MediaReady 5000

[insomniac]

The real question about this new box is, can or will we be able to use it as a front end to our existing windows (sage) servers!?

I see that it has a sigma designs chip on it. Wouldnt that be sweet..

I.

[lovingHDTV]

I agree, I'd buy one and replace my client machine in the theater if that were the case.

The only downfall I see is that it does not support DVI/HDMI, but for now it would suffice if it could playback TS streams.

[insomniac]

true but it does have component!

Originally Posted by lovingHDTV

I agree, I'd buy one and replace my client machine in the theater if that were the case.

The only downfall I see is that it does not support DVI/HDMI, but for now it would suffice if it could playback TS streams.

[mikejaner]

My big questions are:
When?
Cost?

[insomniac]

MSRP $699 direct from their site

Originally Posted by mikejaner

My big questions are:
When?
Cost?

[ErsatzTom]

$699. They have an order page up.

t

[stanger89]

I think we'd want something a little more slim for a client. Not size wise, but hardware wise, for a client we wouldn't need an HDD, or a tuner.

[insomniac]

wouldnt hurt. Its essentially a more robust client than I have now. I use my pvr350 as a network encoder and remote HDD space from my client.

I.

Originally Posted by stanger89

I think we'd want something a little more slim for a client. Not size wise, but hardware wise, for a client we wouldn't need an HDD, or a tuner.

[heffe2001]

I just wish the announcement was "Here's the SageTV Client for MVP". We move into our new house this weekend, and I would LOVE to have an excuse to grab a MVP for one of our SDTV's..

[mikejaner]

The current MVP client works great.

[mikesm]

Is there full interoperability between Sage on Linux and Sage on windows? WHat about plugins, etc...? This seems like a hard thing to get right.

Thanks,
Mike

[sleonard]

How many tuner? 1 or 2?
or
What kind and how many video inputs?

Couldn't find this from their site or their .pdf

Will it work as a slave server to my Windows based server?
Will it play WMA? Doesn't appear to. Doubt a Linux based system could.

OTOH, it is a nice looking system with a good feature set. Might get my dad one of these.

[Opus4]

The VWB system should be able to be used as a server for Windows clients. But, as usual, you have to make sure you are running the same server & client versions or else they won't connect. I don't have that exact box, but I do have a Linux system for testing & I can run the same exact STV file on either system. The UI is exactly the same when using the same STV.

The usability of plugins depends on how they are written, just like any other code. If someone were to write something that required Windows API calls or programs, it probably won't work too well on the Linux box, as you would expect. But, it is possible to create plugins that work on either system... since that is what the default STV does anyway.

- Andy

[waynedunham]

Originally Posted by Opus4

The VWB system should be able to be used as a server for Windows clients. But, as usual, you have to make sure you are running the same server & client versions or else they won't connect.

It can be a client also correct? That's definitely what I'd be looking at it for.

Way to limited (imho) to be a server. Not enough expansion slots for MORE tuners , lowly 10/100 lan instead of gigabit, etc. However as a client they'd fit very nicely into any home theater cabinet, or bedroom, and the lack of tuners and gigabit lan wouldn't be much of an issue, just plunk my "gi-mongous" server in the basement right next to the incoming cable and my 16 port gigabit switch to my wired home network.

[mikesm]

Originally Posted by Opus4

The VWB system should be able to be used as a server for Windows clients. But, as usual, you have to make sure you are running the same server & client versions or else they won't connect. I don't have that exact box, but I do have a Linux system for testing & I can run the same exact STV file on either system. The UI is exactly the same when using the same STV.

The usability of plugins depends on how they are written, just like any other code. If someone were to write something that required Windows API calls or programs, it probably won't work too well on the Linux box, as you would expect. But, it is possible to create plugins that work on either system... since that is what the default STV does anyway.

- Andy

Interesting. I'm very familiar with the Sigma hardware used in that device. It's quite nice from a codec support perspective and can do HD decode quite well, though not with some of the nice processing we are used to on the PC. Still, it's a great picture.

I wish they would release a stripped down version which would make a great HD client. No tuners, HD etc... needed, though I suspect they'll need a harddrive for swap space etc...

Thanks,
Mike

[Opus4]

Originally Posted by waynedunham

It can be a client also correct? That's definitely what I'd be looking at it for.

Hmmm... I'm told that like all servers, it could probably be hacked to act as a client, but I'm sure it isn't something that VWB would support if you were to make the change(s).

And, no I don't have additional details to mention regarding how to do that at the moment.

- Andy

[waynedunham]

Originally Posted by Opus4

Hmmm... I'm told that like all servers, it could probably be hacked to act as a client, but I'm sure it isn't something that VWB would support if you were to make the change(s).

And, no I don't have additional details to mention regarding how to do that at the moment.

- Andy

Well, I guess I'll be a guinea (sp?) pig. I ordered one, we'll see how close they come to the 2-3 weeks posted on their website order page is to the actual ship date.

Just to be clear here, we are talking Sage server/client and not CPU server/client right?

And..... if it can't (easily) be changed to a Sage client, then can I set it up to net record to the tuners in my present machine? Presently I have 2 PVR-500's and a Fusion 5 Gold which hopefully will work with Sage someday (QAM of course, I'm too far out in the boonies and in a hole to get any decent OTA HD)

[insomniac]

GL!

Originally Posted by waynedunham

Well, I guess I'll be a guinea (sp?) pig. I ordered one, we'll see how close they come to the 2-3 weeks posted on their website order page is to the actual ship date.

Just to be clear here, we are talking Sage server/client and not CPU server/client right?

And..... if it can't (easily) be changed to a Sage client, then can I set it up to net record to the tuners in my present machine? Presently I have 2 PVR-500's and a Fusion 5 Gold which hopefully will work with Sage someday (QAM of course, I'm too far out in the boonies and in a hole to get any decent OTA HD)

[Opus4]

Originally Posted by waynedunham

Just to be clear here, we are talking Sage server/client and not CPU server/client right?

And..... if it can't (easily) be changed to a Sage client, then can I set it up to net record to the tuners in my present machine? Presently I have 2 PVR-500's and a Fusion 5 Gold which hopefully will work with Sage someday (QAM of course, I'm too far out in the boonies and in a hole to get any decent OTA HD)

Again: I'm fairly certain that modifying it isn't something that VWB will be supporting, so I would be careful & I hope you know what you are doing in Linux. I don't really know what to say about having it control network encoders on another PC. It _should_ be able to function like any other SageTV installation... except that it is on Linux and probably has a few extra features you saw in the press release and/or info sheet. I'm sure it has been tested for the delivered configuration; things beyond that may or may not work as you expect.

Disclaimer: since I now work with SageTV, I should say that any changes I've commented on should not be taken as SageTV supported suggestions! Any changes you make are done at your own risk.

- Andy

[Jesse]

Definitely a very slick device, but for $699.00 I could build a nice pc. That being said, if it will work as a full on sage client and play my ripped DVD's, I would still go for it to avoid all the maintenance and security crap that goes along with a pc.

With the sage media player plugin having been anounced I was hoping to hear that someone would take on developing a client for the Roku or the Buffalo Link Theater. These would suit me better as clients than the VWB box. But hey, thats just me.

Please keep us posted waynedunham.

Jesse