable tv tuners...

All i wanted was to watch download TV/Films, the Virgin media box does ample job with standard TV with its 3 tuners.

For films Films I use Sky Player on the Xbox. I use Magestic for TV shows which are always about 1 season ahead in the US.

I found MCE too bloated for my needs

Never knew you had a MSDN subscription, Mr tunnie, thats a lot of money for somebody claiming poverty

 

I've got a full set upstairs, somewhere.....tho' its probably 10years old now, so as much use as a chocolate fireguard now....

One of the perks of when i worked in IT (contracting for a very large company), and about 20 full sets turn up and nobody has a clue who ordered them and what to do with them 

[Mr Skrunts]

i've junked Media Centre, too unreliable and slow, it would be ok if it was not based on Windows 7.

Had too many network glitches with 7, booted it up one day, refused to connect to any sites, could ping them fine! Would it web browse? Nooo. My Mac could web browse fine, so could my iPhone, next day Win7 box worked fine! It would randomly drop net work connections too, got pissed off with too many random bugs so junked it.
 
Now use app on my Mac called Magestic which shares some folders & my external media drives, it links to the xbox, just browse the videos section, job done. Don't have to fart around loading/using MCE.

MCE took an age to index some of the bigger folders too, with Magestic its instant!

I have seen weird network issues under Windows 7 when those illegal loaders are used.

And Majestic, thats not a Media Center, its little more than a fileserver

Its a genuine copy from MSDN. 

File server is all I need, having cable TV the ability to record would mean I need cable tv tuners...

All i wanted was to watch download TV/Films, the Virgin media box does ample job with standard TV with its 3 tuners.

For films Films I use Sky Player on the Xbox. I use Magestic for TV shows which are always about 1 season ahead in the US.

I found MCE too bloated for my needs

Never knew you had a MSDN subscription, Mr tunnie, thats a lot of money for somebody claiming poverty

 

Maybe the sky subscribers footed the bill.

[cem_devecioglu]

i've junked Media Centre, too unreliable and slow, it would be ok if it was not based on Windows 7.

Had too many network glitches with 7, booted it up one day, refused to connect to any sites, could ping them fine! Would it web browse? Nooo. My Mac could web browse fine, so could my iPhone, next day Win7 box worked fine! It would randomly drop net work connections too, got pissed off with too many random bugs so junked it.
 
Now use app on my Mac called Magestic which shares some folders & my external media drives, it links to the xbox, just browse the videos section, job done. Don't have to fart around loading/using MCE.

MCE took an age to index some of the bigger folders too, with Magestic its instant!

You either have hardware issues, or lack the ability to properly set up a PC .  I have seen weird network issues under Windows 7 when those illegal loaders are used.

I have found Vista and Win7 Media Centers very reliable, only issue I have suffered was a duff updated Intel audio driver (Rolled back, problem solved).

I should say, with all MCEs, it works better if its a dedicated unit, and doesn't have all the normal trash that you stick on a desktop. Additionally, and this is where everybody with a lonely brain cell go badly wrong, never, ever, ever use those useless bloody gay codec packs such as K-Lite and its ilk. Sure way to bugger up any PC, esp PC's who's primary role is playing media!

The only additional codec needed on a Win7 Media Center is FFDShow, and thats more for AC3 than video.  If you want to play HD rips, often in MKV format, then a splitter for that as well. Nothing else. Especially stupid gay codec packs put together by gay idiots like K-Lite.


I believe my MCE reboots early hours of thursday morning following black Tuesday (MS's monthly patch release date). It only gets additional reboots under special circumstances - eg, the other day, AVG was being isistent about an upgrade.


As to using a crappy mini Mac as a media center, thats a bit of a joke, as the choice of tuners is minimal - ability to receive TV and radio broadcasts is pretty important .  And Majestic, thats not a Media Center, its little more than a fileserver



And, as I sit and type this, I'm watching Ronin via the MCE's DVD drive, she's in the kitchen streaming one of her programmes (Downtown Abbey, or some such crap) via the Xbox, and if Top Gear is on Dave, it'll be busy recording them

phew.. interesting experience