[mythtv-users] prebuilt pvrs for developers benefit?

[Tony Maro]

Chris Petersen wrote:

>>The hardware is cheap you can get mini box for 150 cpu for 50 memory 50 and
>>nice tv card from 20  to 200. hard drive 120GB is 70
>>    
>>
>
>$500 isn't cheap.  Heck, $300 isn't cheap, especially with cable
>providers starting to offer DVR's with their digital cable packages
>(Tivo is only as popular as it is because it's part of DirecTV - look at
>how much worse off ReplayTV is).
>
>  
>
>>Now with tivo you are limited to what you can record and you have pay fee to
>>get programing  liftime is 299 for one unit so when you upgrade your tivo
>>you have to pay another 299.
>>    
>>
>
>Can't argue with this.
>
>BTW, not sure if people keep up on this stuff, but Moxie is seemingly
>finally coming to market...  http://www.digeo.com/ - it's a
>client-server system, just like myth (although not quite as powerful, I
>think the number of clients is limited), and has some MASSIVE financial
>backing (Paul Allen, if I recall correctly), which explains how they're
>still around about 2 years after announcing their product.  Anyway, this
>is what you'd have to compete against, not Tivo.  No pricing on the
>system itself, but it says that an extra client box will cost $79. 
>That's dirt cheap.
>

You're looking at this the wrong way.  MythTV should be considered a 
high-end solution.  I know a guy who just last year spent $3000 on a 
Linux-based MP3 server similar to Myth.  It had TV out to select the 
album, would auto-rip any CD placed in it, automatically downloaded 
cover art from the Internet and played back using digital outs, and was 
rack mounted.  I know it was Linux based because I watched it boot ;-)  
It was in his "theater room".

And this was JUST for MP3's.

A MythTV box really is a similar high-end product because it's not 
limited to just a few features.  Most mass-produced products are 
crapped-down to cut corners and save costs.  High-end theater equipment 
however has extra's added and prices tripled.

If I were to market a MythTV box, I'd offer installation and 
configuration for around $3000 in a package designed for A/V enthusiasts 
with too much money to spend.  I'd then offer a $600 / year maintenance 
agreement that covers maintaining the software, updates when the cable 
TV adds channels, etc.  I might even consider offering a service to rip 
their own DVD collections at $20 / DVD and placing it on the HD for easy 
viewing.

In a town like Atlanta or NY, you should be able to easily sell two or 
more a month with your eyes closed.  As long as the case is pretty.

-Tony