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KazeoHin
[H]F Junkie
- Joined
- Sep 7, 2011
- Messages
- 9,001
Hey guys. Maybe you could help me out with a real pickle I'm in.
So I've wired my house in Cat 6E, and I want to take the step forward and have real 'modern connected house'. I have a server spec'd out, I have the framework in place, and I'm looking at a wonderful setup for myself and my wife, and her parents (all living under the same roof). The old folks like to watch TV a lot, and we've got them hooked on netflix, youtube, etc as well. You may think 'yay, they get it!' but unfortunately they don't REALLY get it. The windows 7 interface isn't great for a HTPC setup, and I still get daily questions and requests to fix this, find that, etc. I'm tired. I love my parents-in-law, I really do, and I want them to have all these awesome features, but Windows 7 is too damn difficult for a couple of oldies just wanting to watch the TV. I'm looking to go a more streamlined OS designed specifically for a TV. I need this to be networkable as well, because when the oldies go up to their bedroom to lay in bed and watch TV, I want them to still have access to all of their recordings, movies, pictures, etc, as if they were still in the living room.
List of requirements:
-TV tuning and DVR functions, preferably over the network.
----I know XBMC supports a 'DVR Server' so you can have a ton of tuners on the server and stream their outputs to any machine, along with DVR scheduling as well. This is super important, as the old folks freaking record EVERYTHING. You can't teach an old dog new tricks, but you can make it so its a bit easier on them, and allow them to record 3 shows at once while watching another. Hey, not my choice.
-Web browser, preferably a modern, easy one.
----Something I'm surprised to see is my father-in-law browsing the web on the living-room TV rather than lock himself in his office and browse on his old PC. The family likes it better with him more social and he likes it too, but the problem I have is that none of the HTPC OSs I've seen have an integrated Web Browsing function, and the ones that do require a certification in advanced Unix to get it to work, and I want this to be a 'set and forget' system. A bunch of old folks are going to be using this and I don't want to have to constantly be answering questions. This is the case with Windows 7 as well, they understand the basics, but they break it way too damn often.
-Easy local/networked movie watching.
----The last thing these oldies ever do is browse folders and organize their files. I am hoping to find a HTPC OS that makes it REALLY easy to find a stored DVD/Bluray rip or recorded TV show and play it. These are people who still point the wireless keyboard at the TV to try to make the signal stronger, These people aren't going to want to do anything other than click on a big 'MOVIES' button and see all of their favourite movies ready to go.
-ODD support.
----Yes, that's right, ODD support. These folks still want to be able to pop-in the disk and watch a movie/listen to music. DVD/Bluray playback is a must. and it needs to be easy. No command-line this, right-click that: This needs to be so easy it hurts.
Is there an answer to my prayers, or will I forever be the tech-support guy?
So I've wired my house in Cat 6E, and I want to take the step forward and have real 'modern connected house'. I have a server spec'd out, I have the framework in place, and I'm looking at a wonderful setup for myself and my wife, and her parents (all living under the same roof). The old folks like to watch TV a lot, and we've got them hooked on netflix, youtube, etc as well. You may think 'yay, they get it!' but unfortunately they don't REALLY get it. The windows 7 interface isn't great for a HTPC setup, and I still get daily questions and requests to fix this, find that, etc. I'm tired. I love my parents-in-law, I really do, and I want them to have all these awesome features, but Windows 7 is too damn difficult for a couple of oldies just wanting to watch the TV. I'm looking to go a more streamlined OS designed specifically for a TV. I need this to be networkable as well, because when the oldies go up to their bedroom to lay in bed and watch TV, I want them to still have access to all of their recordings, movies, pictures, etc, as if they were still in the living room.
List of requirements:
-TV tuning and DVR functions, preferably over the network.
----I know XBMC supports a 'DVR Server' so you can have a ton of tuners on the server and stream their outputs to any machine, along with DVR scheduling as well. This is super important, as the old folks freaking record EVERYTHING. You can't teach an old dog new tricks, but you can make it so its a bit easier on them, and allow them to record 3 shows at once while watching another. Hey, not my choice.
-Web browser, preferably a modern, easy one.
----Something I'm surprised to see is my father-in-law browsing the web on the living-room TV rather than lock himself in his office and browse on his old PC. The family likes it better with him more social and he likes it too, but the problem I have is that none of the HTPC OSs I've seen have an integrated Web Browsing function, and the ones that do require a certification in advanced Unix to get it to work, and I want this to be a 'set and forget' system. A bunch of old folks are going to be using this and I don't want to have to constantly be answering questions. This is the case with Windows 7 as well, they understand the basics, but they break it way too damn often.
-Easy local/networked movie watching.
----The last thing these oldies ever do is browse folders and organize their files. I am hoping to find a HTPC OS that makes it REALLY easy to find a stored DVD/Bluray rip or recorded TV show and play it. These are people who still point the wireless keyboard at the TV to try to make the signal stronger, These people aren't going to want to do anything other than click on a big 'MOVIES' button and see all of their favourite movies ready to go.
-ODD support.
----Yes, that's right, ODD support. These folks still want to be able to pop-in the disk and watch a movie/listen to music. DVD/Bluray playback is a must. and it needs to be easy. No command-line this, right-click that: This needs to be so easy it hurts.
Is there an answer to my prayers, or will I forever be the tech-support guy?
