Can I use this as a Media Director

[jwarder]

Hi,

Just needing some advice. Can I use the following as a media director:

http://linitx.com/viewproduct.php?prodid=12059

Cheers,
Jack

[skeptic]

Do a search here for openchrome or chrome.  I believe it will work, but UI1 only and no hardware playback acceleration due to lack of proper video drivers.  At this point I think there is more hope for the upcoming Intel Atom/945 based systems.

[jwarder]

Hi, thanks for your reply,

I am a bit new the Linux MCE, so i'm not 100% sure what you just said lol, i'm just after an out of the box Media Director that will just work, but I need it to mount behind TV?

Cheers,
Jack

[bulek]

Hi, thanks for your reply,

I am a bit new the Linux MCE, so i'm not 100% sure what you just said lol, i'm just after an out of the box Media Director that will just work, but I need it to mount behind TV?

Cheers,
Jack

In my experience - if you want a decent MD, then via is not an option currently. They simply don't give much attention to Linux and their video chipsets are not properly supported... I have 4 various mobos and have abandoned all efforts in this area. I think Asus EEE box is more interesting option at the moment. Also there are dcf2 boards and I guess also upcoming novelties from Intel will be more interesting...

HTH,

regards,

Bulek.

[skeptic]

Hi, thanks for your reply,

I am a bit new the Linux MCE, so i'm not 100% sure what you just said lol, i'm just after an out of the box Media Director that will just work, but I need it to mount behind TV?

Cheers,
Jack

UI1 is the default simple user interface.  It's basically what you will see via web interface, web pads, etc.  In short, it's intended to work pretty much anywhere with slight differences in button location etc. on any graphical interface (called an orbiter).  On the downside, it's not very attractive.  Due to limitations in the linux drivers for the graphic chipset that comes with via based motherboards (Chrome), it's not a great choice for linux in general or LinuxMCE specifically.

Most (all??) of the new Intel Atom processor based boards come with the Intel 945G graphics chipset which is much more promising.  The Asus EEE computers that Bulek mentioned are an example of an Atom/945G based system.  They are also very small and similar to the via based boxes in terms of target market, small media center frontends (MDs) for example.

Beyond that, I'd suggest you read the wiki as well as search this forum for longer more detailed discussions of these systems.

[totallymaxed]

Hi,

Just needing some advice. Can I use the following as a media director:

http://linitx.com/viewproduct.php?prodid=12059

Cheers,
Jack

Hi Jack,

As other have said in this thread products based on the Via range of graphics chips are currently not recommended for LinuxMCE. So the advice would be to avoid them. I agree that the ATOM processor based motherboards and pre-built systems based on them like the ASUS Eee Box are good choices as they offer many if not more capability than the Via based products. For example the ASUS Eee Box is smaller than the Via unit you mention above and also comes with a VESA mounting bracket so that you can attach it to the back of a Flat Panel display or on the wall behind the display.

However under LinuxMCE-710 the current ATOM based motherboards (including the ASUS Eee Box) are not 'Plug n Play' and do require some manual technical setup to get them added as MD's. If you search the Forum here for articles/threads relating to the Eee Box or ATOM processors based MD's you will find the information you need to add theses MD's yourself.

You can also see the ASUS Eee Box being used as an MD in some of the videos presented on my companies Web site (see the url to these videos in the message footer below)

All the best & welcome

Andrew

[jwarder]

Hi,

Just needing some advice. Can I use the following as a media director:

http://linitx.com/viewproduct.php?prodid=12059

Cheers,
Jack

Hi Jack,

As other have said in this thread products based on the Via range of graphics chips are currently not recommended for LinuxMCE. So the advice would be to avoid them. I agree that the ATOM processor based motherboards and pre-built systems based on them like the ASUS Eee Box are good choices as they offer many if not more capability than the Via based products. For example the ASUS Eee Box is smaller than the Via unit you mention above and also comes with a VESA mounting bracket so that you can attach it to the back of a Flat Panel display or on the wall behind the display.

However under LinuxMCE-710 the current ATOM based motherboards (including the ASUS Eee Box) are not 'Plug n Play' and do require some manual technical setup to get them added as MD's. If you search the Forum here for articles/threads relating to the Eee Box or ATOM processors based MD's you will find the information you need to add theses MD's yourself.

You can also see the ASUS Eee Box being used as an MD in some of the videos presented on my companies Web site (see the url to these videos in the message footer below)

All the best & welcome

Andrew

Thanks for that, having looked at your videos that is exactly what I am after.

Jack