Selective memory? The guy that MS poached from DEC to write the entire NT microkernel? Uhhh... No. As others pointed out, NT was a *completely* separate project; early on in its lifetime it was referred to as "NT-OS2", but it shared almost no code with OS/2 proper (it did borrow the code for HPFS - the original NTFS was in fact *interchangeable* with HPFS, because they were the same filesystem - and I've heard the bootloader may have been an offshoot of OS/2 Boot Manager). But to say that NT was an offshoot of OS/2 is a complete misnomer - only in name were the two codebases ever so related. Why do you think there had to be a whole separate kernel subsystem dedicated to OS/2 1.x program compatibility? (There were also DOS and POSIX compatibility subsystems, as well as the Win32 layer.)
I can believe that kind of fail rate with the 360s; I have two coworkers who have Xbox 360s (and I have one as well, bought more recently than theirs), and so far, both of them have had to send theirs in due to failures. (One is having to send his in a second time; both times for DVD drive failures. The other's showed red lights and wouldn't start up normally.) It seems that it's a pretty common thing; I'm just wondering how long it'll be till mine turns up dead of something.
Try to fine Microsoft, then cue the US government complaining to them about how un-capitalistic and unfair it is to restrain the business of a fine corporate citizen like Microsoft. I think we all know where that's going.
Which was just IE for Windows built against a (huge, fat, slovenly) Win32 API compat library for Solaris. Why anyone would want to run it (with its reputation as a system crashing app) is beyond me.:)
The Xbox360 (prior to the new Elite SKU) didn't have an HDMI port, so it only outputs in analog. Every other BluRay or HDDVD player of which I'm aware doesn't even bother with component out - it's HDMI or nothing, which means you have to suck at the HDCP teat as well. They're really trying to not give you an out on the whole HDCP thing - even though it's been a serious disaster, or at least a severe headache, for a lot of the (relatively small) slice of the people who've taken the plunge into either format.
I believe the Image Constraint Token is more aimed at computers. The set-top boxes don't seem to be willing to even give you a cut down version - it's an all or nothing deal. No HDCP - you get a happy little screen that says "This content may not be displayed" or something along those lines... isn't it grand?
Unfortunately, a fair number of the makers are also content producers, so the content-producing arm leans on the "consumer electronics" arm to provide DRM encrusted hardware to go with their DRM encrusted media. The other guys just have to "keep up with the Joneses" (or Lees, or whatever the case) lest no one buy their gear.
Yes, exactly - he can say "I'm in good standing with the Florida Bar Association!" - while leaving off the "for now", which really should be tacked on there.
As far as HDTV is concerned...until Hauppauge makes a PVR board with component video capture MythTV users will be stuck with s-video level quality.
You'll be waiting awhile, as there aren't currently any ASICs which can encode HD resolutions in realtime. It takes a *lot* of horsepower. Hence why all the commercial DVRs, instead of trying that method, are moving to integrated systems that grab the raw MPEG2 bitstream and store it - otherwise it wouldn't be commercially viable to offer such a device...
TiVo is dated? Are you thinking of the SD-only Series2 units? The new Series3 is anything but dated - IMO far better than the cableco DVRs. You should check it out...
Except for the 5C encryption on most (or all) non-OTA HD channels. They may enable the FireWire port, but with that, it's just a useless stream of bits...
Their lack of an officially supported 30-second instant skip any longer.
They never did, but [Select] -> [Play] -> [Select] -> 3 -> 0 -> [Select] works fine on my Series3. Who cares if it's not "officially supported"? Besides, ReplayTV got the bejeezus sued out of them over that, and I think TiVo wants to avoid that sort of trouble (rightly so).
No price guarantee against future increases any time they feel like it.
Agreed, but they're hardly unique - your cable company can jack your rates too, and what recourse have you got? That's right, none.
Their kowtowing to the movie/television industry to automatically delete recorded programs, again any time they feel like it.
It's not kowtowing - they have to play by the media industry's rules to provide customers what they want, or (once again) risk getting the pants sued off them. It's a simple choice - they chose not to get sued to hell. I'm so shocked.
Their changing their Terms of Service, again any time they feel like it.
