I too have to give SageTV a big thumbs up. I've had it in place for over 5 years now and its been awesome!! I have it running on my main TV with a dedicated box and 5 tuners. It serves two bedroom TV's via a media extender product (via wired network tho wireless is supported too) as well 3 PC's in the house. It supports SD HD DVD (DVD "backups") and quite a bit more. Has support for music, weather and assorted other features that can be added via community packages. It does support changing the channel on STB (Set Top Boxes), as well support having more than one STB. I currently have one using the IRBlaster, and one using USB->Serial. This setup was fairly quick but did require some research on their forums.
It is hands on though, and if you want to use any community packages you'll be reading the forums on how-to's. Again mine has been in place for 5+ years, with little effort since then to add new features, or make minor adjustments to storage locations, and setups for it. It uses Java and again for a "stable" production system, I've held back on any automatic updates to the main system. In short, I let the world test out the updates for a week or few before updating my main SageTV box with Windows or Java updates.
While you are at it, take a look at GBPVR http://gbpvr.com/
Its FREE, so hard not to have a look. It does support many if not all features that SageTV has, including IRBlaster/USB->Serial to control a STB. My only issue with it 5 years ago was it didn't have as many features as SageTV, including ones I needed at the time. But again, it was and is FREE, so it is well worth checking out.
All hail Netflix!!! I've tried both, and by far Netflix is king!! They are responsive, they address shipping problems/questions, they do not count it against you when the CD is lost in the mail or the wrong CD sent. Over all the CD's are clean and free from straches or problems. So go Netflix!!
Enjoy,
RedR
Bah, it's their game, their ELUA, they win. Get over it and pick a new name. It has nothing to do with others breaking the rules too, since it's up to them to enforce their rules as they see fit. Now don't get me wrong, I feel your pain and have had burps when it comes to my nick as well over the last 20+ yrs. Bottom line is, it's not yours, esp. when it comes to using it to identify yourself on their system. If you are in violation then pick something that isn't and move on. Simple as that, for posting a/. editorial, or whatever gets you nothing, well nothing when it comes to advancement in WoW;P
Have a good one and rename,
RedR
Well my Windows XP really loves my new X2. I can now play my memory hog of a game while re-encoding video, or making video cuts in the backgroup w/o any interruption to video play. The X2 is a world of difference under Windows XP, even if the applications I use do not make use of dual core. And as for linux not supporting, so far FC4 runs just fine on my X2.. perhaps you need a new build?
Hope this helps,
RedR
Heya,
I was a bit let down with this and the hardware and software selection that Tom's went after on this. I've had much better results avoiding Windows MCE by using SageTV, or GB-PVR or BeyondTV, or for those real diehards, MythTV. Some of the complaints that Tom's had are very easily solved by going with hardware that's slightly larger and more standard than the micro or mini ATX stuff. Anyway check out byopvr.com, they've got some really great how to's on building your own HTPC on the cheap or all out.
Enjoy,
RedR
Heya,
I've bought from Monarch before. So all my dealings or orders have had no problems what so ever. What lured me to Monarch was their tech support. I called them years ago to inquire about a new CPU. We talked for about 45min - 1hr. I did not end up buying the CPU at the time. Because of the knowledge and information he gave me, I was able to delay my purchase and get the new revision of the CPU when it released shortly after. I actually got the sense that the tech cared about helping me make the right purchase for me, and not just get a quick sale or say something to get me off the phone, it was awesome and something I've grown use to from all their technicians/sales folk.
Perhaps this sounds like I am tooting their whistle and I spose I am in the end. I saw this review on one of their systems, so I felt I should pass on my experiences with Monarch Computers as well with this story/review.
Oh, and on topic, heh ya I think this is a bit much of a PC for even someone like me, a dedicated gamer. But then again I'd buy this box in a heart beat if I could afford it. Instead I went with a slightly less of an upgrade to my existing box. AMD64 x2 4400+, 2GB RAM on a very nice MSI SLI board with 2 7800's to put it to good work. I am very happy with the hardware, as well with how Monarch handled this order from start to finish.
Enjoy,
RedR
Check out byopvr.com yall. Tis a great site on building your own PVR with a good community to help you in selecting hardware, software, and getting it all working together. Check em out, I think you'll find the folks there are great and awesome info as well.
Hey folks,
To cap this off I thought I would mention a site called byopvr.com that helps the general community find their way into selecting hardware, software and configs with Windows and Linux PVR solutions. I've been at it with my own PVR for a bit over 6mo now and thanks to the byopvr.com site I got the setup supporting all the features I wanted from my PVR (weather, web site scheduling, comskip, mp3 support, DVD support) using SageTV with custom plugins (Thanks Cayars and nielm). Check out the site if you are interested in getting your own PVR together, I am sure you'll find there are lots of solutions, some even for free (MythTV, GB-PVR, media portal).
