Maximum PC reviews the HD200

[Chriscic]

The latest issue of MaximumPC (one of my fav mags) reviewed the HD200. They gave it only a 6 out of 10.

They considered both the extender and standalone mode. They had some specific complaints about standalone being somewhat slow and not playing back all the same media as the extender. I don't use the standalone myself so can't comment on whether or not that is on the mark. I would certainly think that if it is the case, the firmware would be rapidly updated to fix this.

They also weren't impressed with the interface overall (standalone or extender), and the general lack of polish. I can see what they are saying here as the interface is dated and quirky in places.

Personally, I love Sage and my HD200 and would rate it much higher, but they did make some vaid points from the POV of someone new to the whole thing.

I was suprised they said you may as well put multiple Tivos around the house and use the interface to the PC. This was the one place I wondered if they were off base. I doubt you can play anywhere near the different file formats from the Tivo that you can from the HD200.

[Brent]

Was this print only or is there an online link?

[sic0048]

Originally Posted by Chriscic

I was suprised they said you may as well put multiple Tivos around the house and use the interface to the PC. This was the one place I wondered if they were off base. I doubt you can play anywhere near the different file formats from the Tivo that you can from the HD200.

Not only that, but can you even come close to doing this with a TIVO for $200 and no monthly fees?

[aflat]

Tivo can play multiple formats, but you'll have to transcode many of them of course. There are some really nice apps to do it, and you don't need much of a server to pull it off, as long as you don't expect to watch it at the same time it's transcoding. The Tivo allows you to store the transcoded version on the Tivo to watch it later.

You still can't do it for nearly the price you can with Sage though. I was watching mkv's on my Tivo, with transcoding, on a series 2 before Sage. No hidef. If you can accept that, then you can get one off of ebay, with lifetime(no subscription needed) for less then $200.

Sage is still much better, and can handle HD, which is why I'm here, and not still in Tivoland.

[HuMan321]

Originally Posted by aflat

Tivo can play multiple formats, but you'll have to transcode many of them of course. There are some really nice apps to do it, and you don't need much of a server to pull it off, as long as you don't expect to watch it at the same time it's transcoding. The Tivo allows you to store the transcoded version on the Tivo to watch it later.

You still can't do it for nearly the price you can with Sage though. I was watching mkv's on my Tivo, with transcoding, on a series 2 before Sage. No hidef. If you can accept that, then you can get one off of ebay, with lifetime(no subscription needed) for less then $200.

Sage is still much better, and can handle HD, which is why I'm here, and not still in Tivoland.

Same here, but you can still serve up to a hacked Series 2 Tivo "without " a subscription (free) with TivoServer.

[will]

Originally Posted by Chriscic

They also weren't impressed with the interface overall (standalone or extender), and the general lack of polish. I can see what they are saying here as the interface is dated and quirky in places.

Correct me if I am wrong because I do not own a HD200 yet but I was under the impression you could customize the interface when using it in extender mode.

http://www.geektonic.com/2009/01/sag...geektonic.html

For me, one of the main selling points of SageTV is that it has easy to use customizable extenders and it works with the HD-PVR. But then again, people gave my windows mobile phone an awful review but I love it because I was able to create a custom Windows Mobile ROM for it that does everything I need and then some.

[autoboy]

These PC mags tend to completely miss the whole point of SageTV and take it as parts of the whole. It is the whole that really matters. Maybe they will start to get it when the new server on a stick comes out.

[reggie14]

Has anyone actually read the article? I can't seem to find it. You can search for phrases in the June, July and August print editions of Maximum PC online (you can't read the articles though). But, I couldn't find any references to Sage, HD200, or the HD Theater.

[wrems]

Originally Posted by reggie14

Has anyone actually read the article? I can't seem to find it. You can search for phrases in the June, July and August print editions of Maximum PC online (you can't read the articles though). But, I couldn't find any references to Sage, HD200, or the HD Theater.

I tried locating it too, no luck... I would like to read it, probably have to go to bookstore and pick up a copy... I think autoboy is right that these types of reviews are sort of naive about the total package of what Sage is and how great the HD200 really is.

I was fairly disappointed in PC Worlds writeup a couple of months ago.

[reggie14]

I was at the airport today, and was looking at magazines. Maximum PC definitely didn't review the HD200 in the August issue. I doubt it's in the July issue either, since the electronic version I saw didn't have it. I wonder if the OP is confused about what magazine he was reading.

[Chriscic]

September. The unwashed, non-subscribing masses must wait

[wrems]

Went to pick up the latest copy and was surprised at the store it was like $9. I went online and got a subscription for $15 wth? I would expect that kind of price jack at the airport but off the newsstand c’mon.

[valnar]

I used to subscribe to Maximum PC (when it was Boot) and it was one of the better publications on PC's. I stopped the subscription years ago though because many Internet web sites include the same info - just slightly more up-to-date (no fault of the magazine, since it simply takes time to publish information to paper).

I do buy it on occasion though when I go to the airport and I need something to kill the time on a plane.

[comet48]

If they had had a chance to use it over an extended period of time, the article would have probably been a lot more negative. A really flakey product with at best Alpha level code.

[wrems]

Originally Posted by comet48

If they had had a chance to use it over an extended period of time, the article would have probably been a lot more negative. A really flakey product with at best Alpha level code.

I'm not sure what your experience has been like with the HD200, but I saw another post just like this from you... Not to derail this thread but I would guess that nearly everyone except you has had a favorable if not great experience with their HD200.

[reggie14]

Originally Posted by wrems

I'm not sure what your experience has been like with the HD200, but I saw another post just like this from you... Not to derail this thread but I would guess that nearly everyone except you has had a favorable if not great experience with their HD200.

I'd call my experience favorable, but it hasn't been without problems. The HD200 seems to have gone through some of the same growing pains as the HD100 when it came out, with problems with stuttering playback, aspect ratio problems, some stability issues. New firmware has fixed most of the issues, although I occasionally have the problem where the HD200 won't find the server until you unplug it and plug it back in.

Back to the subject- I'll be flying again on Tuesday. That seems awfully early for a September issue, given that it will still be July, but do you think I'll be able to get it? How does Maximum PC's circulation work if the September issue is going out in July? Do regular subscribers get it in July and newsstands in August?

[Brent]

Originally Posted by comet48

If they had had a chance to use it over an extended period of time, the article would have probably been a lot more negative. A really flakey product with at best Alpha level code.

Or perhaps you have issues with your server PC? Based on your previous comments that's my guess.

[Brent]

The HD200 is certainly not without faults. But I've personally never had issues with it. It's easy enough for my wife to install and use and has never failed me.

But it does require the server to be set up and working properly. So that would be the possible weak point.

I look forward to reading the review.

[Chriscic]

Originally Posted by reggie14

Maximum PC's circulation work if the September issue is going out in July? Do regular subscribers get it in July and newsstands in August?

That's the way it works. Although the time gap between sub in the mail and newsstands does seem to vary.

[comet48]

Originally Posted by wrems

I'm not sure what your experience has been like with the HD200, but I saw another post just like this from you... Not to derail this thread but I would guess that nearly everyone except you has had a favorable if not great experience with their HD200.

There seem to be a lot of posts like mine!