[mythtv-users] Commercial PVR offerings - is MythTv still competitive ?

[Michael T. Dean]

On 02/09/2009 10:05 PM, George Mogielnicki wrote:
> You are right, percentages are misleading, 300% of $5 is not much. Let
> stay with base $ in USD currency to avoid confusion.
>
> On further reflection, the math gets worse. The total cost of the hardware
> to build an HD miniItx  (small and quiet) from newegg is roughly 500. The
> cost of second HD Receiver that I had to get to be able to record and
> watch HD at the same time is 125. That's already 625. This is an
> substantial amount.
>
> Actually, I did not have to get the second receiver, I could just return
> the old HD and rent the new one 6131 for $10 a month (or buy it as I did).
> With this configuration, I can only watch or record/watch at the same
> time. 0 incremental cost. I could also keep the old receiver for watching
> and use the new one for recording. For the total of 125 investment I have
> dual HD  tuner capability.
>
> What I have now with the new receiver is 1080 HD viewing and recording
> with digital audio for the price of 125 plus usb storage that I had laying
> around. The package is small and quiet. I can not rip dvd's to it
> (download,burn, play in dvd player is an easy worakround) or use
> MythWeahter or read news. What I can do is to use the basic pvr
> functionality (watch, schedule, record, play) in full HD for 125 dollars
> without major issues. I would also venture to say that majority of Mythtv
> users spend 90% of their time on the above plus mythvideo.
>
> I run plenty of servers at home: asterisk voip, slimserver, qmail
> mailserver, even ltsp. All of this projects cost some effort and some $
> but the underlying theme is that there are no free or inexpensive
> alternatives.
>
> I just have hard time to justify the $500 expense and time involved in
> compiling and troubleshooting VDPAU,  when a working alternative covering
> basics costs so little. The remote even has 30 second forward skip...
>
> As far as the kickbacks for the commercials, sure it can happen, and then
> I will feel justified in building a new box. Until this happens, I have
> nothing to loose.

If you've already made up your mind, why are you trying to convince us?  
We (the community as a whole) don't care if you choose to use a 
different PVR product.  Myth is for those who want Myth.

Mike