Re: MediaPortal & XBMC
May be dreadful but MediaPortal is my chosen HTPC software and it is at least as good if not better than most other offerings. As to the website TBH I visit there infrequently usually only for alerted updates, otherwise MP generally just works. I haven't tried MP under W8, works perfectly under W7 and let's face it if it ain't broke don't fix it.