XMBC Vs MediaPortal Vs MCE

break · 1st July 2011, 12:45 PM

Hi All,

I'm setting up a Windows based HTPC and after playing with all three I'm not convinced any which way on what Media Centre software to use.

What are people using, and why?

Jobe · 1st July 2011, 12:50 PM

xbmc if you dont need live tv.

7MC + Media Browser if you do. You could switch between 7MC for tv and xmbc for library stuff but Media Browser is a more than adequate alternative for xbmc. Oh and also need a meta data fetcher. I use MCM but there are better ones.

MP is poo.

break · 1st July 2011, 1:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jobe

<snip>

Why exactly do you like XBMC so much, and why don't you like Mediaportal?

broccoli · 1st July 2011, 1:03 PM

I use the Windows 7 Media Centre. Why? Because it's there, I can use it and nothing has annoyed me enough about it to make me bother learning something new.

the_fuzz · 1st July 2011, 1:13 PM

i was a stuanch WMC7 with media browser for a long time

Just installed media portal a couple of days ago - the auto refresh rate detection and change has me converted.

I love the fact my BRrips now automatically play at 24hz without me touching anything and then automatically going back to default when I hit "stop"

I also use the Moving Pictures and the My TV series plugins -

1 week ago, I would have recommended WMC7 but now......

They both have there strengths, but if you have a good setup (TV wise) and want it to look the best without fluffing around everytime you want to watch something, MP

mshagg · 1st July 2011, 1:13 PM

I love mediaportal. So customisable, so tweakable. Can make it look exactly how you want. Handles everything. TV built into it.

Add the streamedMP skin and it's georgeous.

I found media centre to be too rigid. Mediabrowser is great but it ran like arse on my low end system.

XBMC is cream of the crop, it really is fantastic - but no TV functionality makes it almost useless for me.

samo · 1st July 2011, 1:20 PM

as above, if you dont want TV then xbmc is probably the way to go.

I use MP and have done so for many years, it's great and gets my vote over MCE.

break · 1st July 2011, 1:33 PM

Cheers for the excellent feedback so far guys.

I wasn't sure if I was going to go down the TV tuner path or not just yet, but i'll keep it in the back of my mind when weighing up the options.

What's the performance of each of the options like? (This will be running on a HP ProLiant Microserver, so Athlon Ion 1.3ghz dual core chip, 5gb of RAM, ATi 5450 for HDMI/sound)

Namheul · 1st July 2011, 1:52 PM

Tried XBMC but found it to be clunky and the lack of TV support killed it for me.

Tried MediaPortal too. Bit of a pain to setup, and nowhere near as responsive as MCE.

Use MCE with MediaBrowser. Plays and does everything i need. User interface is much better than XBMC and MediaPortal.
Automatically grabs all cover art and details, finds newly added files within a second or two of adding them, easy to set up and use.

hdkhang · 1st July 2011, 2:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mshagg

I love mediaportal. So customisable, so tweakable. Can make it look exactly how you want. Handles everything. TV built into it.

Add the streamedMP skin and it's georgeous.

I found media centre to be too rigid. Mediabrowser is great but it ran like arse on my low end system.

XBMC is cream of the crop, it really is fantastic - but no TV functionality makes it almost useless for me.

I haven't spent much time with either solution so was curious as to the reasons why XBMC is so much better than MP were it not for the missing TV functionality?

mshagg · 1st July 2011, 2:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hdkhang

I haven't spent much time with either solution so was curious as to the reasons why XBMC is so much better than MP were it not for the missing TV functionality?

I just found XBMC to be a bit more polished and refined. It takes a *bit* of stuffing around with MP to get it looking as good as XBMC does out of the box.

Useability-wise, i run the streamedMP skin on MP... which basically makes it look and feel like XBMC to use

azron · 1st July 2011, 2:13 PM

Was using XBMC but yeah, not having TV was a big blocker with wife acceptance.

Was thinking about giving Media Portal a go, but for some reason didnt - I now have Win7 MC going with my movies and it's great. very easy to setup, Logitech universal remote controls all functions in addition to controlling amp and TV.

Media Center on win 7 for me.

Sipheren · 1st July 2011, 2:15 PM

Love XBMC, but I don't need it for TV.

renagade · 1st July 2011, 2:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by azron

Was using XBMC but yeah, not having TV was a big blocker with wife acceptance.

