AVI and DiVX player with BIG Buttons?

[EwanG]

OK, got the Compaq working with the TV over the TV Out setup. My two resolution choices are 1024x768 or 800x600. The latter seems to work much better.

Anyway, I can run Windows Media Player, but at 800x600 on a 19" set that is surprisngly hard to reach the controls. I'm wondering if there is a player out there that has big buttons more usable on a TV screen?

Also, for the other player or WMP, is there a way to tell it who the "artist" is other than typing it in for each file? I have my videos in folders, but WMP didn't seem to pick up on that.

Finally, any suggestions for equalizing volume? It seems that things are playing rather well for a while, then I move to another video and the difference can be deafening.

Thanks again,
Ewan

[EwanG]

Comments Anyone? Bueller?

[The village idiot]

Having played with this type of thing for a few years, I might be able to offer a few suggestions. All to often the software is made for use with a computer monitor at a distance of about 3 feet, for use on a TV all of the buttons need to be BIG.

As far as software players go, some of the PVR packages offer a decent on screen display. I can't think of the names right now, but they have been discussed in the capture forum often. Otherwise you might try a hardware decoder. like the Sigma Designs divx and mpeg card. I had their older DVD decoder, and it had decent software to go with it.

The third choice that has come into being is a serial connected remote control. Again, can't think of the names, but they have been discussed in the capture forum. Some of them offer great functionality for your media PC. And most are pretty cheap too.

Another suggestion would be a wireless keyboard with built in mouse. Check the web for those. I think Tigerdirect.com might have one model.

Sorry for the generic post, but it's the best I could do without doing a bunch of searching. At least you have some suggestions to search for. Sorry

[EwanG]

Appreciate the suggestions. Main computer for playback is a laptop, and that's going to complicate some of the solutions, but certainly I can try a few and see what's out there. Hadn't thought about taking a hardware approach, but it sounds like there may be more options there than by trying to find a player program tuned to the TV user.

Thanks,
Ewan

[RabidDog]

dont bother going the wireless keyboard and mouse route, I've tries that and the ones I used (memorex) worked perfectly within about three feet of the receiver but were not usable beyond that distance. Go for something that is definitely deigned as a remote ( 6ft plus++).

[EwanG]

I think I've found what I was looking for:
http://myhtpc.net/

Will update y'all after I've had a chance to play with it.

[EwanG]

For anyone who cares, the myHTPC product has worked very nicely. It gives you nice, large buttons and is fairly easy to configure. It also is smart enough to build the menu for videos directly from the directory, so you don't spend a long time typing in a lot of names.

FWIW,
Ewan

[Baldrick]

Very nice app...adding it to the tools list.