[mythtvnz] Suitable Frontend

[tortise]

On 7/12/2012 1:00 a.m., Steve Hodge wrote:
> On Thu, Dec 6, 2012 at 11:49 PM, Don Robertson <don at robertson.net.nz
> <mailto:don at robertson.net.nz>> wrote:
>
>     On 04/12/12 21:06, tortise wrote:
>
>
>         Detailing brands and model numbers really facilitates people give
>         focussed answers and is unreasonable (IMO) to expect people to give
>         speculative answers to cover a wide range of scenarios.  Kit to
>         cover
>         includes PC, remotes, and screens / TV's brand and model
>         numbers.  URLs
>         to manuals are also a courtesy.
>
>
>     I don't know what the P4 is - it is not a 'brand'.

P4 is probably pretty close to an Intel trade mark, standing for 4th 
generation Pentium cpu.

I could open it
>     up and get a reference for the mother board, ram, hd, cables etc if
>     that helps.Backend does not have a remote. Have not bought the
>     front end - just looking at available machines. For specific models,
>     take a look at this
>     http://www.trademe.co.nz/__computers/desktops/no-monitor
>     <http://www.trademe.co.nz/computers/desktops/no-monitor>
>
>
> It not the PC hardware we really need to know about.

With the greatest of respect to Steve, a P4 motherboard can come in a 
variety of video connection flavours and constraints, in this case I see 
the motherboard brand and model as relevant.  My experience to date is 
that the devil is always in the detail as many assumptions one might 
make are frequently proven wrong...!  (One example one might reasonably 
expect is that any motherboard with a fast enough CPU and a vdpau 
capable video card will work as a mythtv frontend.  Not true! Some 
motherboard chipsets are not compatible with nvidia vdpau, even if the 
mboard has a compatible slot...)  In this case the video slot type on 
the motherboard seems important to know here.  If the user can not tell 
me what a P4 is, but can tell me the brand and motherboard, and even 
help me quickly find the manual, one might cut to the chase with some 
targeted advice.


It's all the stuff
> that will be connected to the PC hardware. Knowing the model of the TV
> is useful because we need to know if you need HDMI output or DVI output
> or whatever - which is best can depend on the TV model. It helps to know
> if you are wanting a particular size box or if you require silent
> operation or whatever. We need to know if you plan to use a separate amp
> or if will you use the TV for sound - so do you need HDMI audio or SPDIF
> optical or SPDIF coax?

>
>     I would kind of like to get a system that works on any TV. I thought
>     Open Source was a way to avoid lock in.
>
>
> There are no universal answers. The closest you'll get to a system that
> works on any TV is something that outputs an NTSC signal over a
> composite video connection. I'm sure that is not what you want - but
> even if you meant "any new TV" it's just not that simple.
>
> Basically the more specific you are the more likely someone can give
> useful recommendations.

I agree with Steve on this (and otherwise).  See the new thread:  Code 
of Conduct - Getting the best efficiently from the List (from Re: 
[mythtvnz] Suitable Frontend)