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Users / Re: Home Automation Experiences
« on: April 10, 2008, 12:44:03 am »
Thom, NOS,
Thanks for the prompt replies.
Whilst my current system is fine for the purpose it's currently being used for (as a single media unit) it does have one huge drawback - it has very poor support / available devices for using as a distributed audio system. This for me is one of the most appealing aspects for Linux MCE, especially as we are half way through renovating and would like to expand the current system (there's obviously a whole heap more features that LMCE has too).
For distributed audio, the Micro$oft counterpart requires investment in hardware 'Media Extenders; which at last look were not available here in Australia (apart from using an xbox which requires additional $oftware - plus I doubt anybody would want to use xboxes as 'thin' clients - they're simply not very thin
) - The Windows MCE community has long been looking for a software only extender so that people could create their own thin clients out of spare PC's. This may have changed in more recent times as I have not kept up to date with developments, but back the last time I looked it didn't seem like one was forthcoming.
Another positive reason for switching to Linux MCE for me is that I am currently running MCE2005 (XP) - it's likely that I will need to update my hardware to run the bloated Vista version which inevitably will need to happen at some point (M$ have a habit of sending you automatic updates that cause your machine to stop working) - I just don't need to waste any more cash on M$ products.
In addition, the mControl software's webclient will only work on Internet explorer 7 - this means that I have to try and upgrade the OS of the DT375 web-tablet that I bought as a portable touch-screen and it won't work on either my Ubuntu machine or the partners Mac, to be honest as we've never had it we don't miss it, but these things should simply just work!!! (why use a web browser as the basis for an interface and then ignore web standards so that it only works with one browser??).
The home automation consideration is a big part of the renovations - so far the X10 has proven to be very cost effective if a occasionally little unreliable - most of the problems I have experienced have been related to missed messages which is easily fixed by sending a series of 3/4 messages in a row. Here in Australia X10 modules are pretty expensive so I've been importing them from the USA and modifying them to run off of 230 volts.
The renovations are now coming to the stage where I need to rewire the house - it's only a little extra bother to utilise something like a hard wired c-bus system but I would rather avoid throwing away the cash we already have invested in the X10 gear (and no doubt spending a shed load more) so it's good to hear that you've had success with this and that the Linux MCE system seems to be capable enough to support our current set-up.
Overall I'm very impressed with what I've seen, especially as there's some proprietary systems being sold with LMCE pre-installed - it gives me the impression that it's a mature and stable product.
I've downloaded the latest distro and will install it on a spare PC to test it out, no doubt I will have many more questions in due course.
Once again, thanks for your replies.
DM
Thanks for the prompt replies.
Whilst my current system is fine for the purpose it's currently being used for (as a single media unit) it does have one huge drawback - it has very poor support / available devices for using as a distributed audio system. This for me is one of the most appealing aspects for Linux MCE, especially as we are half way through renovating and would like to expand the current system (there's obviously a whole heap more features that LMCE has too).
For distributed audio, the Micro$oft counterpart requires investment in hardware 'Media Extenders; which at last look were not available here in Australia (apart from using an xbox which requires additional $oftware - plus I doubt anybody would want to use xboxes as 'thin' clients - they're simply not very thin
) - The Windows MCE community has long been looking for a software only extender so that people could create their own thin clients out of spare PC's. This may have changed in more recent times as I have not kept up to date with developments, but back the last time I looked it didn't seem like one was forthcoming.Another positive reason for switching to Linux MCE for me is that I am currently running MCE2005 (XP) - it's likely that I will need to update my hardware to run the bloated Vista version which inevitably will need to happen at some point (M$ have a habit of sending you automatic updates that cause your machine to stop working) - I just don't need to waste any more cash on M$ products.
In addition, the mControl software's webclient will only work on Internet explorer 7 - this means that I have to try and upgrade the OS of the DT375 web-tablet that I bought as a portable touch-screen and it won't work on either my Ubuntu machine or the partners Mac, to be honest as we've never had it we don't miss it, but these things should simply just work!!! (why use a web browser as the basis for an interface and then ignore web standards so that it only works with one browser??).
The home automation consideration is a big part of the renovations - so far the X10 has proven to be very cost effective if a occasionally little unreliable - most of the problems I have experienced have been related to missed messages which is easily fixed by sending a series of 3/4 messages in a row. Here in Australia X10 modules are pretty expensive so I've been importing them from the USA and modifying them to run off of 230 volts.
The renovations are now coming to the stage where I need to rewire the house - it's only a little extra bother to utilise something like a hard wired c-bus system but I would rather avoid throwing away the cash we already have invested in the X10 gear (and no doubt spending a shed load more) so it's good to hear that you've had success with this and that the Linux MCE system seems to be capable enough to support our current set-up.
Overall I'm very impressed with what I've seen, especially as there's some proprietary systems being sold with LMCE pre-installed - it gives me the impression that it's a mature and stable product.
I've downloaded the latest distro and will install it on a spare PC to test it out, no doubt I will have many more questions in due course.
Once again, thanks for your replies.
DM
