[Sam.Nazarko]

It is with great pleasure I announce that development has now started on Raspbmc. The distribution will bring the rock solid performance coupled with the simplicity of an auto-updating system to the new platform taking advantage of the device's ability to decode 1080p effortlessly.

[Thomss]

Awesome!

[pumkinut]

Once again Sam, you do not fail to impress.

[jammyb]

Awww man and I just changed these pants!

[grey]

great, simply great news!

[gaggio]

Does that mean that you already managed to put your hands on one of those little machines?

[magao]

Could I request that you coordinate where possible with OpenELEC if you aren't already? Since OpenELEC is seen as the "appliance" version of XBMC, at the very least a link to Raspmc from OpenELEC will let more people know about the project.

[Sam.Nazarko]

There will be no cooperation with openELEC. We have different ideologies. Raspbmc will offer more flexibility in terms of functionality and will feature the superior method of updating incorporated into Crystalbuntu, but this will be furthered. There will also be simple UI installers, where as openELEC prefer to use tarballs.

[Robotica]

Openelec is a great option for appliance like experience. Openelec is also known for it's fast boots and minimal resource (use XBMC plugins for OS-settings) usage and easy updating. I don't know Crystalbuntu but as I understand, it will be a stripped and optimized ubuntu distro. Is it similar to mythbuntu then? Or the new Live(XBMCBuntu)?

So the extra Crystalbuntu offers to openelec: more flexibility for the user: a full featured OS with desktop and webbrowser.

[Sam.Nazarko]

No Raspbmc is not Ubuntu based.

Big differences between openELEC. I am not going for appliance feel. I will still offer simplicity but I will offer the user power.

Crystalbuntu is better than openELEC. Openelec doesn't even work on aTV for the last couple of months. My version offers PVR, and was the first version to offer AirPlay and AirTunes before implementation in XBMC. It allows a full desktop, features 24Hz support, a streamlined machokernel (they kexec due to a design concept - they follow the same universal design for all platforms, not ideal for aTV). My implementation is, undeniably more stable and quicker to respond. There are also under the hood tricks such as CPU management, auto mounting, and hard drive standby techniques to reduce power consumption and heat output. Crystalbuntu can be installed through UI, openelec cannot.

[Robotica]

I understand it is not an appliance like openelec but I still don't understand how crystalbuntu/raspbmc (Is that the same?) compares to Mythbunutu (yes, this also contains xbmc) and XBMCbuntu?

[Jimmer]

I understand it is not an appliance like openelec but I still don't understand how crystalbuntu/raspbmc (Is that the same?) compares to Mythbunutu (yes, this also contains xbmc) and XBMCbuntu?

Well, Crystalbuntu is based on Hardy, with all the tweaks and stuff necessary to get it running sweetly on an ATV. If you think it just a case of installing *buntu minimal on an ATV and bob's your uncle, then you'll be surprised. It's a unique hardware platform and vanilla *buntu doesn't cut it. Sam's distro was pretty sweet when I tested it out. Certainly, if you're a regular user then Crystalbuntu is not going to be beaten on an ATV. OpenELEC never really cracked the platform IMHO.

Crystalbuntu (and pretty much all successful ATV installs) are based on Hardy because of HDMI sound limitations with later kernels. Plus there are memory management issues with newer kernels when you have a crystalhd card. See Crystalbuntu as a highly specialised and optimised XBMCbuntu, if you like.

There are not really going to be the same design limitations for the Pi (there will, of course, be different one's!). I'd be surprised if it was *buntu based since from what the foundation's saying canonical haven't cracked a distro that interfaces with the GPU (yet). Of course, this could change.

So they're unique platforms and unique designs with unique issues. Don't really think the two distro's (Crystalbuntu/raspbmc) can be lumped together?

As far as openelec on the Pi is concerned, it could be smoking. But then there will be philosophical design differences between it and raspbmc. Sam's obviously not a fan of locking the user out of installing custom stuff on their boxes. I see that as the main difference at the end of the day.

Jim

[magao]

Big differences between openELEC. I am not going for appliance feel.

I think that's unfortunate. I suspect the vast majority of people who would get the Raspberry Pi for an HTPC are going to want to use it as an appliance and so won't get one until there's an appliance-style distribution. Obviously this doesn't apply to most of the people buying the first batch - these are definitely tinkerers.

From my reading of http://www.stmlabs.com/2012/01/30/raspbm...spberrypi/ it sounded like Raspmp was more appliance-like than it actually is.

I seem to have touched a nerve mentioning OpenELEC. I'd be wary about using language such as "Crystalbuntu is better than OpenELEC". If you're specifically talking about on the ATV (as opposed to in general) then I can't comment (I don't have an ATV), but I've just spent about half an hour trying to understand the context in which you made your comments. As I understand it, Crystalbuntu is ATV-only, so apart from philosophical direction I don't think it's particularly relevant to this thread unless there are significant things you're taking from Crystalbuntu and putting into Raspmp. PVR functionality looks like it's not going to be possible on Raspberry Pi due to the codec limitations. Is that the case or have you managed to get it working (and if so, what format streams and what resolutions)?

[Jimmer]

The vast majority of OpenELEC users have zero stability or responsiveness problems (once the HTPC has been set up). I'd be interested in what ways you feel Crystalbuntu is more stable and responsive than OpenELEC for the core functionality of media playback.

You are quoting him discussing the performance of Crystalbuntu on ATV. On this specialist platform, IT IS more stable and responsive when it comes to media playback.

He's not saying crystalbuntu is more stable and responsive on all platforms that OpenELEC is found on. That would just be plain wrong. Crystalbuntu is a single platform distro, and on that platform it is the BEST distro for the general user. Show me a better one, please.

You have set yourself up a straw-man to knock down here.....

..although, I will agree with you that the tone is unfortunate. There's obviously some history there. My X is better then your Y is never helpful and frequently harmful.....

[magao]

You are quoting him discussing the performance of Crystalbuntu on ATV. On this specialist platform, IT IS more stable and responsive when it comes to media playback.

He's not saying crystalbuntu is more stable and responsive on all platforms that OpenELEC is found on. That would just be plain wrong. Crystalbuntu is a single platform distro, and on that platform it is the BEST distro for the general user. Show me a better one, please.

You have set yourself up a straw-man to knock down here.....

Not intentionally - I've just edited my post with my better understanding of the context in which the comments were made (unfortunately, you responded while I was editing ...). In fact, my edits were due largely to your post just above which made me ping to the fact that Crystalbuntu was ATV-only.