Having to lose my recorded shows every couple months because my cheapo DVR keeps crapping itself would drive me up a wall in a hurry. So would constantly having half-recorded (or unrecorded) shows because my DVR decided it was unhappy that day. Or not being able to watch a show that it says it recorded. I'd want to take it to the office, go on the roof, and throw it onto the sidewalk below.
Maybe if you use the DVR very little, you won't notice, or it won't bother you. I'll admit the TiVo Series3 ain't cheap - far, far from it. But I can't say I'm even a little bit sorry I bought it - every day I'm happy because of how nicely the TiVo works. It's really very slick. There's always some little thing that makes me feel better about it - whether it's the TiVo recording other shows I like, or the new Unbox on TiVo for downloading movies (eat it, TW), or the satisfying "bloop" when I push a button.
CableCard currently has nothing to do with on-demand content; supposedly CableCard 2.0 is going to extend CableCard's functionality to two-way communication, adding on-demand, PPV and so forth. For now, however, if you want to be able to get cable and watch anything more than your locals in high-def (I do!), then you're kinda SOL with MythTV. CableLabs will likely never certify a non-closed system for attachment to cable company networks, and cable operators won't give you a CableCard for it - even if you could find a board to carry the card. If you don't care about that, that's fine, but some people do...
The HD TiVo has no IR blaster. There aren't a bunch of cables connecting to your cableco box. None of that. You connect it to cable in, install the CableCards, and start watching and recording TV. The Series3 also has two tuners (along with a built-in ATSC tuner, to suck in OTA HD content as well), and a 250 GB drive (people have replaced the built-in drive with up to 750 GB drives, and the eSATA port will provide for even more expandability).
Also, wait a few weeks with your TW HD DVR. I've heard of a saddening number of cases where people got them, only to report "It worked fine for a while, then it stopped; I have no idea why, it just broke. I'm now on my {third,fourth,fifth} unit - all the cable company can do is keep replacing them, they don't have any idea what's wrong". Go look around, you'll find a lot of this.
I've heard of the following issues, just as a sampling:
- SA DVR gets slower and slower
- SA DVR crashes upon conflicting scheduled recordings, and just forgets recordings at random afterward
- SA DVR has frequent partial recordings, or will record no instance of a show, even though it claims to be programmed to record multiple copies
- SA DVR won't play recorded show at all - rebooting usually fixes this, but not always
- SA DVR search interface is terrible - can only search by first letter (and in some versions of SARA, only the *current day* - rather defeats the purpose of "searching)
There are others, but that's just what I can think of off the top of my head.
The Scientific Atlanta DVRs have gotten a *terrible* rap, and for good reason. Oh yes, and apparently TW will be replacing the Passport and SARA DVR software with something of their own devising, which is, by all reports, far worse than both Passport and SARA.
I think it was called 3DO - and as I recall, it was an utter bomb. Do we really need to repeat this silly bit of history to know why it's not a good idea?
Your first mistake is referring to yourself, the CUSTOMER, as a "consumer". Referring to yourself as a "consumer" means you've bought into the hyper-simplified producer/consumer model which companies like Macrovision like to employ - they will produce the content, you will consume the content and not ask questions. New formats come about? Why, of course you'll buy it in the new format - you're an ignorant consumer whose only purpose is to fork over your money for what they say you want. Macrovision doesn't *care* what you want - they'll give you DRM (poorly implemented, just like the "copy protection" for which the company is named) and you'll like it, damn it. So, don't refer to yourself as a "consumer" - you're just lowering yourself to be what they want you to be. You're a customer, and you should be *satisfied* with your purchases, not a deaf, dumb consumer.
You think they won't? Give it six months, that's what's next. Pretty soon any interaction with the opposite sex will be illegal if you're a minor. Or the same sex (playing tag is now illegal in at least one stat); we're becoming so damned paranoid (from the top down) that we're beginning to assume foul intent from everyone. Kinda makes "innocent until proven guilty" pointless...
