Media Center PC's

[Guest]

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

I have been using Beyond TV and Beyond Media from www.snapstream.com
for several years now in my HTPC.

 

[seth]

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

"Jeff Rife" <wevsr@nabs.net> wrote in message
news:MPG.1d69c4b766a692e4989f13@news.nabs.net...
> 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/products.php?cat=HNP&sc=AVEL&ts=2&tsc=15&sc=AVEL&pId=AVLP2%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.

The ability to record is not an issue for me as my source of programming
where I live is cable or satellite. Too far from anything to grab OTA. But
I see how this would be a desired feature for others.

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

Nice product, but missing a DVD player. Part of what had me find the Iodata
box is my need for a new DVD player. Currently I'm using my XBox.

 

[Guest]

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

Seth (seth_lermanNOSPAM@hotmail.com) wrote in alt.video.ptv.tivo:
> > An HTPC doesn't have any of these limitations, and neither does the Roku
> > PhotoBridge (http/www.rokulabs.com/products/photobridge/index.php).
>
> Nice product, but missing a DVD player.

Well, it doesn't have a DVD drive, but plays DVDs quite nicely if you have
a computer with a DVD drive (or ripped files) connected to the network.

--
Jeff Rife | "She just dropped by to remind me that my life
| is an endless purgatory, interrupted by profound
| moments of misery."
| -- Richard Karinsky, "Caroline in the City"

 

[Guest]

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

3rd party software needed for DVD play of the VIDEO_TS folder ==Mplay

works, but a DVD player or MCE PC with My Movies works better -- My Movies
and MCE plays ISO image of DVDs either with the built in player if you have
the decoders loaded from either PowerDVD or TheaterTek software

As I mention I have all this toys Roku HD1000, MCE, HDMI dvd olayer -- Roku
is not that great for DVD play experience compared to the other options

it is superb for slide show of digital photos - which is why I bought one





"Jeff Rife" <wevsr@nabs.net> wrote in message
news:MPG.1d6c1dba1bc5f5b9989f28@news.nabs.net...
> Seth (seth_lermanNOSPAM@hotmail.com) wrote in alt.video.ptv.tivo:
>> > An HTPC doesn't have any of these limitations, and neither does the
>> > Roku
>> > PhotoBridge (http/www.rokulabs.com/products/photobridge/index.php).
>>
>> Nice product, but missing a DVD player.
>
> Well, it doesn't have a DVD drive, but plays DVDs quite nicely if you have
> a computer with a DVD drive (or ripped files) connected to the network.
>
> --
> Jeff Rife | "She just dropped by to remind me that my life
> | is an endless purgatory, interrupted by profound
> | moments of misery."
> | -- Richard Karinsky, "Caroline in the City"

 

[Guest]

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

Steven Toney (toneys@ibm.net) wrote in alt.video.ptv.tivo:
> As I mention I have all this toys Roku HD1000, MCE, HDMI dvd olayer -- Roku
> is not that great for DVD play experience compared to the other options
> it is superb for slide show of digital photos - which is why I bought one

True, the Roku isn't as good at DVD playback as it could be, but it works.
It is better at HD than anything else I have seen in that price range.

It works great with HDTV capture cards in a PC to allow you to set the PC to
record stuff, and then watch through the Roku. You don't have to worry about
whether the PC is still recording or not...just start watching.

--
Jeff Rife | "She just dropped by to remind me that my life
| is an endless purgatory, interrupted by profound
| moments of misery."
| -- Richard Karinsky, "Caroline in the City"

 

[seth]

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

"Jeff Rife" <wevsr@nabs.net> wrote in message
news:MPG.1d6c1dba1bc5f5b9989f28@news.nabs.net...
> Seth (seth_lermanNOSPAM@hotmail.com) wrote in alt.video.ptv.tivo:
>> > An HTPC doesn't have any of these limitations, and neither does the
>> > Roku
>> > PhotoBridge (http/www.rokulabs.com/products/photobridge/index.php).
>>
>> Nice product, but missing a DVD player.
>
> Well, it doesn't have a DVD drive, but plays DVDs quite nicely if you have
> a computer with a DVD drive (or ripped files) connected to the network.

