Posted 11/14/2008 at 12:46:25pm

There's a web based service called LogMeIn Free that you can install and use by starting here:  www.logmein.com

 Like most other VNC style programs, you install the software on the machine you want to control, then access it via the web by going to www.logmein.com.  Pretty cool and easy to set up, I use it all the time.

 LogMeIn Hamachi is also free, you just have to tell it to run as the free version when you're installing.  By default, the installer has the corporate trial radio button selected.  Just watch as you install and select the free option instead.  I've run it for 2+ years and never had to pay a dime.  I actually started using it from a suggestion in a MaxPC article to let me share my iTunes library from my home computer to my work computer.  Works like a charm!

They say the best things in life are free, but are all free thing the best?

Posted 10/07/2008 at 01:04:29pm

XBMC was originally designed to work on a modded first gen Xbox.  The shear ease of use and power this application brought made it an essential media streaming device, and why I have one hooked up to every TV in my house (4 in total).  The ease with which it handles most media types is astonishing, to say the least.  The biggest downfall was always the limitations of the first gen Xbox. 

Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but XBMC has all the codecs built into the application, so you aren't relying on the server system (wherever your files are store) to transcode files for you (ala TVersity) but relies instead on host processing power.  With only a 733 MHz processor and 64 MB or RAM, it plays AVI files, MP3's and other standard definition files flawlessly all day long, but throw something encoded in H.264 (without doing a bunch of extra work to the file, I know people claim to have this working great) and it results in dropped frames or stuttered audio.  Being able to run this on a more powerful machine should eliminate all of these problems.  Now if someone can just get it to run on my Xbox 360, I won't have to hook my laptop or a small computer to my living room LCD.

One of my more favorite things about this application compared to TVersity is how it handles files over a network.  All you have to do is share a directory on your computer and look for that shared directory (or directories) from XBMC.  You can even create shortcuts to specific folders (and title them) like TV, Movies, or whatever else you want.  Basically, you don't have to "build" a media library on the server machine, just share the folders or drives on the network and XBMC should be able to find them.  If you copy a new file into the directory, no need to rebuild the library, your XBMC machine will just see it over the network.

XBMC is powerful, beautiful, and simplistic in operation and highly recommended for everyone to check out!

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They say the best things in life are free, but are all free thing the best?

Posted 07/14/2008 at 05:06:23pm

This Microsoft Tech Net article indicates you need SP2 installed before doing SP3.
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/cc164204.aspx#1 

To install SP3, your computer must meet the hardware and operating system requirements listed below. In addition, your computer must at least be running Windows XP with Service Pack 1 installed.

We recommended that you have Service Pack 2 installed before installing SP3. You can download Service Pack 2 at the Windows XP Service Pack 2 website.

Is this information just old an outdated? 
 
Is this thing on?

Posted 07/02/2008 at 08:15:34pm

I'm with shadowmaster on this one - I have my original XP Installation CD that has no previous service packs with it. My understanding is that the previous service packs need to be installed before you can install SP3, so what can be done to get those bundled in there, too?

VintageGold

They say the best things in life are free, but are all free things the best?

Posted 02/07/2008 at 06:23:48pm

Are there any other cards you can recommend for someone building a DIY NAS that won't require plunking down a grand just on the controller card? While it may provide awesome performance, the Adaptec RAID 31605 seems a bit cost prohibitive for most home users.

Posted 02/04/2008 at 07:21:00pm

Any chance we can see a similar run through for XP, considering SP3 is out? It would be much appreciated. :~)