Metcarob's Windows MCE vs Linux MCE Comparison

I have both a Windows XP Media centre PC and a LinuxMCE PC set up in my living room attached to my TV. I am hoping to replace the windows Media centre PC but before I do this I need to ensure that LinuxMCE is up to the job of replacing it. I am hoping the LinuxMCE community will be able to assist me with advice on how to get LinuxMCE performing the way I want it. For this reason I have created this page comparing the two highlighting areas where the LinuxMCE set up is not currently living up to my requirements.

Base Systems

	Windows Media Centre	LinuxMCE
Manufacturer	Eversham - EBox (Eversham have gone bust now)	Built myself
Operating System	Microsoft Windows XP Media Centre Edition Vesion 2002 Service Pack 3	LinuxMCE DVD Install
Motherboard		Abit AA8-Duramax http://www.abit.com.tw/page/en/motherboard/motherboard_detail.php?pMODEL_NAME=AA8-DuraMAX&fMTYPE=LGA775 06/12/2004-i925X-W83627-6A79FA19C-12
Processor	Intel(R) Pentuim(R) 4 CPU 3.00Ghz	Intel(R) Pentuim(R) 4 CPU 3.60GHz
RAM	1Gb	1Gb (2x512Mb Sims www.crucial.com)
Graphics Card	PCI Express Card GeCube RADEON X550 256mb http://www.gecube.com/products-detail.php?prod_cat_pid=&prod_cat_id=23&prod_id=61534	AGPx8 NVidia Geforce 6600GT http://www.nvidia.com/page/geforce_6600.html
External Network Card	On Motherboard	On Motherboard (1 x RJ-45 GbE LAN Connector)
Internal Network Card	None	PCI Card EtherFast Lan Adapter SP2500RS 10/100Mbps Auto-Negotiation http://www.micronet.info/model_detail.aspx?series_no=5&sno=211
TV Capture Card 1	PCI Card	PCI Card Hauppauge WinTV Nova-T500 Dual Digital Tuner http://wiki.linuxmce.org/index.php/Hauppauge_WinTV-NOVA-T-500 Not the diversity model
TV Capture Card 2	PCI Card Exactly the same as TV Capture Card 1	None
Hard Disk		Seegate Barracuda 7200.8 500Gb http://www.seagate.com/ww/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=46cc99f4fa74c010VgnVCM100000dd04090aRCRD&locale=en-US&reqPage=Model&modelReqTab=TechSpecs

TV Output, resoultion, etc.

My TV is an old Sony TV. The only output device connected to the computers is the TV (Both Audio and TV outs are connected via a scart lead.) Both systems connect to the same TV via Scart and for the comparision I am using a switch box which switches from one to the other.

	Windows Media Centre	LinuxMCE
Video Connector used	Video connector	S-Video connector
Video Resolution	1024 x 768	1024 x 768
Color	High (32-bit)
Refresh	60 Hz	60
Audio Connector used	Motherboard Stero out going to a splitter going to Scart lead adapter	Motherboard Stero out going to a splitter going to Scart lead adapter

Input

	Windows Media Centre	LinuxMCE
IR Reciever	Reciever built into the case. I believe it's one that came with the windows MCE controler	USBUIRT http://wiki.linuxmce.org/index.php/Usbuirt
IR Remote	Windows Media Centre Remote	USBUIRT http://wiki.linuxmce.org/index.php/Usbuirt
IR Keyboard	Microsoft Remote Keyboard for Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition - Keyboard - wireless - infrared - integrated mouse, integrated remote control	None (PS2 keyboard used for testing)

Other Input Methods tried for LinuxMCE Machine

Web Orbitor run from my laptop
Windows Mobile Orbitor installed on my XDA Orbit 2 Mobile phone
Windows Mobile Orbitor installed on my XDA IIi (my old mobile)

Comparison

Picture Quality

DVD Playback

Windows Madia Centre

The DVD drive on the eBox is tempromental and works intermitently. When it does work and play back the DVD the playback and picture quality is fine with no juttering and bright colours.

LinuxMCE

I have managed to play back DVD's both direct from disc and after being ripped. I was impressed that ripped DVD's retain the full DVD structure including menus etc. Playback is fine with no juttering. Unfortunatly the picture quality it not that good. The resolution is fine but the colours are all washed out and not bright at all.

Recorded TV Playback

Windows Madia Centre

Most of the time the playback is fine. However sometimes the playback is jerky and completly unwatchable. I think this is when the program was recorded when both tuners were in use. The colour is normal.

LinuxMCE

Again the colour is very washed out. I have not come across any other problems with playback.

Live TV

Windows Madia Centre

Watching Live TV has always been fine, except sometimes when both tuners are in use. When this happens playback is jerky.

LinuxMCE

Watching Live TV works fine.

UI

General Control

Windows Madia Centre

General control is via the windows media centre remote.

LinuxMCE

The main method of control is via the media centre remote. I have also got an orbiter working on my laptop. I am having problems getting my XDAIIi and Orbit 2 working via bluetooth.

Listening to Music

Windows Madia Centre

Music can be listed by Album, Artist, Playlist, Songs, Genres and Search. You browse albums by flicking through the album covers and it is all pretty easy. You can select a album and play it all of select an individual song on the album. The default option for selecting a song is to simply play it but personally I would have had 'add to queue' as the defauly option as I keep losing my playlist I built up by accidently selecting a song to play rather than add to queue. Playlist management is not so good. You can't add a song to an already saved playlist easily. I would have designed it so thatyou can open a playlist, make edits and have them saved automatically. Once you have music playing you get a now playing box in the bottom left corner which you can select, alter the playlist, move between songs and save the playlist.

Stability

Windows Madia Centre

I have been running this machine for a number of years. In order for windows media centre to recieve the guide listenings automatic updates must be turned on. The computer remains on standby for most of the time. Every now and again the automatic update or antivirus require a reboot. There have been a number of occasions where the update has effected the system problems with playback started after an update.

LinuxMCE

I have only had this system up and running for a couple of weeks but there have been no stability issues so far.