Sydneysiders: I will pay you $150 to set up my media centre!

[bartus]

Hi all,

Because of work commitments, I don't have time to set up my media centre and I'm prepared to pay for someone to do it for me.

I've been tinkering with it for a few hours but I don't have any technical expertise with Vista, HDMI or LCD TV's, so would really appreciate someone with some experience.

My specs:
* Windows Vista Home Premium (paid legit version I bought with the computer) with original CD.
* Gigabyte GA-MA78GPM-DS2H AM2+ MB with original CD.
* Lemel HDMI to HDMI cable CBL0LEM-200-0769-1
* Sony Bravia "V Series" 40". 1080p. Digital+HDTV works on it fine.

You won't need to worry about:
* TV tuning. I just use the TV for that.
* External speakers. Don't have any.
* Internet. The machine already gets the net (ADSL2) from our wireless router. Would just like it to be able to view files available to other machines on the network.

So all I need is to be able to use the computer through the TV in 1080p widescreen (which did work originally) with sound and access shared files on the network. Payment only once these things are working.

There's stock standard computer equipment lying round if you need it (like monitors, keyboard, mouse, ethernet cables etc).

You'll need to come round to sort this but I live just 10 minutes walk from Sydney CBD.

[bartus]

I don't need it as a gaming machine either.. Real simple requirements I think?

[arkay]

So simple you don't even need MCE...

MCE is not fond of being set up without tv tuning. It's a bit of a requirement.

You may be better off with some other PVR software that is designed to do only video/ audio and photo playback/viewing.

Don't know what the best would be for windows but other may have some suggestions.

Media Portal (without the tv server), may be a better solution.

Cheers,

Arkay.

[colpeady]

Originally Posted by arkay

MCE is not fond of being set up without tv tuning. It's a bit of a requirement.

Well that is simply not true!

[supafly]

Originally Posted by colpeady

Well that is simply not true!

Bahahahaha im sorry but I just burst out laughing picturing the tone your avatar would use while saying that. lol.

but you are right I set up a VMC for my parents and they dont use TV on it at all, its a laptop that they either have connected to the tv using harmony remote or they take it with them when travelling, its connected to their server wirelessly and streams all content to plasma.

[arkay]

Don't you still have to hack it to get it to be happy without tuners?

Happy to be corrected.

At any rate the point remains.. There is other software that handle video files, isos etc and particularly mp3's better and if you don't need TV then it may be worth investigating them. VMC's mp3 and DVD library functions leave much to be desired and the "My Videos" section is completely devoid of any useful metadata.

Cheers,

Arkay.

[NSComputer]

i'll do it for $100,000 - it will mostly work, i'll be over every night to tweak it. i'll make it HD - no extra charge. lol

seriously - you should look at the new panasonic blu-ray recorder. it's been getting some really good reviews.

Vista media center is a work-in-progress. it's the kind of job that never gets finished.

[Ivan_ekbpf]

Originally Posted by NSComputer

Vista media center is a work-in-progress. it's the kind of job that never gets finished.

Amen.

[blackjet]

Originally Posted by NSComputer

i'll do it for $100,000 - it will mostly work, i'll be over every night to tweak it. i'll make it HD - no extra charge. lol

seriously - you should look at the new panasonic blu-ray recorder. it's been getting some really good reviews.

Vista media center is a work-in-progress. it's the kind of job that never gets finished.

Yeah I spent about 6 hours building mine from scratch and installing all software and updates about 12 months ago. Only had one major hiccup in that time (my Mobo had to be replaced) But really its not hard to build a good VMC that works great. My VMC has been working flawlessly.

Regards Blackjet

[supafly]

Mine literally took 45mins to assemble and another 45 to install OS updates, drivers, etc.....VMC has been my easiest build ever, even machines I have built for other people have all had the same success.