Someone reviewed v on Jul 5, 2022

Pros: 555

Cons: 555

Bottom Line: 555

CyberDoc999 reviewed v2.1 Pre-Release on Feb 6, 2017

nice to see this up to date
it works better now

some guy reviewed v1.2.0 RC on Aug 30, 2011

fails to find 1 channel Hauppauge 1600 tv card

hilfer reviewed v1.2.0 RC on Aug 30, 2011

The best and the easier to configure.

Vimes reviewed v1.1.0 Beta 1 on Sep 1, 2009

I would spend sometime reading the release notes within their forum....

http://forum.team-mediap...eased-69653/#post502427

...whilst this beat does require testing and feedback you must remember that it is a beta and not recommended to use full time on a media PC. For that they have version 1.02 which has been working a treat for me for a while. I am using it on Windows 7 x64 and the only issues I had was the refresh rate not auto changing when playing 24hz material and some issues with my remote control. However both of these were fixed with help from their supportive forums.

Media Portal is worth all the effort to get it to work but I had limited success in ever getting the TV function to show a populated EPG. I ended up buying DVB pro and I use that for the TV viewing.

at80 reviewed v1.0.1 on Apr 14, 2009

Media Portal is an excellent product and free! I prefer it over MediaCenter as it has more functionality, is faster and has much better features. Only gripe is that you need to spend time setting it up and configuring it or customizing it for your system....too many options.

Vimes reviewed v1.0.1 on Apr 14, 2009

It is an excellent and well supported piece of software that is very worthy of a donation to help to fund it, albeit it is free.
However my only reservations in its configuration is the complexity that could overwhelm the new user. Whilst I have used it for several months now I have decided to use Media Portal for media files and then purchase DVB-Viewer for the TV function as I found the TV aspect of MP to be confusing and difficult to use compared to DVB-Viewer (which is not free unlike MP).
I have tried Windows 7 Media Centre and that is simplicity in itself. It found my TV card immediately and I had a fully populated EPG and working TV function from the start. The media support from Media Centre is not as capable as Media Portal (when using the TV series plugin and My Films plugin) but again it is very very easy to setup.

Both Media Centre within Windows 7 and Media Portal are great products and as MP matures I do hope that it will become easier to configure and not as daunting as it is compared to MC. I have a feeling that there is not a consolidated focus on simplifying the setup and configuration of MP, even though there is a newbie section within their forums, and this is, in my opinion, where MC within Windows will win every time.

On balance, if you have the time patience and skill, I would recommend using MP, just ensure that you also grab the subtitle integration files as they did not make the 1.01 release in time for them to be included, if needed. Also spend a lot of time reading up within MP's forums to get an idea of how it functions.

frankwick reviewed v1.0.0.0 RC2 on Jul 22, 2008

I love this program, I have used it for 18 months (at least) and it is has come a long way in that time. I mean, a looong way. However to say this is as polished as Windows MCE is either crazy, uninformed, or complete MS bashing. Whatever the case, both are good products, one is a free add-on, the other is included with Windows. Windows MCE has been out since 2004 and has made significant progress itself. It is the better of the two products, but that is not a slam on MediaPortal.

vincent326 reviewed vII Infinity Technology Preview on Dec 28, 2007

I cannot play anything with it on my laptop, so disappointed!

at80 reviewed vII Infinity Technology Preview on Dec 20, 2007

The regular MediaPortal is FANTASTIC!!! It kicks the pants off every other media-centre (including Microsoft). Unfortunately MediaPortal II Infinity is very much a work in progress and at least on my system crawls at a snails pace and lacks so much compared to its lineage. Until a lot more work is done, don't waste your time!

Budgie29 reviewed vII Infinity Technology Preview on Dec 18, 2007

his is impressive
GUI is very clean I know it’s just like M$
But for open source software this is absolutely fanstastic.brillant

I would have expected to have to pay ££ for this
What would be the ultimate is to have support for external media players...given this is a preview and not even a beta they will ahve along way to go to impress me given what they have shown what they ca do ... only snag is its resorse hungry .. But I have not knocked them for it

Keep up the good work lads and let’s show how freeware/open source software can rock

brusco reviewed v0.2.3.0 RC2 on Sep 6, 2007

@Tao2005
IMHO even if Mediaportal wasnt free it would still kick Windows MCE 2005's ass. Easy. I really like the way Media Portal handles its business.

The fact that its free is a bonus. The other free alternative is Yahoo's Go! For TV, which is the most horrible and annoying piece of sh*t that ever graced my hard-drive. It has sign up nag screens, "special" yahoo content (i.e. ads and sh*tty trailers), while hiding your mp3s and videos behind loads of unnecessary menus. AARRRGGHHH

Long live Media Portal!

