[mythtv-users] MS media center

[Brian Wood]

On Saturday 27 February 2010 08:51:38 am Christopher Meredith wrote:
> On Sat, Feb 27, 2010 at 8:37 AM, Brian Wood <beww at beww.org> wrote:
> > On Friday 26 February 2010 07:58:47 pm Christopher Meredith wrote:
> >> It's not my intention to quibble unnecessarily, but MythTV is
> >> perfectly usable without the copyrightable portions (descriptions). I
> >> really don't understand the resistance that always seems to accompany
> >> attempts to get simple listings without paying a monthly fee. That's
> >> the way things used to be and when SD came out, we were assured that
> >> it wasn't a profit-making venture. If this is true, how does it
> >> "support the community"?
> >
> > Oh come on, PLEASE.
> >
> > There is a difference between making a profit and simply meeting your
> > expenses.
> 
> According to the page linked above, SD does more than simply meet its
> expenses. While I agree with and approve of everything they do, it
> doesn't follow that I should have to pay them. There are many causes I
> sympathize with, but I don't give them money. That should be my
> choice.
> 
> > I would be more than happy to pay SD several times what they charge. They
> > are very reasonably priced, and the folks behind it jumped in when the
> > usefulness of Myth systems was threatened and very quickly made sure a
> > lot of us continued to get the data we needed.
> >
> > When someone provides you with something of value, you reciprocate.
> 
> And in most cases, I do. But I'm not using SD so it's not like I'm
> stealing from them. Besides, SD wasn't the only one to jump in and
> make sure EPG data continued to be available. The author of zap2xml
> (and then mc2xml) did so as well.
> 
> > Or are you the type who never leaves a tip at a restaurant?
> 
> No, I tip. But you bring up a good analogy. Suppose you go to a
> restaurant that has a buffet but also allows you to order off the
> menu. The food is the same regardless, it's just that ordering off the
> menu adds the convenience of someone bringing you the food and
> constantly coming by to see if you need anything else. The restaurant
> provides the buffet, but makes it clear that they would prefer you not
> use it. Nevertheless, there it is.
> 
> As I see it, the buffet is a perfectly valid option. Does it mean that
> the restaurant makes less money? Yes. Does it mean that the wait staff
> may make less money on a given night, because the buffet customers
> don't tip? Probably. But that does not create a moral obligation in me
> to order off the menu just because the restaurant owners want me to.
> It also doesn't create a moral obligation in me to voluntarily pay
> extra, or to tip the waiters that don't serve me, just because I
> exercise a valid choice to use the buffet. If the restaurant REALLY
> wants to make sure no one uses the buffet, they can close it.
> 
> As Michelle points out, access to EPG increases the number of TV
> viewers. In the same way, having the buffet option attracts customers
> that would not come in AT ALL if it weren't an option. Just because
> someone would come to the restaurant EVEN IF it didn't have the buffet
> doesn't mean that he is morally obligated not to use the buffet.

Well if you don't use SD then of course you have no obligation to pay them.

Even at a buffet I usually leave a small gratuity, some of the wait staff bring 
water or replace cutlery I may have dropped, and keep any eye out for things 
in general. The compensation method for "tipped" employees is (at least IMHO) 
very unfair, and Leaving a small tip even when using the buffet is a way to 
acknowledge that fact.

There's another angle:

Many of the people involved with SD are also involved with MythTV itself. Many 
of us have tried to compensate the Myth developers in some way for the 
wonderful product they have supplied us with, and have been unable to do so.

I figure that supporting SD is an indirect way of compensating at least some of 
the Myth developers, perhaps a very imperfect method, but in my case it makes 
me feel better.

But I use SD, and am very happy to pay for their service.