Posts: 156
Joined: Jan 2012
Reputation:
1
Diggs
Senior Member
Posts: 156
2012-10-25, 21:49
(This post was last modified: 2012-10-25, 21:51 by Diggs.)
What did you install, Openlec? Mine runs on a Win 7 OS and the only reason it stays that way is the simplicity of video drivers with my AMD APU. Tried Ubuntu, wanted something leaner, but was a headache for me since I am a complete Linux newb. I haven't played with Openlec, but it seems from the recent announcements on the homepage that it supports PVR addons. So you might be good with what you have. Here is why I like an OS to fall back on.
1. Addons can sometimes have problems, so Pandora and Amazon content can always be reached via a browser. (Hulu and Netflix as well as other add ons can have issues as well, but these are the only ones I really use)
2. I am familiar with Windows, so driver issues are less of a hassle for me.
3. Ability to load applications like unified remote, so it is easy to use my android tablet as a KB and Mouse.
with that said, the xbmc remote applications work great on android based phones and tablets. Assume these would work for openlec as well.
90% of the time if not more my HTPC is running XBMC while it is on. The OS gets very little use, but it is nice to have when you want it. It all boils down to what you want out of your HTPC. So, you might not have jumped the gun, but a download and install of XBMCbuntu is just a free download away + some time configuring.
Posts: 338
Joined: Dec 2010
Reputation:
7
Yes you did jump the gun. But remember most PC have a factory restore command to get your PC back to fresh windows from factory. Unless you did a full complete drive format of all partitions ( most people do not do this).
You can run both 7MC (aka win 7 WNC) and XBMC together and they will behave well. It's what I do every day.
XBMC solo with PVR requires you use the nightly build experiments. That sometimes have issues. Plus from reading you can not record a TV series with the PVR build, without serious EPG gymnastics. Who wants that. Soon XBMC will have all this correct. Also consider that most need to remote control a cable card or cable box, which requires IR mapping some times. Not easy on XBMC.
Posts: 6,339
Joined: Jul 2010
Reputation:
116
artrafael
Team-XBMC Forum Moderator
Posts: 6,339
Well, you actually are running XBMC on top of an OS... it's just hidden from the casual user. If you're using XBMCbuntu, you're running Linux (a version of Ubuntu) under the covers. Bundled offerings such as XBMCbuntu and OpenELEC are intended to give an appliance-like look-and-feel for HTPC installations, where your computer boots directly into XBMC without having to interact with the OS. You can still access the OS, if necessary, to tweak the system.
If your computer isn't meant to be dedicated for XBMC, then you can simply install XBMC as an application on top of your system's existing OS (Windows, Linux, Mac, etc.).
Since you already have XBMC running standalone on your living room computer, you may want to just run with it for a while and see if it suits your media center needs.