Tao2005 reviewed v0.2.3.0 RC2 on Sep 6, 2007

Let me know when this program comes out in it final. I use a previous version of this, and it is awesome. Blow Microsoft's version of this out of the water. Not to mention, the price. Come on now, you have to admit that this is a good price.

Did some research on this, and compared them together. Ladies and gentalmen, the results are in. This program is way better then Microsoft's version.

Don't know bout you, but this is for me. Oh sure you can spend hundereds, and hundered of dollars on microsoft products. Microsoft is overly rated, and overly priced.

No wonder Bill Gates is a millionaire. He prices his products to high. The bottom line is you can't beat free

Tao2005 reviewed v0.2.3.0 RC1 on Jul 13, 2007

Well aside it taking a while to load, once loaded, everything is right there. Great Program. My expirence with this program is noncomplaintive.

photonboy reviewed v0.2.3.0 RC1 on Jun 15, 2007

Vastly improved from the last time I used it.

It's definitely worth checking out. I've selected Ffdshow for audio and video but it's not using them. Also, my Zoomplayer refuses to use Ffdshow for audio (now using the default MediPortal codec) which is a problem because I have to crank up the volume higher than I'd like. I don't understand why this isn't working properly.

It's definitely worth checking out.

I own MCE 2005, but it's essentially useless to me (Media Center that is). MediaPortal is far superior. One thing I like is that I can use the mouse to start my videos part way through. I'm really disgusted how Microsoft puts out a product then refuses to update it despite thousands of request.

Many people may even find this program perfect for their needs so definitely try it.

computershack reviewed v0.2.2.0 on Dec 26, 2006

WOW. I've run MCE on VISTA and this is a good comparison. Even detected and ran all the features on my apparently unsupported Hauppauge HVR 1300. Even the remote works properly which it doesn't under VISTA.

If there's a downside, it's the messing about required to get the EPG working. Apart from that, no gripes.

some guy reviewed v0.2.1.0 on Oct 24, 2006

did not and will not detect my ATI/VE card.
interface responce time very slow.
to me to have things like weather and stuff like that is a waste. Just need a good solid TV tunner program.

Howell reviewed v0.2.1.0 on Oct 24, 2006

One of the top HTPC software and it's free Open Source ;)

And the future Tv Engine 3.0 will be a blast client/server configuration any connected client would be able to control and display TV :D

jacjan reviewed v0.2.0.0 RC4 on Apr 20, 2006

This is so much better than MS MCE, here you can use XP Pro, and not XP home with the "MCE addon".

photonboy: why dont you use it? This is the best mediacenter software for Windows, by far.
Might not have all the features of MythTV & Freevo (under Linux), but the ease of installation and configuration makes up for it.

bradsjm reviewed v0.2.0.0 RC4 on Apr 19, 2006

MediaPortal has come a long way with RC4 and RC4 in stability and functionality. The only area of instability I've found is HDTV/ATSC support.

photonboy reviewed v0.2.0.0 RC4 on Apr 19, 2006

Update:
MediaPortal has come a long way since the last time I tried it. I really, really tried to use this but I found the interface VERY frustrating, especially on a Widescreen HDTV. In the end I gave up and went back to Zoomplayer, ACDSee and Screamer Radio.

I don't see a lot of future for computer DVR's as they will always be limited by available tuners. When TV goes completely digital with the exception of some ATSC stations in some areas there will be even LESS stations available. It is possible that the plugin cards (such as Cable Cards) that should be available in a few years may find a home in the PC with a suitable adapter, however it may be more practical just to buy a standalone DVR from your High Definition service provider.

The best advice I can give is to just download it and try it.

I really like what Apple is doing. Check out the Multimedia interface called "Frontrow" they have for their new laptop (I guess it's been around, but Ijust saw it) that works with their 6-button remote. Very classy! This is what I want for Windows. K.I.S.S.!

Apple Frontrow: http://www.apple.com/macbookpro/frontrow.html

ArabianNight reviewed v0.2.0.0 RC3 on Apr 2, 2006

Very good for where its heading. Lots of bugs though. Good work keep it up.

anomoly reviewed v0.2.0.0 RC3 on Mar 22, 2006

3 for free. But, think netremote with a pocketpc is the best solution for anything of this flavor. Forget the mediapc gui. Doesn't support my MIT myhd hdtv tuner card & never will " "

RWW reviewed v0.2.0.0 RC3 on Mar 21, 2006

Plan on trying again soon. Meanwhile, if you blow up that screenshot, is that word what I think it says?

NEOBassDUDE reviewed v0.2.0.0 RC3 on Mar 21, 2006

Working a lot better. Less buggy on x64 than prior builds.

