More Cringley on Linux Embedded Hardware Hacking

enrico_suave writes "I , Cringley on Linux hardware hacking (the good kind). Some neat points on what enterprising individuals are doing with Hauppauge MediaMVP streaming content settop box/client thingie." The story is mostly about Micro ISPs, including a few choice digs on Slashdot readers.

Comments

But wait a sec...

[jwcorder]

If I am going to pay 80 bucks for the Hauppage device, I might as well pay 20 more and get another TIVO. Or for 109 bucks, you can get a refurbished Xbox. Little hacking on it, and you have the perfect media center PC.

I am not discrediting the Hauppage device as it sounds really cool. But for 80 bucks I think I would compare the other devices in this category and find a better alternative. IMO that is.

Re:But wait a sec...

[enrico_suave]

" If I am going to pay 80 bucks for the Hauppage device, I might as well pay 20 more and get another TIVO. Or for 109 bucks, you can get a refurbished Xbox. Little hacking on it, and you have the perfect media center PC.

I am not discrediting the Hauppage device as it sounds really cool. But for 80 bucks I think I would compare the other devices in this category and find a better alternative. IMO that is."

ah.... but the rub there is the 13 beans a month (or 300 beans for lifetime of the "unit" subscription) and if you are one of the tinfoil hat folks, well say no more =). Setup a MediaMVP with GB-PVR (or get one of those myth client hax being worked on ) and use a 90 dollar hardware encoder/tuner card in your existing PC and you've got PVR goodness for around 170 beans (plus shipping) and no subscription. You also get expanded functionality that you have to pay EXTRA for with Tivo's "home media option", bah! Granted ReplayTV is a little bit better off in that arena, but you are still on the hook for subscription fees.

Note: I have a tivo and love it, but I've seen this combo outlined above as a viable option. *Shrug* ymmv.

FWIW a regular user on my site did a review of the hauppauge MediaMVP and a new writeup about using it with GBPVR (instead of the default software) is coming "soon".

hey, it's a different option, and it's not for everybody... but I'll be watching what the mediamvp hackers come up with... reminds me of the good old iopener/websurfer days =)

e.

s/Cringely/Eugenia/g

[Gothmolly]

Why does this "Cringely" fellow make any kind of news? Is he a producer of code, or hardware, or is he merely a Talking Head that PHBs can quote? In other words, why do we care what he says?

Techno Utopianism

[crush]

So Cringely thinks the city of SF is going to start handing out pocket pcs to homeless people?! Right! Homeless people have a hard enough time finding accomodation (and yes, some homeless people would rather be on the street than in "dry" hostels, but there's a significant number that would welcome free, clean accomodation). Central point: given the stretched budgets of cities and states due to the huge Bush tax cuts for the wealthy there won't be a techno utopia any time soon. Comfy speculations from people in silicon towers cheapen the discussion of interesting technologies.

s/Enderle/Cringely/g s/Windoze/Linux/g

[multiplexo]

How can I become a pundit like Cringely or Enderle? Unlike either one of them I've spec'd, built and maintained large, uptime critical systems in high intensity environments. The stuff I was responsible for came in on time, on budget and worked.

Of course the same could be said for thousands of /. readers who log in here every day. What do I have to do so I can stop working and start being a technopundit? Do I need to have an extra Chutpah organ inserted into my chest? Executive level hair? Immune system tolerance to high levels of bullshit? What damnit! What? I'm tired of working for a living!

Dig!

[eltoyoboyo]

While the Slashdot crowd argued about what is or isn't technically or legally possible,

He's right, the revolution will not be slashdotted...