[mythtv-users] Market for mythtv boxes?

[Ben Nolan]

High end users with low end hardware. ;)
 
I was thinking of an epia m10000, bttv tuner and a silent 20gb drive
with 256mb ram. Silent powersupply and a custom built enclosure. The
enclosure would be hi fi dimensions and about 3 inches high. Blank front
save a status led. Back face features coax / composite in and composite
/ 6 channel out. All presented as rcas - no keyboard/mouse etc ports.
Two usb ports on the back for future expansion.
 
The parts list would run to about 250 USD, the case would cost about 30
USD to fabricate. Put in 2 hours of time (at $10/hour) to build and
image the box and you're looking at a cost of $300. Go sell that for
$500 and it comes in at a nice and round $950 NZD.
 
There currently aren't any pvrs in this country. There will be shortly -
but none that can get channel updates from the net. So there is my
interest in the system. Plus I'd like one for myself. :-)
 
Set the bios to quick boot. Fire up a system based on debian stable -
but with a custom kernel that displays a boot logo. Fire up x
(recompiled for the epia - and set not to display that flash of "moire")
and start myth. Have everything controlled through a remote. Have a set
up mode that auto-selects channels, the user then just numbers them.
 
Requires users to have an home network for getting updates / channel
descriptions etc.
 
Support xmltv (by autodownloading updated xmltv scripts from my
website), program recording, autodiscover and play any media on network
shares. Ability to use network attached storage for recording shows.
Plays mp3s / divx / etc on the tv.
 
Probably not going to support live tv since I don't know whether a
Nehemiah can handle it.
 
I'd just have no support lines myself - leave the customers to work
things out themselves. It's not like there is going to be any
bash-hacking required on the box.
 
Regards,
Ben
-----Original Message-----
From: mythtv-users-bounces at mythtv.org
[mailto:mythtv-users-bounces at mythtv.org] On Behalf Of Edward Wildgoose
Sent: Monday, 15 September 2003 9:39 p.m.
To: Discussion about mythtv
Subject: RE: [mythtv-users] Market for mythtv boxes?
 
What's your intended market though?  High end or low end?
 
You have issues selling to each I think?
-----Original Message-----
From: Ben Nolan [mailto:ben at ripcord.co.nz]
Sent: 15 September 2003 14:33
To: mythtv-users at mythtv.org
Subject: [mythtv-users] Market for mythtv boxes?
Is there a market for prebuilt mythtv boxes? Hi-fi component-style
systems with a remote control and mythtv preinstalled etc. etc.
 
Surely there is - why isn't anyone doing it?
 
Regards,
Ben
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