The Best Media Center Software

Do you not like the Front Row software - or is your mini an PPC version that didn't come with it?

If you don't like it, perhaps you could let us know why, so those with experience of various HT packages can let you know which ones improve on your experience.

I've seen MediaCentral before, but personally it wasn't what I wanted and Front Row did the exact job I needed. You're right though that it is limited and inflexible so it isn't the solution if you need features it doesn't offer.

It would have helped however if you'd indicated which features you want! Not that there are many HT solutions for Mac to begin with.

MediaCentral doesn't seem to work with Elgato products according to their site....is this correct does anyone know?

MediaCentral doesn't seem to work with Elgato products according to their site....is this correct does anyone know?

I have a Terratec Cinergy T2 (which was actually bought with Elgato EyeTV) and it is supposed to work with MediaCentral and did (poorly) with 1.x versions. However it does not work at all with MediaCentral 2.x versions. I do believe Elgato's own brand tuners (i.e. not resold Terratec ones) do not work in MediaCentral.

Equinux think it maybe a conflict with the Elgato software (although the main EyeTV application is not running and it did work with 1.x).

From my limited testing of MediaCentral it comes closest on a Mac of anything to what people would consider to be a Media Center type application, however even on a Core Duo Mac mini with 2GB of RAM I find it intolerably slow. I am also very disappointed they have moved some of the newer bits to a different application called Tube.

So, I currently run fulltime, Microsoft Media Center 2005 on my Mac mini and have two of these Terratec tuners plugged in (this model is rare in that it works for both Mac OS X and Windows).

I have all my music on this system in iTunes in Apple Lossless format and shared with Windows Media Player and Media Center 2005. I have also installed codecs that let WMP and MCE 2005 play QuickTime movies including H.264.

So to summarise, I would have to say that [shock, horror!] the best Media Center software for a Mac is Microsoft's one! It is a shock in that not only is it better than what is available for the Mac, but it is better than anything else fullstop! What a shame the rest of Microsoft's software is so awful.

Note: MCE 2005 is far from perfect but it is still currently the best.

Note: Media Center in Vista adds zero new Media Center features for the UK, Europe or Australia which is why I have not upgraded it (not to mention it costs a lot more here than the US price).

PS. I of course hope that one day, Apple will add TV recording features etc. to Front Row and make it a true Media Center application.