Building a HTPC

[Crafty]

Same boat here... Mine's an ubuntu loaded Micro Server that's on 24/7 and gobbles up telkom packets   

X10 controllers... hmm.. lemme go google that

If you want to go ALL the way with home automation mixed with Media center stuff, look at LMCE
We joke a lot saying this or that can do everything except for making coffee.
Well LMCE CAN make you coffee as well. It takes your media center, and put's in in charge of your home. Irrigation... SOrted. Light dimming when the movie starts.. sorted. Your Climate settings can follow you where you are in the house. The media you are watching... Yes, that can follow you as well. That LMCE solution is INSANE!
Pitty it was too complex for my wife.

[cybasoul]

Why is startup time a problem?

Only time my pc restarts is when there was a power outage. For all other times they S3 sleep.

You don't really honestly restart you htpc every day?

No I dont restart all the time, but whenever I do, MediaPortal takes some time to load some plugins. The startup time is not the main drive for my change. There were bigger issues like Trakt.tv plugin deciding not to login any more and some delays during navigation, just to name two.

Dont get me wrong, MP is great, but I just like XBMC better. Im also not saying XBMC is perfect in any way