HD200 Stock

[jamesdisco]

Press Home instead of power button and your HD200 will be on in a couple of seconds not 14.

[bcjenkins]

There is a difference in cold booting time vs. warm boot too.

B

[JetreL]

Originally Posted by wayner

Especally if you are including a Sage client license and a Windows license since those two eat up about 2/3 of the 180.

If you have a Technet subscription then it's not that bad.

[mmanville]

Originally Posted by rrhorer

I frequently check in on this thread for the latest news on Sage extender availability. It is the main feature that pulls people from WMC and other options. I would like another extender for myself; and I have put together specs for a new system to use in talking others into a SageTV setup. Alas, the specs contemplate a server with multiple tuners and extenders at TVs around the house. My point is that this problem is likely costing Sage a significant amount of new business since many of us, who promote SageTV to others, are in the same boat. Sage needs to either (1) get some sort of extenders back in stock ASAP, (2) provide some news of when to expect extenders to be available or (3) provide support for something like the Hauppauge 1340 HD Media Player that is available -- preferably, all three. Just my $0.02.

FYI, I am one of those people you mention. I am a WMC user who wants to expand from a single media server to a whole-house solution (for all data, not just media), and, after windows 7 came out & WHS Vail was leaked without some of the features I wanted, I looked around and decided Sage server+WHS + 1 win sage client box w/ blu ray + a couple extenders might be the way to go. I've bought almost all the hardware to build a the WHS/Sage server, plus a new mini itx client box so I can play blu ray straight from disc in living room, but ... without the extenders available, I've really no compelling reason to make the switch yet. Meanwhile my Vista WMC box is developing issues, my general server needs are still there, and very soon I may find reason to just go ahead and finish the setup of the server + mini itx client just using WHS and win7mc while I continue to wait. Who knows, if I do I may find the MC extensions to WHS are more useful than I thought, and/or inertia will take over and I'll just decide to live with the "good enough" architecture of standalone MC + limited WHS shring support for another home build cycle, and I may just stick with that & forget about Sage

[barney B.A.]

Thats the problem. Every PC based multimedia solution has its set of shortcomings.
But for me, Sage is the best solution.

[wayner]

Originally Posted by JetreL

If you have a Technet subscription then it's not that bad.

Sorry to go OT but how much is a Technet sub and what do you get for it?

[ChaOConnor]

Read this... TechNet is stupid cheap if you use more than two systems.

http://lifehacker.com/5569550/save-m...d-subscription

I love it!

[Yalbik]

Originally Posted by ChaOConnor

Read this... TechNet is stupid cheap if you use more than two systems.

http://lifehacker.com/5569550/save-m...d-subscription

I love it!

Unfortunately, TechNet software is not licensed for general use, otherwise I'd be all over it.

From http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/s.../ms772427.aspx

Can I use evaluation software received in my TechNet Subscription on my devices in my home?

The TechNet Subscription license terms grant one user the right to install the program software on any devices, including those located at his or her home, but the user must fully comply with all the license terms no matter where the device is located. In other words, one user may install and use the evaluation software, only to evaluate it. You may not use it in a live operating environment, a staging or production environment, or with data that has not been sufficiently backed up. You may not use the evaluation software for software development or in an application development environment.

[Bikeman]

TechNet may be cheap, but that's because its for testing purposes only, not for daily usage.

According to the license you agree to, you are not even allowed to send/receive your email, for example, with products in the sub, no matter what LifeHacker says.

Jeff

[Clift]

Originally Posted by mmanville

FYI, I am one of those people you mention. I am a WMC user who wants to expand from a single media server to a whole-house solution (for all data, not just media), and, after windows 7 came out & WHS Vail was leaked without some of the features I wanted, I looked around and decided Sage server+WHS + 1 win sage client box w/ blu ray + a couple extenders might be the way to go. I've bought almost all the hardware to build a the WHS/Sage server, plus a new mini itx client box so I can play blu ray straight from disc in living room, but ... without the extenders available, I've really no compelling reason to make the switch yet. Meanwhile my Vista WMC box is developing issues, my general server needs are still there, and very soon I may find reason to just go ahead and finish the setup of the server + mini itx client just using WHS and win7mc while I continue to wait. Who knows, if I do I may find the MC extensions to WHS are more useful than I thought, and/or inertia will take over and I'll just decide to live with the "good enough" architecture of standalone MC + limited WHS shring support for another home build cycle, and I may just stick with that & forget about Sage

You could always start your transition now and you wouldn't be any worse off than you are now (single HTPC) while waiting for the extenders.

