what are commercials?

i haven't watched live TV in about 2 years. sure, maybe the odd show here and there. don't get me wrong, i watch a shitload of TV. since the writer's strike, i've been led to check out other shows. for better or worst, i've watched all of chuck, and then now gossip girl. i started watching gossip girl after i found out kristen bell was the narrator, but digress.

for a very long time, i've been looking for a way to get the video on my computer, onto my tv. up until about a year ago, this area has been quite empty. recently, a whole slew of consumer solutions. these solutions are ok except that there is a lot of restrictions. these usually come in the form of codecs they support and their requirement for windows media center. i just want a GUI i can navigate files mounted over samba with. using a computer is ok, but there doesn't seem to be good GUI navigators for computers. i've tried things like linuxMCE, MythTV, and just X11 with mplayer, but they were all lacking. either you need a keyboard and mouse to operate it or its meant as a DVR. i tried MythTV because that's what all the cool kids are using. one thing i found out is that if you just want it to play videos, then it is totally slow as fuck. the menu is clunky and if the files change on disk, it is not reflected in the UI.

i'll spare you the details of the shortcomings in the plethora of solutions i've tried. instead, i'll just outline the only two viable solutions i've come across. the first is not for mere muggles. i am referring to the neuros osd. they have a $200 open source hardware solution. the basic functionality is nothing to write home about. it records video digitally from any input source you have, be it a DVD player, a DVR, or a regular ol' TV. the good thing is, you can code for it! you can write anything you want. i actually think there is already a way to samba mount your movies and play it. if you want, you can write a hellanzb server to automatically download all your TV. this, of course, is a double edged sword since you actually have to write the code or wait for someone else to do it for you.

the second, more expensive, but sexier option is your beloved mac mini. its a full computer, so you have the best software in the world at your disposal. it is a bit pricier though. the thing that makes it viable as a media center is front row and that nifty little remote control. you will probably want to google for a quicktime codec pack that will let you play anything you download.

guess what i just bought.

one battle at a time...now all i need is a better screen.