[blipszyc]

I currently have a HTPC that I set up mainly for HiPix recording. I am getting close to the threshold of my CD Changer (400) and planned on merging my collection with my future wife's. I was wondering what everyone was doing with their HTPC and MP3s. I've seen things like CDLobby etc., but I don't want to turn on my TV to control music playback. My HTPC does have a VCD on the front.


What is everyone else using to control music playback, and are you doing it without turning on the TV. Can it be done, or should I just buy another changer. The solution needs major wife acceptance. (I currently have a Pronto, so macros are easy to do)

 

[Micah]

I'm starting to look at different options for controlling the htpc without having the tv on as well.


The only thing that's really caught my attention though is the tablet pc discussion going on here:

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...hreadid=299438


My concern with this is that it boils down to a pretty expensive remote control. On the plus side would be that you can expand the tabletpc (airpanel, whatever else they're discussing) to cover a whole house automation scheme which would be pretty slick.


I guess if you can get away with just the VCD (quick side note, shouldn't that be LCD?) you could run winamp with a VCD plugin. It'd be pretty difficult to navigate and jump to music you want to listen to though since it'd be limited to displaying one song at a time.


I'd love to hear some feedback from other people that are currently running a non-tv required setup though. Maybe there's something I've overlooked.

 

[blipszyc]

Yeah, I've read through that and while it seems neat and exciting, its expensive. I already have a Pronto and a nice little perl script that sorts my CD list and creates pages for my CD Changer, but I thought maybe I could use my existing HTPC to play music.


As you've mentioned, using a VFD/LCD (oops, meant VFD above) plugin works great for one or two songs, but how do you show albums.


(although, now just typing this, I think I figured out a way it might just work-follow me)

Today, I click on an album and my Pronto will "type" in the disc # and presss enter. My changer displays the disc name in the window, and the track #, but I never choose the track name with my Pronto anyway. With my HTPC, I could have the Pronto load the playlist file for the associated album instead of a disc #. It would take a few seconds longer to navigate through the hard drive, but it just might work. (I have to sort out how to load the proper playlist, but perhaps girder can help.)

 

[ElectricLegs]

Maybe eyeball a DE100C? No video needed except to set it up and create playlists. Hackable/upgradeable too.

 

[blipszyc]

How many CD can one of those hold? Do you have any links to sites that talk about upgradng?

 

[ElectricLegs]

Up to 750 cd's on the 40 gig hd but it's replaceable too. I have mine upgraded to 120gig/Celeron1000/256ram and another with same plus XP/Radeon-pci/dvd/Winamp/Girder/lcdplugin/etc.

http://search.*********/search/searc...0&BasicSearch=
http://www.techtv.com/products/consu...362580,00.html
http://www.k0lee.com/de100c/default.htm
http://www.robertwrose.com/dec/


It's based on a custom Intel810 MB w dig/optical out, SVGA,svhs,lan, and lots more.

Win XP with Winamp w/lcd plugin is possible but the factory LINUX based OS can't be beat for use with just the front display. Internet Radio /Realplayer ready too. Can be set up as a MP3 server/Samba/etc and all the fun stuff Linux lets you do.


I use mine every day. Discontinued but still available through Ebay and such.