[mythtv-users] prebuilt pvrs for developers benefit?

[Scott Pouliot]

The price breaks on both come out nearly even though if you add in the $300
subscription cost for lifetime TiVo + $99 for the Home Media Option.....and
your "lifetime" subscription only covers the one TiVo you subscribed on...if
it dies and they don't replace it....your out $300.

I do still agree though that for the masses....TiVo is what they would flock
too....or ReplayTV....other TiVo clones or whatever.  Almost no setup time,
and tons of support.

I spent a total of like $350 on my MythBox + a 160GB Hard Drive I had bought
a few weeks prior for $89 at Best Buy....which isn't bad since it does more
than TiVo ever will.  It's mainly for people that are familiar with PC's
though....hence the large problem with selling pre-built Myth systems.

It could be made just as simple as TiVo with more work....but how much more
is the real question.

-----Original Message-----
From: mythtv-users-bounces at mythtv.org
[mailto:mythtv-users-bounces at mythtv.org] On Behalf Of Dan Morphis
Sent: Monday, May 03, 2004 4:30 PM
To: Discussion about mythtv
Subject: Re: [mythtv-users] prebuilt pvrs for developers benefit?

Its not economically viable.  By the time you have a nice looking case, 
quiet fans, hd and dvd drive, plus memory and other stuff.  Your looking 
at > $500

Example using the cheapest components (all prices quoted as shipped):
Case - ATC-610 $111.40
Gigabyte GA-7ZMMHC w/ Athlon Xp 1500 $68.89
PC2700 DDR 256MB $17
100GB ATA100 $59
DVD Drive $32
Power Supply - Bunk ass house brand $6
PVR-250 $83

Now, all these components only cost $377, but in real life; you would 
never want to put some of these components into a computer.  Especially 
not one your going to have to support.  To get good parts, your looking 
at > $525.  Now, couple that with the need for support and to make a 
profit and your looking at a retail of > $650 per unit.  Compare that w/ 
a TIVO Series2 140 hr.  That can be had for $321.26 Plus subscription. 

One other thing your going to have to deal w/ on a production PVR is 
where to get the program guide data from. . .

I'm not trying to squash your dreams, just point out that its really 
unfeasable right now given the current cost of components.

-dan

sukeband at vzavenue.net wrote:

>Hey everyone,
>
>I know the subject of selling commercial mythtv boxes has 
>been probably talked about to death, but I'd hate to see 
>talents and skill of the major developers on this, go 
>unrewarded monetarily. I've been playing around with the 
>software for a few months now and, I feel like it's nothing 
>short of brilliant. 
>
>Is anyone adverse to the idea of marketing prebuilt systems 
>and having any some of generated go to the major developers? 
>Does anyone see a fairly large market for these? If this is 
>the case, I don't see a problem taking advantage of that, if 
>it went towards the betterment of the players in the 
>community, especially the people that made this project 
>possible?
>
>What are your thoughts on this guys?
>
>
>-Rob
>  
>
>------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>_______________________________________________
>mythtv-users mailing list
>mythtv-users at mythtv.org
>http://mythtv.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/mythtv-users
>  
>