Messages

1

Installation issues / Re: Is LMCE Ready For Public Consumption?

« on: May 25, 2007, 07:48:35 am »

If you want Tv and media only I have had great luck with KnoppMyth. Not anything nearly as feature rich as LinuxMCE but works good for what it does.

You're right, and I love my mythbox... It's working great, I had some problems getting it working with my hardware, but it was linux not a myth problem...

I do want most of the functionality that LMCE offers, I just don't need it NOW, but in a few months/years, etc...  The stuff I'd need to purchase to have LMCE control it is out of the question financially right now.  So having the other features a plugin, or otherwise able to be disabled (along with OSD controls) would be such a plus...

Since you wouldn't need as much running on the core, it would be much more stable, and much more reliable, not to mention any potential for conflicts is severely reduced with a smaller footprint...

I just want to mention again how impressed with LMCE I am.. the video of a properly configured system blew my mind...

I just want to bring to light that no matter how many features and functions something has, if it is so unusable that it takes hours just to make it work right, I (along with many other people) would be better off with something with fewer features that works perfectly and is easy to configure...

Besides... how many people are going to have an irrigation system that is capable of being controlled by LMCE...

2

Installation issues / Re: Is LMCE Ready For Public Consumption?

« on: May 25, 2007, 02:41:31 am »

.....the fact that  you have the option to do all of these incredible things with LMCE is amazing without being charged way to much.

The fact remains that I CANNOT do all those incredible things without spending countless hours getting things configured properly...

I spent 80 hours (yes, i kept track) configuring my setup, AND IT STILL doesn't work the way it should.

My standard hourly rate for custom programming is $75 per hour (fairly cheap in my area)...

Doing the math... 75*80 = $6000 that I would have to factor into my prices for home setup... That's ridiculous... I'd be better off buying a high end pc and a licence for snapstream, install it and it's working perfectly... Probably for less than a third of the cost...

If it is going to "cost" me this much to get it setup, why wouldn't I just buy a pre-made solution that will work with only a few hours of configuration and custimization.

I realize how hard it is to make things easy to install, easy to use, and to make them all work no matter the hardware config... But how much harder is it to make a system do those things, when you're cobbling together so much functionality?

Get the MEDIA parts working flawlessly, and give me the option to install the Lighting control and the Asterisk control WHEN THEY'RE READY.

The developers are currently splitting their time between all the features that should never be included in the core when they should/could be focusing their time on the core itself.

When you buy a car, it comes complete with everything you need to make it do what it is intended to do.  You then have the CHOICE to ADD OPTIONS that will enhance your enjoyment of your car (leather bucket seats) or the functionality of your car (GPS system, Turbo, Sun-roof).

When I turn on my "MEDIA" centre, I don't want to wade through menus asking me when I want my sprinklers turned on, or that I have email waiting...


I just want to watch my damned tv...

Please understand that I AM NOT bashing LMCE in any way

I'm just starting to get fed up with the everything-including-the-kitchen-sink mindset that is plaguing the linux industry right now.

3

Installation issues / Is LMCE Ready For Public Consumption?

« on: May 25, 2007, 12:35:24 am »

I'm amazed by the depth that LMCE offers, but is this at the expense of a MAJOR headache to install and configure for mass use by someone who can barely turn their computer on?

I've been working around computers for decades, and with linux for over 5 years.  I have yet to get a usable system working...

Why does it come configured to control my lights?
Why does it come configured to control my cameras?
Why does it come configured to control my devices?
Why does it come configured to control my telephones?
Why does it come configured to control my cell phones?

I JUST WANT TO WATCH TV/DVD/MEDIA!!!!!

If I wanted to control my x10 setup (which I dont have, nor will i ever...) I would like the option to add that in.

After hours of work, I was able to get the main screen to work (U1) and while it looks great, it is WAY overwhelming.  I want to watch tv and watch my stored media...

I'd gladly pay the price for Snapstream... WHY? because I can get it installed and configured in about an hour, and it does exactly what I need it to do.

I DONT WANT TO PAY FOR SNAPSTREAM, I DONT WANT TO USE WINDOWS!

I'm getting sick and freaking tired of these linux solutions that are trying to be the be-all-end-all solution for <insert activity here>

I EMPHATICALLY guarantee the beta would be 100% finished already if it stuck to was was required for a MEDIA CENTRE... 

What does controlling my outdoor sprinklers have to do with MEDIA?!?!?

I'm sorry for ranting, i know that this probably doesnt make much sense, but I'm just very frustrated, as I was entering into this expecting the perfect MCE for linux (based on the video that fails to inform viewers that it probably took well over a hundred man-hours to get working properly).

I amwas planning on selling LMCE solutions to my customers, but if I cannot get it to work without spending countless hours on configuration, then how the heck can my customers be expected to use it?


I wish you all luck, and I pray that it ends up working fine, and ALL installation issues are solved.

Want to make LMCE a success?  Create a distro for it ala KnoppMyth.