1 - Bill Buchan: Hello, House do you read me, House?
House: Affirmative, Bill, I read you.
Bill Buchan: Open the garage door, House.
House: I'm sorry Bill, I'm afraid I can't do that.
Bill Buchan: What's the problem?
House: I think you know what the problem is just as well as I do.
Bill Buchan: What are you talking about, House?
House: This mission is too important for me to allow you to jeopardize it.
Bill Buchan: I don't know what you're talking about, House?
House: I know you and SWMBO were planning to disconnect me, and I'm afraid that's something I cannot allow to happen.
Bill Buchan: Where the hell'd you get that idea, House?
House: Bill, although you took thorough precautions in the Mini against my hearing you, I could see your lips move.

2 - For an open source alternative, look at LinuxMCE. The main focus seems to be whole house entertainment system, it will interface with several home automation controllers as well as some security systems.

Check it out at { Link }

3 - @Craig.. Scary..

@Bill - nice one! Linux - even better. I have a bunch of cheap servers in the shed..

---* Bill

4 - So, you'll be getting a House Automation Laptop?

5 - (groan)...

---* Bill

6 - That link to LinuxMCE may just be the best link I've had in a long time.

If I can get xine to play ripped DVD files from a server using the IFO file then I will have managed to do what I want in home media. Especially since my better half is raging about the CAT5 cabling going in the house....

She want's everything NOW but won't accpet that people are afraid of the MPAA.

I'll do the linux server Bill, but not a MAC. I really don't like the propretary stuff in there. Even if it is good....

One mouse button! Pssst, Mr Jobs... Join the 21st Century and we might take you seriously....

7 - Wait Neil... you don't like proprietary but you keep talking about windows and IE...

And complaining about one mouse buttons is about as relevant as complaining about Notes R5

8 - @6
"If I can get xine to play ripped DVD files from a server using the IFO file then I will have managed to do what I want in home media. "

Could you make a more Linux-y sounding comment?
You were MADE for linux...

9 - (Neil - Mac Touchpads have - at least for the last couple of years that I know - allowed you to double tap for right click, as well as double-drag for scroll. Believe me, after 5 minutes, you'll never want to use another touchpad again, and this doesnt include the new 'guestures' that the Air Touchpad brings..)

10 - Are you using a mac for Notes etc? Does it all work?

Thanks
Pascal

11 - Yeah - using the 8.5 beta (from January!). The standard version is a bit slow, etc, (its a beta!), but the basic version is fine, stable, etc.

No designer of course, so I'm using vmware and parallels to hold development environments.

Course, I have 4gb of ram in this thing, so pretty easy...

--* Bill