[fje00]

Looking to extend the htpc now to dvd archival and playback from the hdd.


I looked around and searched some and found that MYMovies2 seems to be just what I was looking for.


One problem. It's for MCE only. I run winxp pro.


Anyone have any recommendations for an alternative to mymovies2?

 

[olyar15]

There are several options, depending on what else you want the computer to do, and how nice an interface you want.


Right now I use Theatertek as my DVD player. It has the ability to play DVDs stored on the hard drive. Its file menu is nothing spectacular, basically similar to Window's Open File dialog box but easier to navigate with a remote control or a keyboard. No fancy display of the cover art or information about the DVD. However, it is functional, and the ease of use and picture quality of TT more than make up for it.


I also use SageTV (or rather now it is called Sage media center). It can also play back DVD on the hard drive, and can have cover art and other things. However, I haven't tried playing DVDs with it because I have TT. (However, Sage really is a kick-ass PVR).


Other options include Xlobby, which is a freeware front-end that can do the fancy cover art and information, then send the files to an external DVD program like TT. You can even use programs like CQC, which is an Uber front-end/home automation program, and there are other options which I have not personally tried.

 

[fje00]

Thanks for the suggestions. I know there are threads on some of this aready, but they get hard to use when they grow to hundreds of posts long!


I use BeyondTV for my PVR software. They have this thing called Beyond Media which I've started to look at. Seems okay. It does the cover art and is a player also.


I am interested in having cover art and database searching capability (i.e. tilte, genre, etc.) . I think integration with an external player is something I want to have, since I also want to be using the htpc as a upconverting DVD player that can handle advanced deinterlacing, 3/2 pulldown, etc.


I looked at xlobby and it might be the answer. It also does music which is something else I want to do. Plus it is skinable which is a big plus, since a gorgeous looking interface is something I'm after as well.


But as to dvd playback software, I'm not sure which players have the best playback options (i.e. deinterlacing, etc.). I looked at theatertek, and it seems like it has advanced playback and processing capabilities. Matching it with xlobby is probably just what I'm looking for.


I should add that the htpc is dvi/hdmi out to a Sony 60A2000 sxrd TV and spdif out to a Denon AV receiver. The receiver is an older model and will do DD and DTS, but none of the new encodings ( do any do that yet?) It does have analog inputs however.


I also have the 360 add-on drive working on the htpc and am playing back HDDVD with powerdvd.