Messages

1

Users / Re: Designing my system - help and suggestions please

« on: January 07, 2010, 12:10:39 am »

Thanks for the replies so far, it looks like I'm heading in the right direction.

I'll keep a close eye on that thread on the Android Development Kezza, cheers for that.  I doubt I will go for too much automation, my main goal is centralised, easy entertainment.

As for FreeNas, I have been using it for 5 years now I think, a long time anyway.  I have been pleased with it, but a commercial box is quieter and uses less power I agree.

So far I am planning a central server in the lounge which talks across the LAN to the NAS device for the media.  All other PC's will talk to the main server across a LAN and only the phone and laptop will be wireless at this stage (my house is well wired for this stuff already anyway!  I will be using a Hauppauge T500 and a Dual Head NVidia display adapter (I have several models from my flight simulator which will work well).

Thanks again and any more feedback or hints welcome.  I'll report how I get on...(400MB left to download!)

2

Users / Designing my system - help and suggestions please

« on: January 06, 2010, 09:01:23 pm »

Hi All,

To start, I am in NZ and I am downloading Linux MCE 8.10 as I type and I am in the process of designing my system and how I want it to work.  I thought I would lean on your experiences to see the best way for me to configure and setup my entertainment system(s).  

I have three locations I would like to start off with...
1. Lounge
52" plasma on one wall
Computer, Sound System and digital receiver (freeview) on adjacent wall (cabling through wall and ceiling back from computer\surround sound to TV)
2. Bar
Computer with 22" monitor for photos, music and Google (to dispel rubbish during drunken debates  )
3. Kitchen
Computer with 22" monitor for recipies, music and photos, TV

So, as far as computers go, I have a few ready to go.  Media, I have a fair amount of music and movies I would like to store (disk space is no issue).  Have you got any suggestions as to how to acheive the above?

Another question I have is that I am thinking of placing all my media on a NAS device (or 2) one for movies and one for music.  Are there any issues with Linux MCE using NAS for media?

One last question I have is that I use an HTC Magic Cell Phone (running android) - can I use this as a Orbiter?

Thanks in advance!  

I am also looking at replacing my surround sound system with a receiver of some kind, probably of Onkyo or Panasonic persuasion as I can get really good pricing :=)