Archived from groups: rec.video.desktop,alt.video.ptv.tivo (More info?)

http://tinyurl.com/aw323

or

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applica [...] image1.y=9

Not sure if there are other products out there like this, but IT'S
ABOUT TIME!! I can't believe the major manufacturers haven't started
pushing these TiVo-like computers. I built my own for about $900, but
the case was too big, and I had stability issues. Don't know why these
boxes should cost more than $1000. Wait about 12 months, and they
won't.

One thing I like about this system is the integrated trackball on the
keyboard. Makes working the computer from the couch MUCH easier.

I bought a computer from Tiger Direct once, and it was incredibly
cheap, but also incredibly LOUD. I had to throw a towel over it so I
didn't get a headache. Hopefully, they have fixed this issue.

Archived from groups: rec.video.desktop,alt.video.ptv.tivo (More info?)

In article <1123797052.002029.123700@g43g2000cwa.googlegroups.com>,
"BrianEWilliams" <sorry_no_email@yahoo.com> wrote:

> http://tinyurl.com/aw323
>
> or
>
> http://www.tigerdirect.com/applica [...] rds=system
> ax+media+center&image1.x=8&image1.y=9
>
> Not sure if there are other products out there like this, but IT'S
> ABOUT TIME!! I can't believe the major manufacturers haven't started
> pushing these TiVo-like computers. I built my own for about $900, but
> the case was too big, and I had stability issues. Don't know why these
> boxes should cost more than $1000. Wait about 12 months, and they
> won't.

TiVo-Like??? There's nothing like a TiVo, A networked pC/DVR is not
anything like a TiVo; and if there was such a device they'd be sued out
of business for patent infringement.



>
> One thing I like about this system is the integrated trackball on the
> keyboard. Makes working the computer from the couch MUCH easier.
>
> I bought a computer from Tiger Direct once, and it was incredibly
> cheap, but also incredibly LOUD. I had to throw a towel over it so I
> didn't get a headache. Hopefully, they have fixed this issue.

Archived from groups: rec.video.desktop,alt.video.ptv.tivo (More info?)

In article <1123797052.002029.123700@g43g2000cwa.googlegroups.com>, "BrianEWilliams" <sorry_no_email@yahoo.com> wrote:
>http://tinyurl.com/aw323
>
>or
>
>http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/search.asp?keywords=systema
>x+media+center&image1.x=8&image1.y=9
>
>Not sure if there are other products out there like this, but IT'S
>ABOUT TIME!! I can't believe the major manufacturers haven't started
>pushing these TiVo-like computers. I built my own for about $900, but
>the case was too big, and I had stability issues. Don't know why these
>boxes should cost more than $1000. Wait about 12 months, and they
>won't.
>
>One thing I like about this system is the integrated trackball on the
>keyboard. Makes working the computer from the couch MUCH easier.
>
>I bought a computer from Tiger Direct once, and it was incredibly
>cheap, but also incredibly LOUD. I had to throw a towel over it so I
>didn't get a headache. Hopefully, they have fixed this issue.
>
Um, why was there a towel close to the computer??????

Archived from groups: rec.video.desktop,alt.video.ptv.tivo (More info?)

On 11 Aug 2005 14:50:52 -0700, "BrianEWilliams"
<sorry_no_email@yahoo.com> wrote:

>http://tinyurl.com/aw323

Wonder how loud the (cooling) noise ?
>
>or
>
>http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/search.asp?keywords=systemax+media+center&image1.x=8&image1.y=9
>
>Not sure if there are other products out there like this, but IT'S
>ABOUT TIME!! I can't believe the major manufacturers haven't started
>pushing these TiVo-like computers. I built my own for about $900, but
>the case was too big, and I had stability issues. Don't know why these
>boxes should cost more than $1000. Wait about 12 months, and they
>won't.
>
>One thing I like about this system is the integrated trackball on the
>keyboard. Makes working the computer from the couch MUCH easier.
>
>I bought a computer from Tiger Direct once, and it was incredibly
>cheap, but also incredibly LOUD. I had to throw a towel over it so I
>didn't get a headache. Hopefully, they have fixed this issue.

Another Media Center PC
http://www.datago.com/where_to_buy.shtml

Archived from groups: rec.video.desktop,alt.video.ptv.tivo (More info?)

BrianEWilliams wrote:
> http://tinyurl.com/aw323
>
> Not sure if there are other products out there like this, but IT'S
> ABOUT TIME!! I can't believe the major manufacturers haven't started
> pushing these TiVo-like computers.

$1700 and you don't even get a tuner!

The specs say that those computers come with Windows XP Media Center
Edition, and that OS is capable of handling two tuners, but the
hardware description does not mention having such a device
included in the box.

-Joe

Archived from groups: rec.video.desktop,alt.video.ptv.tivo (More info?)

http://www.ecost.com/ecost/ecsplas [...] pno=472991

Thanks for the reference. Seems like some genius decided these things
should sell for $1500.

Archived from groups: rec.video.desktop,alt.video.ptv.tivo (More info?)

