3. Installation And Setup

SageTV will run on most Microsoft operating systems from Windows 98SE to Windows XP and is also Linux compatible. I tested it on Windows XP SP2. Other than a minor ache in my fingers from typing in the longest CD key that I have ever encountered - 69 characters! - the installation of the SageTV media center application went without a hitch. The SageTV configuration wizard starts automatically when the application is launched for the first time.

The SageTV configuration wizard

The configuration wizard was obviously designed to be navigated mainly via a handheld remote control. So I grabbed my trusty ATI Remote Wonder Plus and went to work. I'm a big fan of ATI's RF remote series since the range is great and there's no need for line of sight.

After using SageTV for a while, I found that it was just as easy to use my remote as it was to use a standard keyboard and mouse to navigate through the setup. At first glance, using a remote might seem to be an inefficient way to design a complex setup. Once the PC is installed into a home theater environment, however, making adjustments in the setup menu with the remote becomes much more convenient than digging out a keyboard and mouse.

There are approximately 30 steps involved in the initial SageTV setup, covering several customization options that affect the feel and functionality of the application, as well as the initial TV tuner configuration. If you're not familiar with media center applications, you will likely find yourself going back to the setup and adjusting aspects of the custom configuration as you determine your needs and tastes. SageTV makes it very easy to find and adjust the customization options after completing the initial setup. Since none of these settings are really set in stone, the user has a certain level of freedom to experiment with SageTV's many features.

SageTV lets you choose the way that you prefer to view videos while navigating through its menus. After giving the full screen background videos a try, I decided that they were too distracting for my taste and went back into the setup to change the default to a preview window. The process was intuitive, and I was able to make the change easily and quickly.

Video display on background