I have no experience with it but I know there is a MythBox addon for XBMC.
No idea how it goes but if you miss XBMC maybe it's a good idea to check it out.
If you haven't already.
Voted XBMC. Love it. Needs more updates though.

TheWedgie · 1st July 2011, 2:30 PM

I use XBMC, with SickBeard for metadata management.
We don't use the HTPC for TV so that wasn't an issue.

Only problem I have is metadata for movies is a PITA, as there doesn't seem to be anything as easy and automated as SickBeard.

View Poll Results: Which Windows Media Centre Application do you use?
Microsoft MCE	113	25.06%
XBMC	257	56.98%
Mediaportal	62	13.75%
Other (please specify)	19	4.21%
Voters: 451. You may not vote on this poll

1st July 2011, 12:45 PM	#1
break Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: Brisbane Posts: 7,131	XMBC Vs MediaPortal Vs MCE Hi All, I'm setting up a Windows based HTPC and after playing with all three I'm not convinced any which way on what Media Centre software to use. What are people using, and why? __________________ Break Photography : www.breakphoto.org 59 Successful trades and counting

1st July 2011, 1:13 PM	#5
the_fuzz Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Sydney Posts: 6,585	i was a stuanch WMC7 with media browser for a long time Just installed media portal a couple of days ago - the auto refresh rate detection and change has me converted. I love the fact my BRrips now automatically play at 24hz without me touching anything and then automatically going back to default when I hit "stop" I also use the Moving Pictures and the My TV series plugins - 1 week ago, I would have recommended WMC7 but now...... They both have there strengths, but if you have a good setup (TV wise) and want it to look the best without fluffing around everytime you want to watch something, MP __________________ \| Intel I5 2500 \| 2 x 4gb G.Skill Ripjaw \| Asrock H61 \| Gigabyte 6870OC \| corsair 120gb force GT SSD \|

1st July 2011, 1:33 PM	#8
break Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: Brisbane Posts: 7,131	Cheers for the excellent feedback so far guys. I wasn't sure if I was going to go down the TV tuner path or not just yet, but i'll keep it in the back of my mind when weighing up the options. What's the performance of each of the options like? (This will be running on a HP ProLiant Microserver, so Athlon Ion 1.3ghz dual core chip, 5gb of RAM, ATi 5450 for HDMI/sound) __________________ Break Photography : www.breakphoto.org 59 Successful trades and counting

1st July 2011, 2:13 PM	#12
azron Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Melbourne Posts: 1,039	Was using XBMC but yeah, not having TV was a big blocker with wife acceptance. Was thinking about giving Media Portal a go, but for some reason didnt - I now have Win7 MC going with my movies and it's great. very easy to setup, Logitech universal remote controls all functions in addition to controlling amp and TV. Media Center on win 7 for me. __________________ Insert 40 Quarters to continue...

1st July 2011, 1:03 PM	#4
broccoli (Taking a Break) Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Perth Posts: 6,312	I use the Windows 7 Media Centre. Why? Because it's there, I can use it and nothing has annoyed me enough about it to make me bother learning something new.

1st July 2011, 1:20 PM	#7
samo Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Adelaide Posts: 968	as above, if you dont want TV then xbmc is probably the way to go. I use MP and have done so for many years, it's great and gets my vote over MCE.

1st July 2011, 2:15 PM	#13
Sipheren Member Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Gold Coast Posts: 1,782	Love XBMC, but I don't need it for TV. __________________ Win 8 - i7 930 - GIGABYTE X58A-UD5 (rev. 2.0) - 12GB DDRIII - 1GB HD6850 - Define R3 NAS - DNS-320 (2x 2TB) 94 ED Ford Fairmont Ghia 5.0L Website - eBay Stuff - Movember

1st July 2011, 2:30 PM	#15
TheWedgie Reputation: Over 9000 Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: South Australia Posts: 2,619	I use XBMC, with SickBeard for metadata management. We don't use the HTPC for TV so that wasn't an issue. Only problem I have is metadata for movies is a PITA, as there doesn't seem to be anything as easy and automated as SickBeard. __________________ ugbox.net \| OCAU Emergency Services Club This post is the personal opinion of the poster and may not necessarily state or reflect those of SA Ambulance Service, SA Department of Health, or First Care Medical. It does not constitute medical advice, and should not be taken three times a day with meals. May cause drowsiness - do not drive or operate heavy machinery after reading.