Ok, so I've been reading the posts and all are great. I know that this blog has focused mainly on Xbox360 and PS3 because these are the commercial packages out there. For the price, you get a killer gaming system plus home media and access to online content.
But what about the non-gaming options? I like to play video games, but honestly now that I have a job and a family it's hard to find the time to game. Also, PS3 and Xbox games are like $60 at BestBuy. I'm sure there are probably deals out there, but that can get pricey fast.
I think I'm going to start trying to contribute some info on non-game console options.
Options such as computer based home systems that offer more towards customization, home automation, DVR, and centralized home media. Sure PS3 & Xbox are trying to get there too, but right now the main consumers of these units are gamers, not mom or dad looking for a way to connect everyone in the house.
Here are the options and I'm sure this list will grow:
Commercial:
Tivo Series 3
Window Media Center Edition
Apple Front Row
??Others??
Open Source:
MythTV
iTheater
I know that each of these presents their pro's and cons. With a homebrew system you now become responsible for weeding through the myriad of hardware options as well as becoming the administrator of the system. For most geeks, this is ok because the setup is part of the fun. But for someone who wants to have something that just works, the commercial options are all they really have.
I think I'm going to dig into this a little to see what the best options are out there for MythTV and others. MythTV has been around for a while, and there's a lot of good hardware out there now that's not that expensive. If a mini-itx board will power the encoding/decoding necessary for HD (forgetting the DRM /encryption issues) then I would probably be happy with that.
The potential of using my widescreen TV as my main computer monitor brings a nice feeling of home media integration. The flexibility of something more open than PS3 or X360 is appealing.
Instant weather or traffic info is great for the morning rush out the door. Hopefully, the constant family photo screensaver on my HDTV will help reduce the number of holes I need to put in my walls for picture frames. And the possibility of seeing real-time e-mail alerts, RSS feeds, or (God help us) MySpace updates only helps less technical buy into the whole project.
I think it's time to start laying out all of the options and coming up with a list of pro/con for each.
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6 comments:
I agree with many things you said here. My tendency too is to go with a solution more home computer based than game console based. The biggest thing that draws me toward the PS3 is blu-ray. I enjoy an occasional game of Madden but I am not a hard-core gamer either. I like the idea of a solution that I have more control over. One of the rumors I keep reading is that apple will start offering blu-ray drives with their next product releases. If I could get a Mac mini with a blu-ray drive and upgraded video card then my decision would be made.
One of the things you mentioned about having real time weather and traffic will be solved when you get FIOS. On the FIOS remote they have widget buttons that bring up real time weather and traffic on the lower third of your screen. You just enter your zip code and they do the rest.
Plus the only way you would be able to so something like receive email updates and stuff like that while watching TV is if you had a system that would overlay it on your cable/fios image.
Ah, FIOS. It looks like I may have it soon! Aside from that, Using something like MythTV and an HD QAM tuner, I could get everything I want. I think. Actually, that makes me think I should make a list of what I want this thing to do. I think I'll do that.
Actually I don't know how that would work with FIOS. You need the box to decode all of the channels. The only channel you would get without using the fios box is the local nbc, abc and cbs affiliate. You may have to do something like using the video output of the box and an IR blaster connected to the PC. I think myth and orb support IR blasters.
Crap, you're right. I forgot about that. Maybe I won't switch to FIOS....NOT! The FIOS widgets aren't that great, but we'll see. There are other cool benefits to FIOS as well.
Have you read about the FIOS Home Media DVR?
http://www22.verizon.com/content/fiostv/dvr/home+media+dvr.htm
Yeah I saw the FIOS Home Media DVR. There is one BIG reason not to get it. This little line found in light gray small text: "Media Manager does not support copy-protected music." Translation: forget using any music you download from iTunes or any other service that attaches DRM.
Well, there are ways to remove even Apple's DRM from your purchased music.
Since the demise of my ReplayTV I long for the ability to easily watch my recorded shows anywhere in the house or on my personal media device.
http://hymn-project.org/
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