My dual tv tuner still doesn't work in media portal. :(

dockersfan reviewed v0.2.0 RC2 on Dec 19, 2005

Well Done Team Media Portal. A true rival up against Microsoft XP Media Centre. Heaps of features and customisable.

photonboy reviewed v0.2.0 RC1 on Sep 3, 2005

The good: The interface is really starting to look nice.

The bad: I had enough difficulties that this was unusable.

I have watched this program develop from a horrible program to one which is poised to be something terrific. However, there are a few bugs and improvements to be made first. (at which point will it be free?)

The Darkside reviewed v0.1.3.0 on Aug 31, 2005

Very high playback quality, but very dificult to control without a remote (still possible though) Will certainly use up most or in my case exeed virtual memory, but still a good tool.

5 total, -.5 for control, and -.5 for being slightly jumpy at the begging.

PS: When it tells you you need to download something its a good idea to do it as it improves playback greatly

compugeek32 reviewed v0.1.3.0 on Jul 22, 2005

All I got was a blank screen in MEdia Portal compared to its prevoius versions... Nothing more than a 4[just for effort]...

nabicat reviewed v0.1.3.0 Pre-Release on Jul 3, 2005

Just installed and configured it. Slightly faster launch times than previous versions and no freezes so far. Not a fan of the included mpeg2 codecs, but all in all this is the best MP release to date.

ModderXManiac reviewed v0.1.3.0 Pre-Release on Jul 2, 2005

Tell me...Who even needs Windows Media Center Edition 2005 when this is free! And quickly getting better.

I've been using this for about 5 months, and this is by far, the best one yet. starts up the fastest, has most plugins, stable. And requires hardly any configuring unlike previous versions.

Buying MCE is a slap in the face to the developers for this. Especially since this is waaay better and free for you to do anything with!

ArabianNight reviewed v0.1.3.0 Pre-Release on Jul 1, 2005

This looks really good, has anyone tried it?

Mark Gillespie reviewed v0.1.2.0 Beta on May 9, 2005

Excellent. Open source, and very good levels of functionality.

Ignore idiotic comments like "urgh, requires the .net framework", nothing wrong with .NET at all, whilst apps take longer to start, they run many timer faster than C/C++ apps.

captainahab reviewed v0.1.2.0 Beta on May 9, 2005

Found it extremely slow an unwieldy.

normal_blue reviewed v0.1.2.0 Beta on May 8, 2005

After tried this for awhile with several build I found that MCE2005 working better in several manner. But as a opensource product, this is the best and even much better than all other commercial, standalone Multi MediaCenter/HTPC apps. Even it required .netframwork but,we already needed (.net)for other MS apps..so no point to blame.

hardgiant reviewed v0.1.2.0 Beta on May 8, 2005

With media center 2005 being available at a price not far above Windows XP home edition this app is a hard sell.

pontios reviewed v0.1.1.1 Beta on Apr 4, 2005

Great Software for people wanting to avoid buying Windows Media Centre Edition. Having tired this myself for a while now i dont see the point of buying Windows Media Centre. I will admit though i do find it abit slow at times hence the 4.

Kylde the requirement for the .NET framework does not make a piece of software bad software.

Kylde reviewed v0.1.1.1 Beta on Apr 4, 2005

urgh, requires the .net framework

yokozuna reviewed v0.1.1.1 Beta on Apr 4, 2005

to RWW, maybe the drivers of your NV cards should be changed/updated? I use Radeon cards and I have no problems with them. In general, I noticed that NV drivers for Linux are very good (MUCH better than these for ATI cards), but NV drivers for Windows are getting worse and worse.

about Media Portal - works great! Well done!

RWW reviewed v0.1.0.10 on Mar 28, 2005

Freezes up, can move my mouse to shut down but is all. I have dual TNT cards, two monitors. Anyone know if it takes a better video card? From what I see I believe I could give it a high rating if I could use it.

maximilian321 reviewed v0.1.0.10 on Mar 25, 2005

Excellent OpenSource product, growing fast, great and very active community!

RaveN-FH- reviewed v0.0.0.12 on Oct 30, 2004

wow. that looks dangerously similar to mce 2004/2005. hope they don't get into trouble for that.

tasty reviewed v0.0.0.12 on Oct 30, 2004

anyone know how this compares with mythtv or freevo?

pipdipchip reviewed v0.0.0.12 on Oct 30, 2004

Wow. What a great program/idea. Easy to setup. A few bugs and the TV is a little framy (word?) but nothing fatal. Probably my fault anyway. This program could easily be shareware but it's so cool that it's not. Awesome work. Excited to see what's in hold for the future.