Since you're more up on features than I am (seriously, not being a wise-ass)
how does this puppy stack up. On the surface it appears the same as the
IOData box, but does mention some of the up-conversion that you pointed out
was missing on the IOData box.

http/www.buffalotech.com/products/product-detail.php?productid=96&categoryid=18#

 

[Guest]

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

Seth (seth_lermanNOSPAM@hotmail.com) wrote in alt.video.ptv.tivo:
> Since you're more up on features than I am (seriously, not being a wise-ass)
> how does this puppy stack up. On the surface it appears the same as the
> IOData box, but does mention some of the up-conversion that you pointed out
> was missing on the IOData box.
>
> http/www.buffalotech.com/products/product-detail.php?productid=96&categoryid=18#

Well, ignore the "wireless" part...even 54Mbps isn't fast enough for
reliable HDTV transmission (because you only get about 1/3 that speed in
the real world), so you'd have to go wired if you want HD.

Second, there's no digital video output (DVI/HDMI), so you can count on
the fact that it does *not* upconvert DVDs.

Next, the spec sheet shows that it "supports" a lot more stuff than it
brags about in big letters. The AAC (iTunes) support is one that jumps out
at me as something that they would be bragging about. It's possible that
some of these features are only "supported" through conversion by a program
running on a computer (since--based on the manual--you *have* to have
special software installed on a computer). Also, it only supports UPnP for
media sharing. The Roku supports SMB, NFS, and has limited UPnP support
that is getting better with each software revision.

On the other hand, in the laundry list of video files it supports, TS is
*not* listed, and it's by far the most popular method of storing HD
recordings on PCs.

Personally, for about the same price as the Roku, I'd avoid it. Buy a
standalone upscaling DVD player (most of which also support DivX, WMV,
etc.) if you want a truly easy to use "insert the disc and go" solution.

If you want to play networked media, look elsewhere. I like the Roku
because it is an open platform. If I get desperate enough, I can write
the software myself.

--
Jeff Rife | "She just dropped by to remind me that my life
| is an endless purgatory, interrupted by profound
| moments of misery."
| -- Richard Karinsky, "Caroline in the City"

 

[Guest]

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

Seth wrote:
> "Jeff Rife" <wevsr@nabs.net> wrote in message
> news:MPG.1d6c1dba1bc5f5b9989f28@news.nabs.net...
>
>>Seth (seth_lermanNOSPAM@hotmail.com) wrote in alt.video.ptv.tivo:
>>
>>>>An HTPC doesn't have any of these limitations, and neither does the
>>>>Roku
>>>>PhotoBridge (http/www.rokulabs.com/products/photobridge/index.php).
>>>
>>>Nice product, but missing a DVD player.
>>
>>Well, it doesn't have a DVD drive, but plays DVDs quite nicely if you have
>>a computer with a DVD drive (or ripped files) connected to the network.
>
>
> Since you're more up on features than I am (seriously, not being a wise-ass)
> how does this puppy stack up. On the surface it appears the same as the
> IOData box, but does mention some of the up-conversion that you pointed out
> was missing on the IOData box.
>
> http/www.buffalotech.com/products/product-detail.php?productid=96&categoryid=18#

Seth,

This might be exactly what I was looking for. I recently wired up my
house in preparation for my (self installed) IPTV system.

Most of these other IPTV players like this must either use a windows
machine or a Mac as "the server". This one runs off the buffalo terabit
storage.

Wow.. I'll have to look into that one.

