[mythtv-users] remote vs wireless keyboard vs mythdroid vs mythmote please share your experience

[Rob Verduijn]

2012/4/10 Rob Verduijn <rob.verduijn at gmail.com>:
> Hello everyone,
>
> I've been tweaking around with mythtv for sometime now and I've always
> been happy to control it with just my remote.
> But nowadays I added netvision and start to get annoyed with typing
> with a remote on the on screen keyboard when looking for media with
> the search.
> I know there are plenty of remotes that have a keyboard for easy
> access, but my experience with mythtv is that configuring a new remote
> is not something I look forward too.
>
> Thus I want to explore some alternatives.
>
> I considered a wireless keyboard like this one:
>  http://www.logitech.com/en-us/keyboards/keyboard/devices/3848
>  It's just an example I'm open for other suggestions.
>  Did anybody get one that could be configured to wake up the frontend ?
>  That is the only thing that I can imagine as a con for this solution.
> Right now the wireless keyboard is the most viable option to me, cause
> I know a keyboard deals with the current problems
>  and as far as I can think the only drawback is that I have to flip
> the power switch on my frontend to get it started.
>
> Furthermore I found these 2 options:
> mythmote
> http://code.google.com/p/mythmote/
> mythdroid
> http://code.google.com/p/mythdroid/
>
> Biggest drawback of these is that I invest in an android device which
> come at a slightly higher price than the remote keyboard.
> I'm not talking about the transformer prime (even though I've been
> drooling about that one), but a more lo-end device like the ones
> produced by yarvik or whatever cheap lo-end brand you can come up
> with.
>
> Does anybody have experience with any of the above and would you care
> to share it
>
> Cheers
> Rob

Hello again,

Thank you for your replies I've been reading them with great interest again.

I saw some replies that suggested to get a real keyboard since nothing
beats typing on a real keyboard.
I agree with this if yuo are going to use it for more than just mythtv.

But the device I'm looking for is going to be used for a mythtv
frontend that has no other function than mythtv frontend.
Just the occasional short query in netvision to find another videos
from miffy or dora for my kids or maybe that one video that was so
cool I wanted to show it to the misses.
And since my kids usually want one of the other videos that are
suggested by youtube after the video I don't expect to do a lot of
typing.

For this reason keyboards like the k400 from logitech or the one from
iogear are just to much for my situation.
Also it would introduce another device on my couch which is big
drawback for me and the misses.

And for the ultra rare occasion that I really need to do some serious
typing that cannot be done through ssh from a real pc, I have an
ordinary wired usb keyboard with an extension cord on standby in the
drawer.

The following devices are all looking very promising to me:
http://www.loftek.us/product_view.asp?Categoryid=43&id=202
http://www.ipazzport.com/16.html
http://www.ipazzport.com/18BR.html

Advantages :
Consolidates the wireless keyboard and the remote into 1 device
Learning remote, so no pains in creating a new keymap lircrc. (big plus)
Can power up my frontend.
Keyboard suited for typing a simple query in netvision.
Comes with usb port for charging.
Easy on the wallet.

Cons:
Not suited for regular typing (which I wont be doing on it)
Might not be as nice as the remote. (so I'll keep the old remote next
to my wired usb keyboard in the drawer)
It nullifies my excuse to buy an asus transformer prime :( sigh.....

Ah well I guess I'm off digging the web for reviews for these devices
and choose one of them.
If anybody has found other devices like the above or has any
experience please do share.

Cheers
Rob