Making HT more WAF

[Kartajan]

I am trying to make my life easier by reducing setup for watching my movie library in the living room. I currently am using a PC to watch when I don't feel like pulling out the actual disc and shoving it into the Bluray player. The issue is that this is too complicated for the wife. If I go DLNA or something similar, where she can turn the player on, nav to a movie, and play it she would be grateful (YAY! grateful wife is GOOD!). I did not find out until much later that DLNA is not supported on the US version of my bluray player, so at a minimum I have to get a new one.. Issues to look for? and will I have to change my storage format? ( I love the 7MC movie setup on the PC, would like to have the bluray as close as possible to that interface)

Current setup:
12M Cable modem
to
DLink DIR-655
to

(Wired)
Vonage box
WHS2011 (DVD Rip/ TSVIDEO-VOB; coming soon: BD Rips)
PC#1 <MAN CAVE!>
PC#2
Panny DMP-BD65
(Wireless N)
PC#3
Laptop
CLP-315W Printer

Goal:
Improve WAF- I am thinking DLNA based living room setup vice HDMI/USB link from PC#2

 

[the DRIZZLE]

What software are you using for the PC? You might be able to tweak your existing setup to making it easier for her.

 

[poofyhairguy]

Logitech harmony. That is the first step to WAF.

Second step is a dedicated XBMC HTPC.

Third step rip Blu Rays to a NAS

Then it is so easy to play a movie she will thank you.

 

[BTA]

Logitech harmony with a WMC HTPC works for me. The wife loves it.

 

[wirednuts]

ive always setup htpc's to autolay dvds on insertion. so even kids can just put the disc in and thats it, movie started.

 

[Kartajan]

I don't think another HTPC would make her happy; As her desktop (which is only really used for solitaire and checking her horoscope) is set up under 7MC, once I switch over from the monitor in one room to the TV in the other, she can operate it just fine; I have the USB IR receiver wired to the livingroom. The issue is that using a bluray player she can "mash a button and the TV goes to it", and then just nav the library for what to watch. (thus the panny requirement- the vieralink thing makes the player & TV talk automatically) The only problem is when I baought it, I did not realize that DLNA support on this player was not available in the US (WT?!?)

I am perfectly fine with my PC in the MAN CAVE to watch movies that she won't watch...

 

[Corn]

I'd keep your existing BR player, pick up a Harmony remote and the WD Live HD Plus. Easy peasy and cheaper than most DLNA bluray players.

 

[velillen]

If you have a server with all the media stored on it already (WHS2011 (DVD Rip/ TSVIDEO-VOB; coming soon: BD Rips) Why not just get a simple network player like a roku? Just make a home network for it and itll play the files just fine. Those things are pretty easy to use and i know a few older people who can use em just fine.

I use mediabrowser with my htpc personally. Have it setup to load straight into mediabrowser on startup so my gf know sjust turn it on and itll load up to the movies. She also knows if it doesnt work right or whatever just turn it off and turn it back on and itll load right Remote wise i have the onkyo remote for the AVR and tv and then a cheaper rosewill remote for MB. Gf hasnt complained about remotes yet