HDTV MythTV and HD Tivo series 3 compared.

http://wesnewell.no-ip.com/mythtivo.htm

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Uh, Wes,

How's about adding some more fields to that chart, like...

"Appliance"
Tivo - Yes
MythTV - No

"Time to install/setup"
Tivo - 10 Minutes
MythTv - infinite based on knowledge. No less than a few hours (what is
your time worth). Actually, it is probably never "complete".

"Cost with cards that HDMI output"
Tivo - included
MythTV - Variable based on Video card, but sure not included in those
el-cheapo cards

"Automatic Updates"
Tivo - Yes
MythTv - No, and updates needed from different sources

"Remote Control"
Tivo - Well known and well designed peanut remote
MythTv - no standard, needs a universal remote (did you factor in the cost
of your remote, and the time to set it up?) BTW - how well does your remote
work for turning off those PC monitors?

There's more... As I've said before, Wes. You arguments are disingenuous
at best. I've got nothing against MythTv, just your presentation that it is
a simple, slap it in, better and cheaper than Tivo attitude.

Jim




"Wes Newell" wrote in message
news:[email protected]
http://wesnewell.no-ip.com/mythtivo.htm

--
Want the ultimate in free OTA SD/HDTV Recorder? http://mythtv.org
http://mysettopbox.tv/knoppmyth.html Usenet alt.video.ptv.mythtv
My server http://wesnewell.no-ip.com/cpu.php

* Wes Newell wrote in alt.video.ptv.tivo:

http://wesnewell.no-ip.com/mythtivo.htm

Quote:

"This comparison is based on info available today as the HD Tivo series 3
has yet to be released...."

For his next trick he compares Chupacabra to the Abominable Snowman.

What a dolt.

--
David

On Thu, 09 Feb 2006 16:20:53 +0000, Scooby wrote:

Uh, Wes,

How's about adding some more fields to that chart, like...

"Appliance"
Tivo - Yes
MythTV - No

Interesting. You find a Tivo computer to be an aplliance, and a MythTV
computer not to be an appliance. Sorry, I just don't agree with that. Did
you happen to miss the very first line? System Type.

"Time to install/setup"
Tivo - 10 Minutes
MythTv - infinite based on knowledge. No less than a few hours (what is
your time worth). Actually, it is probably never "complete".

You can't setup a tivo in 10 minutes. Perhaps you don't remember the first
one you had. Granted it's not rocket science, but It's a lot more time
consuming than that. And how long does the data download take over the
phone? Hours. There's configuration time with it just as there is with
MythTV. And fwiw, basic setup for mythtv is as simple as loading 1 cd onto
the drive using knoppmyth. Sure, it takes more time overall, but it also
will do a lot more.

"Cost with cards that HDMI output"
Tivo - included
MythTV - Variable based on Video card, but sure not included in those
el-cheapo cards

Right, I had to pay $30 for the video card, plus a $10 adapter for DVI
to HDMI. But wait. I don't need hdmi. I don't even use the DVI port
(which tivo doesn't have). I use the VGA port (that the Tivo doesn't have
either) to get HDTV on a $69 1600x1200 monitor. iwth the one backend cost
of about $600 and one frontend cost of about $250, including monitors,
I've got 2 HDTV's with a combined capabilty of recording 4 shows at once.
What would this ewtup cost you using Tivos, and the cheapest HDTV monitor.
I'd estimate that the HDTV monitors alone would cost you $800. Now add 2
HD tivos to that and you're up to about $2400. No thanks.:-)

"Automatic Updates"
Tivo - Yes
MythTv - No, and updates needed from different sources

Control of updates?:-)

"Remote Control"
Tivo - Well known and well designed peanut remote MythTv - no standard,
needs a universal remote (did you factor in the cost of your remote, and
the time to set it up?) BTW - how well does your remote work for
turning off those PC monitors?

While I do have a remote for it, I chose to spend $10 for a remote KB and
mouse that can control every aspect of the system. Do you really want me
to get into what else you can do with a Linux PC that you can't do with
the Tivo?

There's more... As I've said before, Wes. You arguments are
disingenuous at best. I've got nothing against MythTv, just your
presentation that it is a simple, slap it in, better and cheaper than
Tivo attitude.

And in my opinion, it is. You're more than welcome to yours. That's why
they are opinions. And I didn't have any arguements in my review. I only
presented facts . I don't see you claiming there are any mistakes in it.
It's a free world, if you don't like my comparison you are more than
welcome to create your own website and... Sorry, you can't do that with
the tivo can you. Yes, the website is running on this machine, as is
MythTV 's backend server, and a FTP server, and I'm using a news reader to
reply to you now on it too, with a game I've got paused in the background
along with frontend that I paused until I finish this. Oh, and I can pause
live TV for hours too.:-) You like Tivo. That's your choice. Probably good
for you.


"Wes Newell" wrote in message
news:[email protected]
http://wesnewell.no-ip.com/mythtivo.htm

--
Want the ultimate in free OTA SD/HDTV Recorder? http://mythtv.org
http://mysettopbox.tv/knoppmyth.html Usenet alt.video.ptv.mythtv My
server http://wesnewell.no-ip.com/cpu.php


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Want the ultimate in free OTA SD/HDTV Recorder? http://mythtv.org
http://mysettopbox.tv/knoppmyth.html Usenet alt.video.ptv.mythtv
My server http://wesnewell.no-ip.com/cpu.php

On Thu, 09 Feb 2006 22:08:50 +0000, SINNER wrote:

* Wes Newell wrote in alt.video.ptv.tivo:

http://wesnewell.no-ip.com/mythtivo.htm

Quote:

"This comparison is based on info available today as the HD Tivo series 3
has yet to be released...."

