[mythtv-users] commercially-produced mythboxes -- an idea

[Cook, Garry]

I wouldn't be able to reliably troubleshoot a users issue without
knowing that I possessed the same hardware. So, you'd have to provide me
with one of those boxes. :)

Garry W. Cook, CCNA
Network Infrastructure Manager
MACTEC, Inc. - http://www.mactec.com/
303.273.5050 (Office) - 720.220.1862 (Mobile)

mythtv-users-bounces at mythtv.org wrote:
> As some of you may know, I work for a systems integrator
> (siliconmechanics.com).  Though we specialize in servers,
> many of us are
> OSS and linux fanatics, and some of us have wanted to do something to
> "give back" to the OSS community.  Since I love mythtv, I
> thought it'd
> be a good place to start.  My idea is this...
> 
> We have no desire to provide software support (or deal with zap2it
> licensing issues), but we're one of the best out there for hardware
> support and reliable systems.  Since this is a "give back" kind of
> thing, and "desktops" aren't moneymakers, we don't really care about
> making money off of them (just enough to cover labor and
> support costs).
> 
> I've been working with people in the irc channel to try to
> come up with
> good hardware platforms (2 systems -- amd vs intel), and as
> per my boss'
> request, am aiming around the $1000 retail price range (high-end, I
> know) for a system capable of HDTV output.
> 
> We considered a lower-end box, but the cheapest I could come
> up with was
> around $600 using near-obselete hardware like a pundit (remember, we
> can't buy hard drives with rebates, etc).  Might as well pay more and
> get a much nicer system in a more appropriate-looking htpc
> case (I like
> the silverstone ones best, at the moment)
> 
> Anyway, we'd install fedora with mythtv and ivtv (and/or dvb/pchdtv)
> drivers, make sure it all works (short of configuring zap2it -- I
> don't want to get tangled in their license as a commercial entity). 
> Then you, as knowledgeable mythtv admins can turn around and offer
> your consulting services to prospective interested parties to help
> them set up the mythbox (and will let you instruct them in setting up
> their 
> own personal
> account at zap2it, and explain how the surveys work, etc.).
> 
> My question to you is, "Does anyone think this sounds like a
> worthwhile endeavor?"  Would anyone actually take us up on the offer?
> 
> If so, please email me with questions/comments.  I don't
> really want to
> push this unless it's something that people would actually be
> interested in. 
> 
> -Chris
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