Enjoy,
RedR
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I too have to give SageTV a big thumbs up. I've had it in place for over 5 years now and its been awesome!! I have it running on my main TV with a dedicated box and 5 tuners. It serves two bedroom TV's via a media extender product (via wired network tho wireless is supported too) as well 3 PC's in the house. It supports SD HD DVD (DVD "backups") and quite a bit more. Has support for music, weather and assorted other features that can be added via community packages. It does support changing the channel on STB (Set Top Boxes), as well support having more than one STB. I currently have one using the IRBlaster, and one using USB->Serial. This setup was fairly quick but did require some research on their forums. It is hands on though, and if you want to use any community packages you'll be reading the forums on how-to's. Again mine has been in place for 5+ years, with little effort since then to add new features, or make minor adjustments to storage locations, and setups for it. It uses Java and again for a "stable" production system, I've held back on any automatic updates to the main system. In short, I let the world test out the updates for a week or few before updating my main SageTV box with Windows or Java updates. While you are at it, take a look at GBPVR http://gbpvr.com/ Its FREE, so hard not to have a look. It does support many if not all features that SageTV has, including IRBlaster/USB->Serial to control a STB. My only issue with it 5 years ago was it didn't have as many features as SageTV, including ones I needed at the time. But again, it was and is FREE, so it is well worth checking out.
All hail Netflix!!! I've tried both, and by far Netflix is king!! They are responsive, they address shipping problems/questions, they do not count it against you when the CD is lost in the mail or the wrong CD sent. Over all the CD's are clean and free from straches or problems. So go Netflix!! Enjoy, RedR
Bah, it's their game, their ELUA, they win. Get over it and pick a new name. It has nothing to do with others breaking the rules too, since it's up to them to enforce their rules as they see fit. Now don't get me wrong, I feel your pain and have had burps when it comes to my nick as well over the last 20+ yrs. Bottom line is, it's not yours, esp. when it comes to using it to identify yourself on their system. If you are in violation then pick something that isn't and move on. Simple as that, for posting a /. editorial, or whatever gets you nothing, well nothing when it comes to advancement in WoW ;P
Have a good one and rename,
RedR
Well my Windows XP really loves my new X2. I can now play my memory hog of a game while re-encoding video, or making video cuts in the backgroup w/o any interruption to video play. The X2 is a world of difference under Windows XP, even if the applications I use do not make use of dual core. And as for linux not supporting, so far FC4 runs just fine on my X2.. perhaps you need a new build? Hope this helps, RedR
Heya, I was a bit let down with this and the hardware and software selection that Tom's went after on this. I've had much better results avoiding Windows MCE by using SageTV, or GB-PVR or BeyondTV, or for those real diehards, MythTV. Some of the complaints that Tom's had are very easily solved by going with hardware that's slightly larger and more standard than the micro or mini ATX stuff. Anyway check out byopvr.com, they've got some really great how to's on building your own HTPC on the cheap or all out. Enjoy, RedR
Nope, but I am getting another order in now.
Heya, I've bought from Monarch before. So all my dealings or orders have had no problems what so ever. What lured me to Monarch was their tech support. I called them years ago to inquire about a new CPU. We talked for about 45min - 1hr. I did not end up buying the CPU at the time. Because of the knowledge and information he gave me, I was able to delay my purchase and get the new revision of the CPU when it released shortly after. I actually got the sense that the tech cared about helping me make the right purchase for me, and not just get a quick sale or say something to get me off the phone, it was awesome and something I've grown use to from all their technicians/sales folk. Perhaps this sounds like I am tooting their whistle and I spose I am in the end. I saw this review on one of their systems, so I felt I should pass on my experiences with Monarch Computers as well with this story/review. Oh, and on topic, heh ya I think this is a bit much of a PC for even someone like me, a dedicated gamer. But then again I'd buy this box in a heart beat if I could afford it. Instead I went with a slightly less of an upgrade to my existing box. AMD64 x2 4400+, 2GB RAM on a very nice MSI SLI board with 2 7800's to put it to good work. I am very happy with the hardware, as well with how Monarch handled this order from start to finish. Enjoy, RedR
Check out byopvr.com yall. Tis a great site on building your own PVR with a good community to help you in selecting hardware, software, and getting it all working together. Check em out, I think you'll find the folks there are great and awesome info as well.
Hey folks, To cap this off I thought I would mention a site called byopvr.com that helps the general community find their way into selecting hardware, software and configs with Windows and Linux PVR solutions. I've been at it with my own PVR for a bit over 6mo now and thanks to the byopvr.com site I got the setup supporting all the features I wanted from my PVR (weather, web site scheduling, comskip, mp3 support, DVD support) using SageTV with custom plugins (Thanks Cayars and nielm). Check out the site if you are interested in getting your own PVR together, I am sure you'll find there are lots of solutions, some even for free (MythTV, GB-PVR, media portal). Enjoy, RedR