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applica [...] 2&NoMapp=0

Initially, the apparent lack of a tuner also concerned me, but if you
look at the above link, they clearly list a PCI TV tuner. They need to
make this more obvious, obviously.

Archived from groups: rec.video.desktop,alt.video.ptv.tivo (More info?)

The idea that general software functionality can be patented is pretty
ridiculous, IMHO. Congress needs to step in and stop this nonsense.
It's like I decided to patent turning left while driving. Or drinking
tea with my pinky out. Or even keeping a towel close to my computer.

I know folks will disagree strongly, but that's what makes Usenet
interesting. Maybe I will patent online disagreeing and sue everyone
that disagrees without paying me my license fee.

Archived from groups: rec.video.desktop,alt.video.ptv.tivo (More info?)

Joe Smith <joe@inwap.com> writes:

> BrianEWilliams wrote:
> > http://tinyurl.com/aw323
> > Not sure if there are other products out there like this, but IT'S
>
> > ABOUT TIME!! I can't believe the major manufacturers haven't started
> > pushing these TiVo-like computers.
>
> $1700 and you don't even get a tuner!
>
> The specs say that those computers come with Windows XP Media Center
> Edition, and that OS is capable of handling two tuners, but the
> hardware description does not mention having such a device
> included in the box.
>
> -Joe

What a ripoff.

I recently bought a fully-loaded Dell Dimension MCE PC with a dual
tuner for just over $850. Best buy I've made in a long time. If you
can hide the case, there's no reason to mess with something crippled
that costs twice as much.


--
"Experience is the name everyone gives to their mistakes."
-- Oscar Wilde

Archived from groups: rec.video.desktop,alt.video.ptv.tivo (More info?)

BrianEWilliams wrote:
> The idea that general software functionality can be patented is pretty
> ridiculous, IMHO. Congress needs to step in and stop this nonsense.
> It's like I decided to patent turning left while driving. Or drinking
> tea with my pinky out. Or even keeping a towel close to my computer.
>
> I know folks will disagree strongly, but that's what makes Usenet
> interesting. Maybe I will patent online disagreeing and sue everyone
> that disagrees without paying me my license fee.
>

No, actually I pretty much agree with you. Until the '70s the idea of
patenting an "idea" was not generally accepted. The patent office
required that you present a working model of your proposed device. Then
technology outstripped the ability of the patent office to keep up.

I've got the same problem with the allowance of patents on genes. Did
they invent the genes? No, they *discovered* them. Newton "discovered"
gravity, would it have made sense to allow him to *patent* it? If my
DNA contains the patented gene, do I have to pay them royalties?

It's patently ridiculous! (I profoundly apologize for that ;-))

Randy S.

Archived from groups: rec.video.desktop,alt.video.ptv.tivo (More info?)

"BrianEWilliams" <sorry_no_email@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:1123797052.002029.123700@g43g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...
> http://tinyurl.com/aw323
>
> or
>
> http://www.tigerdirect.com/applica [...] image1.y=9
>
> Not sure if there are other products out there like this, but IT'S
> ABOUT TIME!! I can't believe the major manufacturers haven't started
> pushing these TiVo-like computers. I built my own for about $900, but
> the case was too big, and I had stability issues. Don't know why these
> boxes should cost more than $1000. Wait about 12 months, and they
> won't.
>
> One thing I like about this system is the integrated trackball on the
> keyboard. Makes working the computer from the couch MUCH easier.
>
> I bought a computer from Tiger Direct once, and it was incredibly
> cheap, but also incredibly LOUD. I had to throw a towel over it so I
> didn't get a headache. Hopefully, they have fixed this issue.

In my experience, Tivos and media center PC's are quite different. The
functionality and ease of use you get in a Tivo is light years ahead of any
home theatre PC. I have five DirecTivo's, one of which is a hidef Tivo. I
just added a Hewlett Packard z545 media center 2005 PC. There is good reason
to have both in a well equipped home theatre, and some features do overlap,
but they are a lot different. As an example, keep in mind that you cannot
get data onto a Tivo except through its tuner(s), while you can get anything
you want onto your PC, including videos, pictures, rips of DVD's, and yes,
even recorded TV shows (even in HDTV format).

Archived from groups: rec.video.desktop,alt.video.ptv.tivo (More info?)

Randy S. wrote:

> BrianEWilliams wrote:
>
>> The idea that general software functionality can be patented is pretty
>> ridiculous, IMHO. Congress needs to step in and stop this nonsense.
>> It's like I decided to patent turning left while driving. Or drinking
>> tea with my pinky out. Or even keeping a towel close to my computer.
>>
>> I know folks will disagree strongly, but that's what makes Usenet
>> interesting. Maybe I will patent online disagreeing and sue everyone
>> that disagrees without paying me my license fee.
>>
>
> No, actually I pretty much agree with you. Until the '70s the idea of
> patenting an "idea" was not generally accepted. The patent office
> required that you present a working model of your proposed device. Then
> technology outstripped the ability of the patent office to keep up.
>
> I've got the same problem with the allowance of patents on genes. Did
> they invent the genes? No, they *discovered* them. Newton "discovered"
> gravity, would it have made sense to allow him to *patent* it? If my
> DNA contains the patented gene, do I have to pay them royalties?
>
> It's patently ridiculous! (I profoundly apologize for that ;-))
>
> Randy S.

