Zotac ZBOX-AD04: Windows 7, Openelec, or XBMCBuntu?

(2012-11-22 19:56)WinstonKennedy Wrote:  - One aspect that I have found very frustrating so far is that since i'm using an external HDD (though I put in my order of some more HDDs today to set up a UnRAID server!), if I disconnect the HDD to add more media, when i've reconnected, it has not recognized the library, and I have to try and re-mount the HDD etc.

Dont disconnect the drive while the HTPC is running. Its not a good idea, unless you want to risk corrupting the data. Either copy the files over the network (you can access the external drive over the network by browsing to windows network > openelec/media/yourhdd. If thats too slow for you, Id strongly encourage you to turn off the htpc before disconnecting the drive.

Quote: - Bluetooth Keyboard. Allegedly, Bluetooth works with the AD10, but looking online, it seems rather complex to get BT pairing set up, and requires some unusual add-ons and tweaking. The keyboard I have is a HP TouchPad Wireless Keyboard

As I recently found out, bluetooth input devices are by default disabled in openelec. The functionality is disabled deliberately, something to do with supporting the PS3 controller. There is a way to make it work, its actually just a minor change of a config file but, its a config file thats on the read only file system, and the solution is therefore not for the faint of heart, requiring to unpack and repack the system files. Instructions are here:

http://wiki.openelec.tv/index.php?title=...ols_how-to

(2012-11-11 16:58)kennethb Wrote:  Thinking about asking Santa for a Zotac ZBOX-AD04 to replace my old AppleTV 1. Trying to decide if I want to run XBMC via Windows 7, Openelec, or XBMCBuntu. I'd like to hear others' opinions on which option would be:


- Require the least tweaking to get working
- Most stable
- Have the best performance
- The most set it and forget it solution
- Most likely to work best with future XBMC updates
- The easiest to update when new versions of XBMC are released
- Work well with a Harmony remote

In short, which would provide the most trouble-free operation?

Thanks!

you basically described everything openelec is

the only downside to openelec is lack of built in browser but there is an addon for opera browser (wish there was a chrome one though)