[mythtv-users] Very simple user guide for Myth?

[Brad DerManouelian]

On Jan 14, 2009, at 7:22 AM, Richard Thomas wrote:

> Exactly. Most of the features you can ignore if you want to but  
> would be
> confusing to someone not used to not having stuff served up on a  
> plate.
> A user guide would serve the triple function of informing the less
> technically inclined how to use the core features, advertising mythtv
> for those who might be interested (softening the learning curve a
> little) and maybe pointing out a few things the more technically
> inclined of us might have missed (like what the watch list is about)*
>
> What might be nicer for mythtv would be to have most of the extras
> turned off by default (not visible in the menus) and have the users
> activate as required with appropriate setup (for example, Netflix is
> switched on in the default Knoppmyth install but not configured and,  
> to
> be honest, I probably won't use it anyway). Course, I have no code to
> contribute so that's definitely only a "nice to have" type thought.

I'm telling you guys.. use the DVR menu options. My main menu has:
Watch Recordings
Launch Boxee (because I added it in)
Upcoming Recordings
Schedule Recordings
Recording Priorities
System Status

and hidden until you scroll down:
Utilities/Setup

If I were to put that in front of my parents, they would pretty much  
get it right away. This also has the bonus of not having LiveTV in the  
main menu so if you really want to use that feature, you have to go  
hunting for it under Utilities/Setup. :)

Don't forget that the UI is just a bunch of xml files. Put menu items  
wherever you want them to be so your common features are up front and  
the less common ones are buried in another menu and the ones you don't  
use are commented out.

It's not that hard. In fact, rather easy.

-Brad