Newbie Question-Xlobby vs Mediaportal

[nrj0122]

Newbie Question:

So with Xlobby, you can't watch tv shows or look up show times (EPG), without using a plugin like mediaportal, correct?

But with mediaportal, it does everything (organizes, displays my media, and can schedule,watch, record, tv shows), so why not just use mediaportal? Is Xlobby used because you can configure it however you want it, whereas mediaportal is "fixed"?

thanks for any input

[ironcamel]

I'm by no means an expert on Xlobby. I'm new too. I chose to move to Xlobby from MCE because it is HIGHLY customizable. It also has the advantage that if it doesn't do something you want, you can make it by developing your own addons.

On the TV thing, right now you need a plugin in Xlobby. Xlobby however gives you more options down the road. It's the difference between a motherboard wtih everything on it as opposed to individual cards. You're forced to use what someone else decided was the best choice.

my .02

[Arthur]

When I started using XLobby, mediaportal didn't exist (I think). I've tried media portal some time ago, but I found the hardware requirements where quite high (I had to change my video card, speed wasn't very good) but what really made me return to XLobby was the user interface which could not be used using a touchscreen. But I would say, try for yourself.

[keithf]

Although I am a noob I feel compelled to answer. I had decided to use a computer to power my home theater. I went on a hunt for the things I wanted to do in it. I looked at most every other software out there. My big thing was wanting to use the MyHD tuner card. It is not supported anywhere else that I am aware of. Now that I'm into it, I am having more fun on my computer then I have had in years. I am making a skin that it is taylored to me, doing what I want and not what someone thinks I want.