<br><br><div><span class="gmail_quote">On 22/07/07, <b class="gmail_sendername">Hans P Halvorson (<a href="mailto:hhalvors@Princeton.EDU">hhalvors@Princeton.EDU</a>)</b> <<a href="mailto:hhalvors@princeton.edu">hhalvors@princeton.edu
</a>> wrote:</span><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="border-left: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); margin: 0pt 0pt 0pt 0.8ex; padding-left: 1ex;">I could use a recommendation about a MythTV frontend: Do I go ahead and get a mediaMVP (for use with mvpmc), or do I save my pennies to build a mini-ITX box (for use with MiniMyth or something similar)? This would be my only MythTV frontend; my backend is on a Intel E4300 (
1.8GHz) with 2GB RAM and 750MB HD, running Ubuntu. Essentially, I want to replace the old TiVo series 2 to which dear wife is addicted -- i.e. to play recordings, fast forward, rewind, pause, schedule recordings (while at the television). By the way, I am not much concerned with High Definition versus SD.
<br><br>Also, the frontend needs to be wireless. The cnet review says that the wireless mediaMVP is flaky in terms of connection strength. Would it be better to get a wired mediaMVP, and to connect with an ethernet-wireless gaming adapter?
<br><br>So, does mvpmc do enough now to make it a satisfactory replacement for basic TiVo functionality, or should I go with mini-ITX? Any recommendations and advice would be most welcome.<br><br>Thanks,<br>Hans<br>_______________________________________________
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</a><br></blockquote></div><br>Hans,<br><br>Whilst I'm a great fan of the mediaMVP (I've got one myself!),probably it's biggest weakness at the moment is the lack of<br>a full Myth GUI. Although the mvpmc software does have facilities for live tv and scheduling, they are not really comparable to a full Mythfrontend. So if you're after a TIVO, mediaMVP doesn't yet have the GUI part of this. It is also limited to mpeg1&2 content, anything else has to be transcoded on a backend.
<br><br>Having said that in its favour is:<br> * Very low power consumption.<br> * Extremely responsive.<br> * Excellent playback interface (courtesy of the hard work of the mvpmc people).<br> * Extremely good TVOUT (much better than any graphics card's TV Out), has options for Composite, SVIDEO and if you're in Europe
<br> RGB Scart.<br><br>But if it's a TIVO you're after the mini-ITX is you best option. If you are in SCARTland use an VGA->RGB Scart adaptor lead.<br><br>Cheers<br><br>Steve<br>