I've not heard anyone say anything really *positive* about the SA8300/8300HD units (which I assume you're using, being on TW and in New York state). They crash - sometimes frequently (daily *or more). They frequently cut off or ignore scheduled recordings. Overlapping recordings are a problem, as is A/V synchronization. If you're watching a show in progress, people have complained of getting kicked out when the show ends, even if they're still halfway through the show. Their searching interface is poor. There's a million of them.
Personally I coughed up for the Series3 TiVo HD; it does have a few issues (occasionally a tuner will get confused and leave me with a black screen, once in awhile a recording gets unexpectedly chopped), but the 8.1 update is supposedly on the way, and based on the positively horrible experiences I've heard with the Scientific-Atlanta DVRs (running SARA or Passport - supposedly Passport's marginally better, but they're both pretty bad), I can't say I envy the poor bastards who got them. Yes, the TiVo is a lot more expensive - only because the cable company subsidizes their boxes. If you had to actually outright buy the SA box, it'd cost at least as much, if not more. If you don't return that box to TW when you cancel, they'll charge you full price for it anyway. And if you don't use the on-demand or PPV stuff (I don't - the on demand content is the same stuff I'd be watching via my TiVo anyway for the most part - and their SD PPV looks like ass, I'd rather just rent a DVD; they have almost nothing of consequence on HD PPV, so that's pretty much not even worth considering), the lack of it won't bother you. TiVo's interface is better. Way, way, way better. It will continue to improve - SARA and Passport software will continue to suck ass, in new and amazing ways, as they have for years (SARA has looked pretty much the same for the past 10+ years). TiVo will continue to add new features.
To me, if you're going to bother with an HD DVR, do it right; don't waste your time with the crappy cableco DVR, only to be marginally happy when it gets your desired shows sometimes and doesn't crash more than once a day. I can strongly recommend the TiVo. Why not, really?
Well actually, the PS2 does - just not out of the box, you have to get the multitap device to support more than two (and you're still limited to four).
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Selective memory? The guy that MS poached from DEC to write the entire NT microkernel? Uhhh... No. As others pointed out, NT was a *completely* separate project; early on in its lifetime it was referred to as "NT-OS2", but it shared almost no code with OS/2 proper (it did borrow the code for HPFS - the original NTFS was in fact *interchangeable* with HPFS, because they were the same filesystem - and I've heard the bootloader may have been an offshoot of OS/2 Boot Manager). But to say that NT was an offshoot of OS/2 is a complete misnomer - only in name were the two codebases ever so related. Why do you think there had to be a whole separate kernel subsystem dedicated to OS/2 1.x program compatibility? (There were also DOS and POSIX compatibility subsystems, as well as the Win32 layer.)
I think Dave Cutler *might* have a thing or two to say about that...
I can believe that kind of fail rate with the 360s; I have two coworkers who have Xbox 360s (and I have one as well, bought more recently than theirs), and so far, both of them have had to send theirs in due to failures. (One is having to send his in a second time; both times for DVD drive failures. The other's showed red lights and wouldn't start up normally.) It seems that it's a pretty common thing; I'm just wondering how long it'll be till mine turns up dead of something.
I think you meant carat...
Try to fine Microsoft, then cue the US government complaining to them about how un-capitalistic and unfair it is to restrain the business of a fine corporate citizen like Microsoft. I think we all know where that's going.
Which was just IE for Windows built against a (huge, fat, slovenly) Win32 API compat library for Solaris. Why anyone would want to run it (with its reputation as a system crashing app) is beyond me. :)
The Xbox360 (prior to the new Elite SKU) didn't have an HDMI port, so it only outputs in analog. Every other BluRay or HDDVD player of which I'm aware doesn't even bother with component out - it's HDMI or nothing, which means you have to suck at the HDCP teat as well. They're really trying to not give you an out on the whole HDCP thing - even though it's been a serious disaster, or at least a severe headache, for a lot of the (relatively small) slice of the people who've taken the plunge into either format.
I believe the Image Constraint Token is more aimed at computers. The set-top boxes don't seem to be willing to even give you a cut down version - it's an all or nothing deal. No HDCP - you get a happy little screen that says "This content may not be displayed" or something along those lines... isn't it grand?
