[mythtv-users] uPNP hardware recommendation..

[Brad DerManouelian]

On Mar 12, 2008, at 9:36 AM, Damian O'Sullivan wrote:

> Hi all,
>
>
> I was going to build a second FE but figured that a uPNP hardware  
> device
> would be just as good. Can anyone recommend one? I do not use HD yet  
> and
> would have to have wireless. It would be just for music and video off
> the mythtv backend. I was thinking of a PS3 but seen as I am not  
> much of a
> gamer that would be overkill. Oh and am in Ireland so can't really  
> order
> from the US..

With the PS3, not only do you get a UPnP client and the cool gaming  
stuff (should you choose to ever see something that interests you),  
but you also get a really great BluRay player. It's a good investment  
for when you eventually move to a HD display. The drawbacks of a PS3  
are that it's noisy and the controls are awkward if you're not used to  
holding a game console (I think you can get a more traditional remote  
for it). I work in an office with about 24 PS3 (mixture of consumer  
and dev consoles) in about a 50 square-foot space and the whirring of  
the fans can be rather annoying.

All that said, please keep in mind that UPnP is relatively new to  
mythtv and not everything has sorted itself out yet. Even when it does  
work perfectly as intended, you will be missing features that only a  
real myth frontend would provide (thus disproving your assumption that  
"a UPnP hardware device would be just as good"). For instance, UPnP  
will not let you commercial skip like a frontend will. You will be  
stuck with whatever interface the hardware gives you instead of being  
able to customize like a frontend. You won't be able to upgrade a UPnP  
box like you would with the right frontend for (what I'm supposing is)  
your inevitable HD future. Plus a frontend can double as a slave  
backend if you choose to help with transcoding and commercial skipping  
jobs during its idle time.

If you're looking for small, attractive and quiet frontend, I would  
suggest a Mac Mini as a pre-built solution. If you're into building  
boxes yourself, there are lots of nice small quiet PC cases out there  
to start with but often come close to the cost of the mini and when  
you consider the amount of time you put into building one, you might  
be better off just buy it already done for you. If money isn't as much  
of a object, http://www.cappuccinopc.com/ makes some VERY small, very  
attractive, silent PC's.

If you're still dead-set on finding a UPnP client, I'm sure others who  
have them will chime in. If not, I would say no one is happy with  
theirs due to the reasons I gave. ;)

Hope this helps.

-Brad