TiVo vs. Windows Media Center Edition 335
The Importance of writes "Two reviewers make head-to-head comparisons of TiVo and Windows Media Center Edition (here and here). TiVo still comes out ahead, but MCE is improving. Of course, some tout the flexibility of PC-based DVRs, while others question what this flexibility means when you have things like the broadcast flag and the INDUCE Act."
Guess what... (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:Personally (Score:4, Insightful)
-Jesse
hackable tivos would be even more flexable. (Score:5, Insightful)
Personally I think hardware companies should encourage this practice. I picked my wireless router because if it's readily available
third party linux-firmware
If Tivo encouraged this practice, they'd have far more than media center very quickly.
Apples and Oranges (Score:5, Insightful)
Some people will always like to be able to control what is going on and configure their own system. Others will want nothing to do with configuration of any kind and will simply want it to work. Until M$ spins the MCE off into a device or integrates it with X-Box or whatever, the PC'ness of it will remain its barrier of entry to the mainstream.
I deal with computers all day long and when I get time to watch TV, the last thing I want to think about are computers.
Re:hackable tivos would be even more flexable. (Score:5, Insightful)
If there is a sufficient business case then companies will go after the money, but I don't really think there is that much of a business case for hackable hardware...
Re:Sorry (Score:4, Insightful)
Re:hackable tivos would be even more flexable. (Score:4, Insightful)
All the INDUCE Act is going to mean . . . (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:Personally (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:As long as (Score:3, Insightful)
The companies that make that stuff just can't WAIT to lock you out with DRM-protected IO ports. They talk about it all the time.
my MCE experience (Score:5, Insightful)
My MCE 2004 machine (which runs 24/7) is 100% stable (the OS is based on XP sp1), even when keeping up to date with all the patches out there. I ended up getting rid of my SA8000 DVR from time warner because it is so reliable. There are addons out there such as the plugin which provides a nice interface to the video library (you pick the movie by clicking the 'cover', and it will automatically mount the ISO), or the web based interface. Add the fact that you can listen to FM radio using a PVR250MCE or PVR350 series TV tuner card, and you have a very nice entertainment machine. The only thing which comes close to this setup is MythTV (which I do like), but has some reliability & configuration issues which aren't user friendly.
Since MCE can't be bought legally (you can only download it when you have a MSDN license), I will be 'buying' a second MCE machine once the next release comes out, and network the 2 machines (and other custom PVR machines which can share video data) so I can watch my video/dvd/broadcast anywhere in the house.
Re:Personally (Score:3, Insightful)
If you had cancer, you would not care WHO had the cure. Been there, done that.
Re:Sorry (Score:5, Insightful)
You might want to think about a new hobby if doing either of those strains your time or patience.
Re:Sorry (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:Sorry (Score:5, Insightful)
That stated- Microsoft would not be my software of choice. I'd go Myth TV or the like.
Re:Sorry (Score:5, Insightful)
Using a computer to replace a Tivo *is* rather silly. Using a computer to replace a CD player, DVD player, and Tivo plus provide Newsfeeds weather maps, video conferencing, create DVDs of your favorite shows and more not to mention provide that content to any room in your home isn't.
Re:Sorry (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:my MCE experience (Score:4, Insightful)
Full Service Entertainment (Score:5, Insightful)
So as long as you keep it disconnected from the internet, you are better off until MS figures out how to deliver TCP/IP safety to the masses. The MCE is feature rich and aimed towards providing a full entertainment control center for audio components (AF/FM CD/TAPE/Record Player/Digital jukebox) as well as video components (PVR/Tuner/DVD Player/Digital jukebox). The internet connectivity or broadband cable/satellite are going to be part of the experience too. So Microsoft is going to have to address the security problems to make this fully marketable. It is not going to do well if it has a big sticker that says "Warning: do not connect to the Internet".
Re:Personally (Score:3, Insightful)
Q.Tivo does not let you take your shows with you on your laptop. The cure for cancer is nice but can I please take the cure with me on the road?
I.A."Not interested in your microsoft lifestyle."
(I.A. ignorant answer)
Re:Personally (Score:4, Insightful)
Re:Sorry (Score:5, Insightful)
Wow, $144 for a new PVR-ready computer?
Dont get me wrong, a MythTV setup is much more expansive then tivo, but you can get Tivo and 5 years listings for the price.
Re:TiVo vs. MythTV (Score:2, Insightful)
Re:Sorry (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:TiVo vs. MythTV (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:Personally (Score:1, Insightful)
(if the cures were identical)
just cause you've been there done that, doesnt give you the insight into this hypothetical situation
Re:Guess what... (Score:2, Insightful)
So, do you have the Microsoft Media Center and it's unstable, or are you just making an assumption as ill-informed as saying your Linux based TiVo requires a keyboard to use?
Re:Guess what... (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:'scuse my ignorance but... (Score:4, Insightful)
I find it easier to tell the PVR to always record a show, then it always gets done for me. Never have to think about it again.
And you don't have to worry about replacing the tapes, rewinding them, making sure everything is set.
And can a VCR pause live TV, then resume? Does it provide a EPG (electronic programming guide)?
These are why PVR's exist. Using a VCR for the same purpose is not a valid option.
Re:Sorry (Score:5, Insightful)
MediaPCs are still for hobbiests interested in playing around, not for consumer use.
Those deserve their own slashdot discussion (Score:2, Insightful)
TiVo !!! (Score:2, Insightful)
I built an HTPC a while back. It was a fun project. But ultimately I abandoned it.
When I want to crash on the couch after a long day I do *NOT* want to deal with device driver problems, or Windows Update due to latest security problem, or someone has installed a new game on the DoEverythingDevice and borked it.
I just wanna watch TV man. At it's specific task the TiVo kicks ass. Anyone who tries to lay a whole bunch of extra features on it has now added a whole host of new ways it can go kaboom. A TiVo can be had as little as $99 now, and is well worth it IMHO.
Re:Hidden cost of TiVo (Score:3, Insightful)
Happauge PVR-350
Love the TiVo (Score:3, Insightful)
I am mighty impressed with the folks writing the software at TiVo - it's all pretty slick, and JUST WORKS. No glitches, no gotchas, no excuses. That's what you need with the wife and kids using it.
Re:Personally (Score:2, Insightful)
Re:my MCE experience (Score:3, Insightful)