Media library setup advice?

[knuckleball]

Hi everybody,

I'm looking to get some advice regarding my media library set up. Right now, I use a jailbroken ATV2, with Firecore's Infuse software loaded onto it. I have a 4 TB WD My Book Live hooked into my network and it contains all of my media, which is in various formats.

Overall, I had been very happy with this setup. But Firecore seems to have stopped focusing on its ATV efforts. Now Netflix doesn't work at all and Infuse crashes 50-70% of the time that I try to play a media file.

So, it looks like it's time to find a new solution. But I'm having trouble finding something that can achieve decent results without spending a fortune.

I do like the Plex interface, though I'm not wild about needing to have my MBP open and running in order to operate the server while I watch. I also liked Infuse's file format flexibility.

Any thoughts? I am going to have to upgrade my storage at some point either way, as I'm quickly approaching the storage limit of my current drive.

Thanks for any advice you can offer!

 

[tyche]

I've used xmbc close to 10 years now and never had to fiddle with file formats everything I throw at it plays. Currently, I use a chromebox modded to run openelec (aka xmbc aka kodi) with an ir adapter and controlled with my logitech harmony. Chromebox can go on sale for around $160 if you wait.
There's some amazing plugins for xbmc streaming (I can finally watch European football). Pretty much watch anything.

Year after year there's another streaming gadget with tradeoffs and xbmc just keeps on doing its thing like a boss.

If you're more into commercial streaming maybe the Roku 3 will do what you want.

 

[FireWire2]

XBMC or TVMC

100% agree with tyche XBMC is the BOSS
But I think TVMC makes thing easier, since it will auto update most of the plugin

 

[knuckleball]

Thanks for the recommendations! Will definitely look into XBMC/Kodi more.

I am still interested in Plex as an option. Has anyone set up a machine as a dedicated Plex server? If I could find something relatively cheap to fill that role, I could definitely see myself going down that route.