hamiltonguy:

"it's not you baby, it's me, forget that skanky apple tv, she meant nothing to me"

 

LOL

bjdraw:

I wouldn't worry about SDV. People who attended the Media Center University at EHX actually played with the new DCT firmware and there was a Tuning Adapter tab on the web UI of the DCT. It is in there.

I don't blame anyone for feeling this way, but I do find it odd that people want to write off Media Center right before Windows 7 is released. I don't see why people wouldn't at least wait to hear any news about Windows 7 about partners, etc. Then if things look like they do now, then we can all get together and complain.

 

I write it off because time and time again when a new version of media center is coming out I hear all these great things and then once released it is a half @#@ solution at best

Microsoft has plenty of stats on Media Center usage.  The problem is those stats say the majority of people use Media Center as a desktop application (this is why you see the shift happening).  We are the clear minority who us it for what it was originally developed for.  Some of this was made public around the time of WinHEC last year.

I’ve said this before but I’ll say it again. I currently live in NYC in a co-op unit that I own. Dish simply isn’t an option at this time although things are in flux so some time in the future isn’t out of the question. There is no timetable on this however.

The point I’m trying to make is simple though. There are a lot of potential customers of Dish that are cut out of the loop because it simply isn’t an option that they can take advantage of.

Dish Network's Draco project does nothing to change this. If a building is locked into some deal they made with a cable company the same deal that keeps out Verizon Fios will keep out Dish Network Draco or no Draco.

So in other words the pool of potential customers doesn’t change. A lot of people that have the option to use Dish are probably using it already or have in the past. I strongly suspect that there will be no mad rush even if Draco is everything we wish it to be or rather could reasonably expect it to be.

That’s not Sour grapes talking its just the way I see it.

Chris - Moderator:

Microsoft has plenty of stats on Media Center usage.  The problem is those stats say the majority of people use Media Center as a desktop application (this is why you see the shift happening).  We are the clear minority who us it for what it was originally developed for.  Some of this was made public around the time of WinHEC last year.

Well, I'd say that's their own fault....  I'd bet the majority of Xbox 360 owners have a vista pc somewhere in their house...  M$ just isn't educating ppl through marketing that these two pieces of technology can be paired together to create an even stronger media experience...

The only MC related ad I've seen is one of the Vista ads where people were trying it out under a different name, and were asked if they liked it....  Then they were told it was vista... and they were surprised...  Mojave or something like that...  they had a tiny little blurb in there about media center, but it wasn't very clear... and didn't enforce the benefits very well.

bjdraw:

I wouldn't worry about SDV. People who attended the Media Center University at EHX actually played with the new DCT firmware and there was a Tuning Adapter tab on the web UI of the DCT. It is in there.

I don't blame anyone for feeling this way, but I do find it odd that people want to write off Media Center right before Windows 7 is released. I don't see why people wouldn't at least wait to hear any news about Windows 7 about partners, etc. Then if things look like they do now, then we can all get together and complain.

What is "Media Center University at EHX?"  What would a "tab" on the Web UI of the DCT mean?  That you click on the tab to configure the Tuning Adapter.  Hey, it has to be there for TiVo already I assume.

dnr:

What is "Media Center University at EHX?"  What would a "tab" on the Web UI of the DCT mean?  That you click on the tab to configure the Tuning Adapter.  Hey, it has to be there for TiVo already I assume.

MCU is a multi-day training class taught by Microsoft employees for custom integrators to learn how to install and configure Media Center. There are about 6 lab systems there, which all include extenders and DCTs. The DCTs there had the latest firmware on them. DCTs are diaganosed from a web UI that is accessed by double clicking on the Tuner in Network devices. This web UI  on the DCTs in the lab had a tab for a tuning adapter. So no, this has nothing to do with TiVo.

