ReplayTV 4500: No Hacking, or Else

mcglk writes "I was happy to see that SonicBlue had released its new generation of ReplayTV, the 4500. And it was $250 cheaper than the 4000. Except for that $250 one-time service activation fee. Worse is the agreement that goes along with it. Term1A basically says, No more hacking. Term1G says that they can enable or disable anything they want without notice. And Term2C says that if someone even alleges you are infringing on copyright, you can be shut down with no notice, no recourse, and there's nothing you can do about itthe agreement indemnifies them completely. I was really looking forward to getting one of these, too." Under that agreement, SonicBlue claims the right to destroy your device when you connect for updates.

Comments

Re:Shame

[fuzzybunny]

There are, indeed.

However, they are vastly outnumbered by customers who prefer to whine about products and their "rights" instead of doing the only right thing--voting with your wallet, and letting the offending companies know about it.

You have no "right" to get what you want from a company (barring them meeting contractual obligations, of course.) The only right you have is to avoid said company if you disagree with their terms.

You as an individual customer will not change the world, or a company's policy, but it's masses of individual consumers (or not-consumers, in this case) which show corporations that, given the conditions they attempt to set, they lose potential revenue.

So, quit whining, and start not-consuming. Anyway, it's a nice day outside.

Build Your Own?

[IcEMaN252]

I know this may sound a little out there, but if you aren't happy with the TOS/ELUA/etc of any of the PVRs out there, have you thought of making your own device?

With ever dropping hardware prices, its almost economical now to build your own box. Its not like you need an Athlon 4.

Rough Idea of HW:
Motherboard - 120
CPU - 60
Case - 50
512 mb RAM - 120
120 GB 7200 RPM HD - 150 (yes, you can find it that low)
ATI AIW - 50 (old one off ebay)
------------------
Total - 400

If I'm missing anything, I'm sorry, I'm still sipping my morning coffee.