-Richard

 

[Guest]

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

On Thu, 18 Aug 2005 15:51:55 GMT, Richard Ragon <bsema04@hananho.com>
wrote:

>Seth wrote:
>> "Jeff Rife" <wevsr@nabs.net> wrote in message
>> news:MPG.1d6c1dba1bc5f5b9989f28@news.nabs.net...
>>
>>>Seth (seth_lermanNOSPAM@hotmail.com) wrote in alt.video.ptv.tivo:
>>>
>>>>>An HTPC doesn't have any of these limitations, and neither does the
>>>>>Roku
>>>>>PhotoBridge (http/www.rokulabs.com/products/photobridge/index.php).
>>>>
>>>>Nice product, but missing a DVD player.
>>>
>>>Well, it doesn't have a DVD drive, but plays DVDs quite nicely if you have
>>>a computer with a DVD drive (or ripped files) connected to the network.
>>
>>
>> Since you're more up on features than I am (seriously, not being a wise-ass)
>> how does this puppy stack up. On the surface it appears the same as the
>> IOData box, but does mention some of the up-conversion that you pointed out
>> was missing on the IOData box.
>>
>> http/www.buffalotech.com/products/product-detail.php?productid=96&categoryid=18#
>
>Seth,
>
>This might be exactly what I was looking for. I recently wired up my
>house in preparation for my (self installed) IPTV system.
>
>Most of these other IPTV players like this must either use a windows
>machine or a Mac as "the server". This one runs off the buffalo terabit
>storage.
>
>Wow.. I'll have to look into that one.
>
>-Richard

Me Too!

Luck;
Ken

 

[seth]

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

"Ken Maltby" <kmaltby@sbcglobal.net> wrote in message
news:6gh9g1d7mubo4qdn74v485ja2g558b5pr9@4ax.com...
> On Thu, 18 Aug 2005 15:51:55 GMT, Richard Ragon <bsema04@hananho.com>
> wrote:
>
>>Seth wrote:
>>> "Jeff Rife" <wevsr@nabs.net> wrote in message
>>> news:MPG.1d6c1dba1bc5f5b9989f28@news.nabs.net...
>>>
>>>>Seth (seth_lermanNOSPAM@hotmail.com) wrote in alt.video.ptv.tivo:
>>>>
>>>>>>An HTPC doesn't have any of these limitations, and neither does the
>>>>>>Roku
>>>>>>PhotoBridge (http/www.rokulabs.com/products/photobridge/index.php).
>>>>>
>>>>>Nice product, but missing a DVD player.
>>>>
>>>>Well, it doesn't have a DVD drive, but plays DVDs quite nicely if you
>>>>have
>>>>a computer with a DVD drive (or ripped files) connected to the network.
>>>
>>>
>>> Since you're more up on features than I am (seriously, not being a
>>> wise-ass)
>>> how does this puppy stack up. On the surface it appears the same as the
>>> IOData box, but does mention some of the up-conversion that you pointed
>>> out
>>> was missing on the IOData box.
>>>
>>> http/www.buffalotech.com/products/product-detail.php?productid=96&categoryid=18#
>>
>>Seth,
>>
>>This might be exactly what I was looking for. I recently wired up my
>>house in preparation for my (self installed) IPTV system.
>>
>>Most of these other IPTV players like this must either use a windows
>>machine or a Mac as "the server". This one runs off the buffalo terabit
>>storage.
>>
>>Wow.. I'll have to look into that one.
>>
>>-Richard
>
> Me Too!

Well, I ended up ordering the IOData box. Will hopefully be here this
Friday. A few co-workers of mine have it and enjoy the results, even on
large screen TVs. It may not be as good as the Roku, but for the money it
seems to fit my ticket. To go with something that had DVI output (and use
the DVI) I would have needed to also get a DVI switch box (remote controlled
so I could macro it from my Pronto remote so the wife and kids could easily
use it) and at that point the cost difference became quite a bit.

My main interests are DVD playback (I'm sure it will perform better than the
XBox I am using now) and streaming of DivX and MP3 files from my server.

Final price (assuming rebate comes as promised) is $219 (including shipping)
as they have a $50 competitive upgrade/rebate that the XBox qualifies for.

We'll see how it performs once I get it and install it.