Media PC Software + Remote Reccomendation

[Trionth]

I'm going to try and salvage an old laptop to build a plex server for movie/tv show storage. I want to build a media pc (possibly the same computer) that can replace my xbox one, but I'm looking for software recommendations for a UI. Are there any that can use a motion control remote (like the Wii, or some smart TVs) as input? Trying to emulate the simplicity and ease of use of the xbox. Also a 5400rpm drive shouldn't be a bottleneck for streaming from a plex server over the home network right?

[Anghammarad]

I run Kodi and a wireless keyboard with integrated touchpad. So I can enter stuff easier when browsing. Hacking in url's or search terms with a remote online keyboard is a p.i.t.a. I can make some screenshots if you like.

 

Kodi also has many plugins for netflix, youtube, webradio, etcpp... I even put in my audio archive, which I seriously need to sort some day... just dumped everything in =) 

[aatoss]

I simply use steam controller to control my media pc. It has trackpad like control for the mouse and the writing solution is relative good. And it's a single controller. It's not a ui but you can have all the features of windows and works for me

[Trionth]

On 8/16/2017 at 0:39 PM, Anghammarad said:

I run Kodi and a wireless keyboard with integrated touchpad. So I can enter stuff easier when browsing. Hacking in url's or search terms with a remote online keyboard is a p.i.t.a. I can make some screenshots if you like.

 

Kodi also has many plugins for netflix, youtube, webradio, etcpp... I even put in my audio archive, which I seriously need to sort some day... just dumped everything in =) 

I spent forever debating between Kodi and Plex, finally decided on Plex now you've got me second guessing. My problem with the keyboard/trackpad is that it takes up SO much space in the living room and the only time a keyboard is needed is to type into netflix and start binging another TV series ha. Does Kodi come with software to use an internal blueray drive? Having a hard time finding software that will let me play my blurays directly on the pc and doesnt bog down the whole system.

[Anghammarad]

1 minute ago, TyrelOlsen said:

I spent forever debating between Kodi and Plex, finally decided on Plex now you've got me second guessing. My problem with the keyboard/trackpad is that it takes up SO much space in the living room and the only time a keyboard is needed is to type into netflix and start binging another TV series ha. Does Kodi come with software to use an internal blueray drive? Having a hard time finding software that will let me play my blurays directly on the pc and doesnt bog down the whole system.

You can get such a combo that is only a little bigger than a usual remote control.

 

lookie here for example:

 

https://www.amazon.de/WirelessTastatur-Touchpad-Maus-Scrollrad-Funktion-wiederaufladbare-Lithium-Ionen-Batterie/dp/B01LWKSFHP/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1503077680&sr=8-2&keywords=bluetooth+keyboard+touchpad

 

With Kodi and Blurays, I just put in a bluray drive on the upgrade run. But I currently don't have any blurays. My first will be Lucifer Season 2, which will be available sometime this month. 

 

But to go on, I usually won't use the bluray player but rip the movies and store them onto the media server drive, like I did with all the dvds. Just because I don't like playing discjokey, and the times of an Amiga 500 and Monkey Island 2 with 13 floppys are long gone =)

[Trionth]

Just now, Anghammarad said:

You can get such a combo that is only a little bigger than a usual remote control.

 

lookie here for example:

 

https://www.amazon.de/WirelessTastatur-Touchpad-Maus-Scrollrad-Funktion-wiederaufladbare-Lithium-Ionen-Batterie/dp/B01LWKSFHP/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1503077680&sr=8-2&keywords=bluetooth+keyboard+touchpad

 

With Kodi and Blurays, I just put in a bluray drive on the upgrade run. But I currently don't have any blurays. My first will be Lucifer Season 2, which will be available sometime this month. 

 

But to go on, I usually won't use the bluray player but rip the movies and store them onto the media server drive, like I did with all the dvds. Just because I don't like playing discjokey, and the times of an Amiga 500 and Monkey Island 2 with 13 floppys are long gone =)

The goal is to have all our dvds/blurays on a media server eventually but my wife LOVES redbox and borrowing movies, which I dont think is fair to rip ha. Ill do some more research on Kodi, if you get a chance to screenshot what it looks like for you when you turn it on that would be awesome. Thanks for the link to the controller too, thats pretty awesome.

[Anghammarad]

26 minutes ago, TyrelOlsen said:

The goal is to have all our dvds/blurays on a media server eventually but my wife LOVES redbox and borrowing movies, which I dont think is fair to rip ha. Ill do some more research on Kodi, if you get a chance to screenshot what it looks like for you when you turn it on that would be awesome. Thanks for the link to the controller too, thats pretty awesome.

The current Kodi version has a build in DVD and Bluray player as it seems from the settings. Haven't made pics of those, because they are in german on my machine... 

 

Some quick and dirty shots:

First view when started up. You can change the background or skin however you like, there are plenty of themes and presets as well as tweaking options.

 

When on the "Movie" menu item you see the last 5 added movies on top.

Those are the same Movie lists, the first is just list with picture, the second additional some quick info. There are some more options as well. 

 

The Movie list can be sorted by genre, age, actor, alphabetical, and some more. Same with Audio and Series. 

 

[Anghammarad]

I have to add, I kept that skin from my old XBMC setup, which still resides on the same machine, I can start up XBMC or Kodi just like the modds tells me =) I think the skin is called confluence.

[Trionth]

8 hours ago, Anghammarad said:

I have to add, I kept that skin from my old XBMC setup, which still resides on the same machine, I can start up XBMC or Kodi just like the modds tells me =) I think the skin is called confluence.

That actually looks really solid. What are the specs of your hardware? (Edit because I see the Media PC in your signature) I'm hoping I can get away with a RAM and HDD storage upgrade on an old i3-2350M laptop I have. 

 

Edited August 19, 2017 by TyrelOlsen

[Anghammarad]

3 hours ago, TyrelOlsen said:

That actually looks really solid. What are the specs of your hardware? (Edit because I see the Media PC in your signature) I'm hoping I can get away with a RAM and HDD storage upgrade on an old i3-2350M laptop I have. 

 

Should do. The system was running on a c2d e8400 with 6 gigs of ram before the board died (a little, I think I can fix it by replacing some caps). And it was smooth without hickups or freezes.