Dam.. You have to pay Microsoft now for using that smilly face.. Did you
know that they got a patent for that last week?

(this is NOT a joke).

-Richard

Archived from groups: rec.video.desktop,alt.video.ptv.tivo (More info?)

BrianEWilliams wrote:

> The idea that general software functionality can be patented is pretty
> ridiculous, IMHO. Congress needs to step in and stop this nonsense.
> It's like I decided to patent turning left while driving. Or drinking
> tea with my pinky out. Or even keeping a towel close to my computer.

Anyone can get a patent on something.. However, its up to you to enforce
it. Which basically means that patents are useless to the average
person! Because the average person doesn't have the money to enforce a
patent. This came as a shock to me after researching patents on one of
my inventions.


> I know folks will disagree strongly, but that's what makes Usenet
> interesting. Maybe I will patent online disagreeing and sue everyone
> that disagrees without paying me my license fee.

Your right.. That's what its coming too.

-Richard

Archived from groups: rec.video.desktop,alt.video.ptv.tivo (More info?)

In article <ChnLe.781$UA1.408@newssvr30.news.prodigy.com>, Richard
Ragon <bsema04@hananho.com> wrote:

> BrianEWilliams wrote:
>
> > The idea that general software functionality can be patented is pretty
> > ridiculous, IMHO. Congress needs to step in and stop this nonsense.
> > It's like I decided to patent turning left while driving. Or drinking
> > tea with my pinky out. Or even keeping a towel close to my computer.
>
> Anyone can get a patent on something.. However, its up to you to enforce
> it. Which basically means that patents are useless to the average
> person! Because the average person doesn't have the money to enforce a
> patent. This came as a shock to me after researching patents on one of
> my inventions.
>
>
> > I know folks will disagree strongly, but that's what makes Usenet
> > interesting. Maybe I will patent online disagreeing and sue everyone
> > that disagrees without paying me my license fee.
>
> Your right.. That's what its coming too.


There was a Batman arc in the 1940s in which the Penguin copyrighted
the alphabet and made everybody pay him royalties every time they wrote
something down. We're getting there slowly.

Archived from groups: rec.video.desktop,alt.video.ptv.tivo (More info?)

I do love my TiVo's, but I also like having a media PC. When the media
PC's cost under $500 with the ability for users to program new
functionality, they are going to be pretty attractive, even with the
nice TiVo alternative.

Bottom line, though, I shouldn't have used the phrase "TiVo-like" since
I am well aware of the big difference.

Archived from groups: rec.video.desktop,alt.video.ptv.tivo (More info?)

In article <1124026055.809804.12680@o13g2000cwo.googlegroups.com>,
"BrianEWilliams" <sorry_no_email@yahoo.com> wrote:

> I do love my TiVo's, but I also like having a media PC. When the media
> PC's cost under $500 with the ability for users to program new
> functionality, they are going to be pretty attractive, even with the
> nice TiVo alternative.
>
> Bottom line, though, I shouldn't have used the phrase "TiVo-like" since
> I am well aware of the big difference.

What happens to the Media Center PC if you're playing a game or doing
some graphics-intensive thing and it's also trying to record something?

What happens to the game performance? What happens with the recording?

Archived from groups: rec.video.desktop,alt.video.ptv.tivo (More info?)

"BrianEWilliams" <sorry_no_email@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:1124026055.809804.12680@o13g2000cwo.googlegroups.com...
>I do love my TiVo's, but I also like having a media PC. When the media
> PC's cost under $500 with the ability for users to program new
> functionality, they are going to be pretty attractive, even with the
> nice TiVo alternative.
>
> Bottom line, though, I shouldn't have used the phrase "TiVo-like" since
> I am well aware of the big difference.

I'm considering one of these instead of a MediaCenter PC

http://www.iodata.com/products/pro [...] P2%2FDVDLA

http://tinyurl.com/6okgb

Archived from groups: rec.video.desktop,alt.video.ptv.tivo (More info?)

Seth (seth_lermanNOSPAM@hotmail.com) wrote in alt.video.ptv.tivo:
> I'm considering one of these instead of a MediaCenter PC
>
> http://www.iodata.com/products/pro [...] P2%2FDVDLA

Well, it can't record TV, and reports are that it chokes on high-bandwidth
HDTV over even a wired network connection, and doesn't apparently support
TS files of more than 720p. It also has a fixed maximum size for pictures
(2048x1532), so you'd have to down-convert before you send if you have a
camera with more resolution. It also doesn't upscale DVD movies to HD.

An HTPC doesn't have any of these limitations, and neither does the Roku
PhotoBridge (http://www.rokulabs.com/products/photobridge/index.php).

--
Jeff Rife |
| http://www.nabs.net/Cartoons/Rhyme [...] Daemon.gif