For his next trick he compares Chupacabra to the Abominable Snowman.

What a dolt.

So Randy S. and I are both dolts. From you, I consider that a compliment.:-)

--
Want the ultimate in free OTA SD/HDTV Recorder? http://mythtv.org
http://mysettopbox.tv/knoppmyth.html Usenet alt.video.ptv.mythtv
My server http://wesnewell.no-ip.com/cpu.php

Wes Newell ) wrote in alt.video.ptv.tivo:
Right, I had to pay $30 for the video card, plus a $10 adapter for DVI
to HDMI. But wait. I don't need hdmi.

Because you don't watch recordings on a TV, which is what 99% of people
do.

I don't even use the DVI port
(which tivo doesn't have).

Correct, the Series 3 will have an HDMI port instead of DVI. The Series
3 will also have HDCP, which allows you to connect it to an HDTV, which
will be how 99% of people watch HD recordings.

I use the VGA port (that the Tivo doesn't have
either) to get HDTV on a $69 1600x1200 monitor.

Let us know when you get your system hooked up to a real TV, like 99% of
TiVo users.

I've got 2 HDTV's

Actually, you have two computer systems. Most people don't consider
a 19" computer monitor to be an "HDTV". I'm sure both the people that
could watch the Super Bowl on it would be happy with the picture.

What would this ewtup cost you using Tivos, and the cheapest HDTV monitor.
I'd estimate that the HDTV monitors alone would cost you $800.

Well, you could get a very nice 20" 1600x1200 Dell LCD (that can actually
display all 1600x1200 pixels, unlike your monitor) for less than $500 the
next time they go on sale. Or, you could get a 19" 1280x1024 (which
*still* has more real resolution than your monitor) for $300.

Since you only need one display for the TiVo, either of these would do
fine.

--
Jeff Rife |
| http://www.nabs.net/Cartoons/Dilbert/ActionItem.gif

Once upon a time, Wes Newell said:
http://wesnewell.no-ip.com/mythtivo.htm

I don't see the part where you tell that MythTV can only record
broadcast network over-the-air HD, while the CableCard TiVo will be able
to record many more HD channels from digital cable (HDNet/HDNet Movies,
ESPN/ESPN2 HD, HBO HD, Showtime HD, Discover HD Theater, Universal HD,
TNT HD, to name a few). OTA HD may be enough for you but the majority
of TV viewers want more than the broadcast networks (well over half the
US TV owning households have cable and/or satellite).

Due to CableCard DRM, an open source system like MythTV will never be
able to record those channels digitally. The only possible way would be
with an expensive real-time HD encoder per stream (and then you'll get
decode/reencode artifacting, not the orginal digital signal like a
TiVo).
--
Chris Adams
Systems and Network Administrator - HiWAAY Internet Services
I don't speak for anybody but myself - that's enough trouble.

Wes Newell wrote:
On Thu, 09 Feb 2006 22:08:50 +0000, SINNER wrote:


* Wes Newell wrote in alt.video.ptv.tivo:


http://wesnewell.no-ip.com/mythtivo.htm

Quote:

"This comparison is based on info available today as the HD Tivo series 3
has yet to be released...."

For his next trick he compares Chupacabra to the Abominable Snowman.

What a dolt.


So Randy S. and I are both dolts. From you, I consider that a compliment.:-)


Well, Wes, you must admit that the comparison exercise that you and I
went through is largely speculative based only on 3rd hand reports of a
prototype of a yet to be released product. I have no problem admitting
that the comparison is early, speculative, and quite possibly incorrect
in minor and/or significant details.

Randy S.

You can't setup a tivo in 10 minutes. Perhaps you don't remember the first
one you had. Granted it's not rocket science, but It's a lot more time
consuming than that. And how long does the data download take over the
phone? Hours.

Well, it depends on what you mean by 'set up'. It takes 2-3 minutes to
plug the cables, about 5 for the S2 to boot and 5 to enter the basic
data. Add another 5 for the HME including the two thumbed entry of the
WEP entry on a Tivo remote.

Does MythTV have power aware functions? The Tivo is ~ 40 Watts * 30
days * 24 hours *$0.12/KWH = $3.40/Month for power. If Myth can't go
to sleep, figure on 5X that (which would put you right in the range of
the monthly script fee).

I'll probably build one when I retire an old machine, but I can't
imaging my 6 year old will be able to operate it like the Tivo. It
would qualify as a fun project. Oh and then theres that power
thing....

) wrote in alt.video.ptv.tivo:
Does MythTV have power aware functions? The Tivo is ~ 40 Watts * 30
days * 24 hours *$0.12/KWH = $3.40/Month for power. If Myth can't go
to sleep, figure on 5X that (which would put you right in the range of
the monthly script fee).

I gotta disagree here. Even if it can't go to sleep, an AMD-based PC
with a medium-fast CPU will only use about 120W, which would be about
3x the TiVo. And, I'll bet anything that the Series 3 will be closer
to 70W consumption.

--
Jeff Rife |
| http://www.nabs.net/Cartoons/Sherman...enLemmings.gif