Unfortunately, a fair number of the makers are also content producers, so the content-producing arm leans on the "consumer electronics" arm to provide DRM encrusted hardware to go with their DRM encrusted media. The other guys just have to "keep up with the Joneses" (or Lees, or whatever the case) lest no one buy their gear.
In the UK they refer to a season as a "series" - don't ask me why, but that's how it works.
Yes, exactly - he can say "I'm in good standing with the Florida Bar Association!" - while leaving off the "for now", which really should be tacked on there.
I think that would fall in the category of "lying by omission" - strictly he's telling the truth, except for leaving out the really telling bits.
As far as HDTV is concerned...until Hauppauge makes a PVR board with component video capture MythTV users will be stuck with s-video level quality.
You'll be waiting awhile, as there aren't currently any ASICs which can encode HD resolutions in realtime. It takes a *lot* of horsepower. Hence why all the commercial DVRs, instead of trying that method, are moving to integrated systems that grab the raw MPEG2 bitstream and store it - otherwise it wouldn't be commercially viable to offer such a device...
TiVo is dated? Are you thinking of the SD-only Series2 units? The new Series3 is anything but dated - IMO far better than the cableco DVRs. You should check it out...
Except for the 5C encryption on most (or all) non-OTA HD channels. They may enable the FireWire port, but with that, it's just a useless stream of bits...
Their lack of an officially supported 30-second instant skip any longer.
They never did, but [Select] -> [Play] -> [Select] -> 3 -> 0 -> [Select] works fine on my Series3. Who cares if it's not "officially supported"? Besides, ReplayTV got the bejeezus sued out of them over that, and I think TiVo wants to avoid that sort of trouble (rightly so).
No price guarantee against future increases any time they feel like it.
Agreed, but they're hardly unique - your cable company can jack your rates too, and what recourse have you got? That's right, none.
Their kowtowing to the movie/television industry to automatically delete recorded programs, again any time they feel like it.
It's not kowtowing - they have to play by the media industry's rules to provide customers what they want, or (once again) risk getting the pants sued off them. It's a simple choice - they chose not to get sued to hell. I'm so shocked.
Their changing their Terms of Service, again any time they feel like it.
Can't argue that.
Having to lose my recorded shows every couple months because my cheapo DVR keeps crapping itself would drive me up a wall in a hurry. So would constantly having half-recorded (or unrecorded) shows because my DVR decided it was unhappy that day. Or not being able to watch a show that it says it recorded. I'd want to take it to the office, go on the roof, and throw it onto the sidewalk below.
Maybe if you use the DVR very little, you won't notice, or it won't bother you. I'll admit the TiVo Series3 ain't cheap - far, far from it. But I can't say I'm even a little bit sorry I bought it - every day I'm happy because of how nicely the TiVo works. It's really very slick. There's always some little thing that makes me feel better about it - whether it's the TiVo recording other shows I like, or the new Unbox on TiVo for downloading movies (eat it, TW), or the satisfying "bloop" when I push a button.
CableCard currently has nothing to do with on-demand content; supposedly CableCard 2.0 is going to extend CableCard's functionality to two-way communication, adding on-demand, PPV and so forth. For now, however, if you want to be able to get cable and watch anything more than your locals in high-def (I do!), then you're kinda SOL with MythTV. CableLabs will likely never certify a non-closed system for attachment to cable company networks, and cable operators won't give you a CableCard for it - even if you could find a board to carry the card. If you don't care about that, that's fine, but some people do...
The HD TiVo has no IR blaster. There aren't a bunch of cables connecting to your cableco box. None of that. You connect it to cable in, install the CableCards, and start watching and recording TV. The Series3 also has two tuners (along with a built-in ATSC tuner, to suck in OTA HD content as well), and a 250 GB drive (people have replaced the built-in drive with up to 750 GB drives, and the eSATA port will provide for even more expandability).
Also, wait a few weeks with your TW HD DVR. I've heard of a saddening number of cases where people got them, only to report "It worked fine for a while, then it stopped; I have no idea why, it just broke. I'm now on my {third,fourth,fifth} unit - all the cable company can do is keep replacing them, they don't have any idea what's wrong". Go look around, you'll find a lot of this.
