Best PC Media Center Software?

[Uli]

i have bought a new PC and since the pre-installed Home Theater from InterVideo is pretty crappy and only a trial version i am in need of a new decent all-in-one Media Software running on Windows XP. i have thought about something similar to the Xbox Media Center, but also with TV and good recording functions. any recommendations?

thanks in advance!

[EvilBoris]

If you download the nvidia dvd decoder (I don't know if it has to have an nvidia card to run), hidden away in it is a program called instant media, which is a blatent rip off of the windows media interface, but from what I can tell has PVR support up to 8, IR support and a bunch of other stuff. I've been using the last couple of days to play dvds and stuff on my LCD

[Combination]

http://mediaportal.sourceforge.net/

Requires a bit of work to set up but plays nicely, most of the time. I like the weather forecasts personally

[kernow]

theres a lot of good open source projects

mythTV is a hella good one

theres another gentoo based livecd which is good too , hmm I'll try find some links

[Uli]

i think Media Portal ist pretty much what i was looking for! thanks to all of you!.

[Uli]

have trouble to run the TV function in Media Portal. no tuning or autotune button to be found. also, most setting menus dont show up correctly - text info is missing in 1024x786 res. strange.

Vic, what version have you installed? maybe i should better go for a CVS build?

[Combination]

I have a CVS build as RC1 seems to be a bit buggy, autotune for instance didn't work properly.