It's Time For a Proper HTPC! (Post 3of3: Everyday Use)

And now, the Everyday Use phase. Let's do this!

So, it has been just about 2 months that we have been using the final setup. For those of you who may not quite remember what the final setup was, here is a quick recap. We ended up going with a Mac mini running Plex Media Server combined with the Plex Client. For local storage we are using a 4 Bay Drobo

Hardware Perspective
From the beginning of this project my goal was to have one box that could do it all. No more switching between sources or using 4 different remotes. The Mac mini is that one box, with Plex as the gatekeeper to all media. We have a good amount of local media, movies and tv shows, that are all stored on the Drobo. The Mac mini has no problem at all playing back local media.

The newer Mac mini also has a nice extra bonus for those of us who want to use them as a HTPC, HDMI w/embedded audio on board! This means 1 simple HDMI connection from the Mac to the Television. Perfect!

There isn't really a lot to say about the hardware since it is an all in one solution. The only other external hardware is a Samsung Blu-Ray drive in an external enclosure, attached via USB 2.0. We rarely, if ever, use physical discs, but should the need arise, this covers that. We do also have the TV hooked up to an OTA antenna that is called the WallTenna. It is completely dependent on your location, but if you have a good signal at your house it works great! It's quite amazing how good the HD quality is that comes over the air for free!

Software Perspective
Another mandatory item for this project was the ability to control the whole system with a simple remote. I did NOT want a keyboard and mouse in the living room to control this thing. This meant some kind of Media Center front end. After using XBMC for a couple days, I just couldn't get into it so I started looking at some alternatives. The alternative I decided on was Plex Media Center. It has a great user interface and has the ability to pull in content from local sources as well as a MASSIVE list of internet sources. The whole interface can be controlled with the simple and effective aluminum Apple remote. The same remote that you would use with an AppleTV. Plex also has mobile apps that allow for control of the media center, but also the ability to stream your content on your home server to your mobile device. The really neat part about this is that not only does it stream within your house to your mobile device but across the internet to anywhere! On the road and decided you want to watch a movie that is at home on your Drobo? No problem!

If you sign up for the "MyPlex" account, this is made even easier as you can use your account to access your content remotely, so you don't have to deal with the sometimes messy port forwarding and firewall traversal within your home router/firewall. This sharing is extended even further if you decided to exchange servers with your friends and family. You are then able to access content from their servers and they can access yours. It becomes a social server of content for your friends and family to share. Very cool idea.