I've heard of the following issues, just as a sampling:
- SA DVR gets slower and slower
- SA DVR crashes upon conflicting scheduled recordings, and just forgets recordings at random afterward
- SA DVR has frequent partial recordings, or will record no instance of a show, even though it claims to be programmed to record multiple copies
- SA DVR won't play recorded show at all - rebooting usually fixes this, but not always
- SA DVR search interface is terrible - can only search by first letter (and in some versions of SARA, only the *current day* - rather defeats the purpose of "searching)
There are others, but that's just what I can think of off the top of my head.
The Scientific Atlanta DVRs have gotten a *terrible* rap, and for good reason. Oh yes, and apparently TW will be replacing the Passport and SARA DVR software with something of their own devising, which is, by all reports, far worse than both Passport and SARA.
I think it was called 3DO - and as I recall, it was an utter bomb. Do we really need to repeat this silly bit of history to know why it's not a good idea?
Your first mistake is referring to yourself, the CUSTOMER, as a "consumer". Referring to yourself as a "consumer" means you've bought into the hyper-simplified producer/consumer model which companies like Macrovision like to employ - they will produce the content, you will consume the content and not ask questions. New formats come about? Why, of course you'll buy it in the new format - you're an ignorant consumer whose only purpose is to fork over your money for what they say you want. Macrovision doesn't *care* what you want - they'll give you DRM (poorly implemented, just like the "copy protection" for which the company is named) and you'll like it, damn it. So, don't refer to yourself as a "consumer" - you're just lowering yourself to be what they want you to be. You're a customer, and you should be *satisfied* with your purchases, not a deaf, dumb consumer.
We're not like Iran - we're Christian, they're Muslim; therefore by common rationale we must be better, right? Didn't you get the memo?
You think they won't? Give it six months, that's what's next. Pretty soon any interaction with the opposite sex will be illegal if you're a minor. Or the same sex (playing tag is now illegal in at least one stat); we're becoming so damned paranoid (from the top down) that we're beginning to assume foul intent from everyone. Kinda makes "innocent until proven guilty" pointless...
I've not heard anyone say anything really *positive* about the SA8300/8300HD units (which I assume you're using, being on TW and in New York state). They crash - sometimes frequently (daily *or more). They frequently cut off or ignore scheduled recordings. Overlapping recordings are a problem, as is A/V synchronization. If you're watching a show in progress, people have complained of getting kicked out when the show ends, even if they're still halfway through the show. Their searching interface is poor. There's a million of them.
Personally I coughed up for the Series3 TiVo HD; it does have a few issues (occasionally a tuner will get confused and leave me with a black screen, once in awhile a recording gets unexpectedly chopped), but the 8.1 update is supposedly on the way, and based on the positively horrible experiences I've heard with the Scientific-Atlanta DVRs (running SARA or Passport - supposedly Passport's marginally better, but they're both pretty bad), I can't say I envy the poor bastards who got them. Yes, the TiVo is a lot more expensive - only because the cable company subsidizes their boxes. If you had to actually outright buy the SA box, it'd cost at least as much, if not more. If you don't return that box to TW when you cancel, they'll charge you full price for it anyway. And if you don't use the on-demand or PPV stuff (I don't - the on demand content is the same stuff I'd be watching via my TiVo anyway for the most part - and their SD PPV looks like ass, I'd rather just rent a DVD; they have almost nothing of consequence on HD PPV, so that's pretty much not even worth considering), the lack of it won't bother you. TiVo's interface is better. Way, way, way better. It will continue to improve - SARA and Passport software will continue to suck ass, in new and amazing ways, as they have for years (SARA has looked pretty much the same for the past 10+ years). TiVo will continue to add new features.
To me, if you're going to bother with an HD DVR, do it right; don't waste your time with the crappy cableco DVR, only to be marginally happy when it gets your desired shows sometimes and doesn't crash more than once a day. I can strongly recommend the TiVo. Why not, really?
Well actually, the PS2 does - just not out of the box, you have to get the multitap device to support more than two (and you're still limited to four).
for DMCA anticircumvision reasons
I read this as "anticircumcision"; don't ask me why...