I as well am at a low in the roller coaster ride that is MC.  I was into it for a couple of years with MCE 2004, 2005, and Rollup-2, only to have Vista released and my bubble burst.  A year later, the HDPC-20 was announced, but after waiting 2 years, to see it canceled, only to hear "rumors" of Draco, with nothing more for  6 months, then native HDPVR support from Hauppauge, but 6 months later we only have a third-party hack (no offense, DVBLogic), then to find out it all doesn't matter anyway because extenders are dead and I will never get an upgrade to support HD at the TVs where I actually use MC.  Its been one dissapointment after another.  Still running MCE 2005 waiting on HD nirvana, but I don't see at this point how its ever going to come from Microsoft. 

If PluckyHD would just create a complete STV based on MovieWall, we could all move to SageTV and be happy! ;)

kingwr:

If PluckyHD would just create a complete STV based on MovieWall, we could all move to SageTV and be happy! ;)

Thanks for that a complete STV of it probably won't happen soon but it will be /is integrated in the upcoming STV's.

There are at least 3 more stvi's coming from me in the near future as well as project ortus which I am helping on and project phoenix. By Christmas Sage will finally kick the "ugly" tag people give it.

personally I use the term fugly for sage.....kidding!

hamiltonguy:

personally I use the term fugly for sage.....kidding!

It is not Fugly but does need to some some ways, but major changes are coming (and no it is not like saying that for media center they really are coming I have seen them)

Plus is has functionality/customizations media center dreams of.

http://babgvant.com/downloads/pluckyhd/moviewallhalo.jpg

http://babgvant.com/downloads/pluckyhd/homepagejokertheme.jpg

http://babgvant.com/downloads/pluckyhd/homepagecategory.jpg

Funny you try to prove Sage is not ugly and show screenshot of a sage movie manager.  How about a screenshot of the TV Guide?

PLUCKYHD:

bjdraw:

I wouldn't worry about SDV. People who attended the Media Center University at EHX actually played with the new DCT firmware and there was a Tuning Adapter tab on the web UI of the DCT. It is in there.

I don't blame anyone for feeling this way, but I do find it odd that people want to write off Media Center right before Windows 7 is released. I don't see why people wouldn't at least wait to hear any news about Windows 7 about partners, etc. Then if things look like they do now, then we can all get together and complain.

 

I write it off because time and time again when a new version of media center is coming out I hear all these great things and then once released it is a half @#@ solution at best

After a enlightening chat with bjdraw I came to realize Media Center is a feature of Vista\Windows7 and that comparing it to Sage was unfair as Sage is a standalone product.  I think once I came to think of Media Center as a pretty awesome free add on to a OS I have been more at peace with myself and my expectations of Media Center...

alton987:

Funny you try to prove Sage is not ugly and show screenshot of a sage movie manager.  How about a screenshot of the TV Guide?<>

I was just showing changes in one area, the guide is all based on your theme how it looks but mine has channel logos and is black with a grey highlighted

There are entire we interfaces that are in works that IMHO opinion will beat media center but that is my opinion

Media center is great if you like no customizations to the interface besides the so called w7 themes they look good but are not true themes IMHO

alton987:

PLUCKYHD:

bjdraw:

I wouldn't worry about SDV. People who attended the Media Center University at EHX actually played with the new DCT firmware and there was a Tuning Adapter tab on the web UI of the DCT. It is in there.

I don't blame anyone for feeling this way, but I do find it odd that people want to write off Media Center right before Windows 7 is released. I don't see why people wouldn't at least wait to hear any news about Windows 7 about partners, etc. Then if things look like they do now, then we can all get together and complain.

 

I write it off because time and time again when a new version of media center is coming out I hear all these great things and then once released it is a half @#@ solution at best

After a enlightening chat with bjdraw I came to realize Media Center is a feature of Vista\Windows7 and that comparing it to Sage was unfair as Sage is a standalone product.  I think once I came to think of Media Center as a pretty awesome free add on to a OS I have been more at peace with myself and my expectations of Media Center...

But that is not true you have to compare sure it is a "free" addition but I'd you look at it that way sage is cheaper if you use Linux or even whs.

Also they are open to comparison becuase media center wants to be the hub or center of your house entertainment and it is miles away from that

No nether solution is perfect but I chose the solution that listens to it's users and gives them what they want without being tied down by BIg brother