[JetreL]

Originally Posted by Bikeman

TechNet may be cheap, but that's because its for testing purposes only, not for daily usage.

According to the license you agree to, you are not even allowed to send/receive your email, for example, with products in the sub, no matter what LifeHacker says.

Jeff

The terms say you agree to that but MS doesn't restrict or monitor you to not use it everyday.

But what they do is give you 10 licenses able to be installed on 10 machines for each license for every piece of software Microsoft has.

A license that has been issued does not expire. Even after your subscription expires. This is perfect for hobbyist such as us who would want to know how software interacts with other software, etc.

[Motofreak75]

lic keys do expire/black listed.

My MSDN sub expired back in March of this year and none of my keys work now. but the global MSDN keys work just fine.

[heffneil]

Originally Posted by Fuzzy

I went super cheap with it. (well, as cheap as i could go and stay mini-ITX):
ECS H55H-I LGA 1156 Intel H55 HDMI Mini ITX Intel Motherboard
hec Black 0.7mm Thickness SECC (Japanese Steel Metal) 8K 8K01BBA12 Mini-ITX Desktop
Intel Core i3-530 Clarkdale 2.93GHz 4MB L3 Cache LGA 1156 73W Dual-Core Desktop Processor BX80616I3530
Crucial 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10600) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model CT2KIT12864BA1339

Though I can't reasonably recommend it yet, as i won't receive the bulk of the parts until tomorrow, and then some build time.

Honestly, it probably would have been cheaper to go with an AMD system, but i figured some day i'll get an HD reciever, and want passthrough.

Fuzzy what do you use for IR? How are you controlling this box? When do you think you will have this setup and running? Also what iSCI device are you using for the OS?

Edit: Also what video card are you using? I didn't see that listed? But I see that the board has video in VGA and HDMI but I don't see which card is that? None is listed?

[MCE-Refugee]

You guys are describing the operation of the HD200 when it is already powered up & you operate the remote control. I am talking about plugging in the power adaptor or actually switching on the power. If you do that then the HD200 takes many minutes to be ready for use. This is true even for standalone i.e. non-Sage mode which is bizarre as a WD TV Live or similar media player with like functionality just takes a few seconds to be ready.

[Bikeman]

Originally Posted by JetreL

The terms say you agree to that but MS doesn't restrict or monitor you to not use it everyday.

But what they do is give you 10 licenses able to be installed on 10 machines for each license for every piece of software Microsoft has.

A license that has been issued does not expire. Even after your subscription expires. This is perfect for hobbyist such as us who would want to know how software interacts with other software, etc.

JetreL,

Its not 10 licenses of each software, you are entitled to any number of machines owned by the registered user. You might be confusing it with a different MS sub, MAPS.

From http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/s.../cc294422.aspx

General.

• Single User License. If you acquire a single user license, one user may install and use copies of the software on any of your devices.



Also, there are 2 versions of TechNet, Standard and Professional, Pro offers more software than the Standard version does, here's a chart: http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/s.../bb892756.aspx


Lastly, reading the TechNet Subscriptions FAQ, they don't mention that hobbyists can purchase the product, only IT professionals and they go on to define an IT professional.

From http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/s.../ms772427.aspx

1. What is Microsoft® TechNet Subscriptions?
TechNet Subscriptions is a subscription program designed to help IT Professionals prepare for critical issues and plan for future deployments by providing them with fast and convenient access to the latest software for evaluation without time or feature limits; beta releases; Professional Support Calls; and other technical information and tools to get their jobs done faster. Read the TechNet Overview for a list of the features included with a TechNet Subscription.

18. What is the definition of an “IT Pro?”
IT Professionals plan, install or configure, deploy, integrate, manage and support the technology infrastructure for their organization and its end users and may be either employees of the organization or employees of a vendor hired to perform the relevant IT services for it. Positions held and/or functions performed by IT Pros include: Help Desk Technicians, Desktop Technicians, Desktop Administrators, Server Administrator, Database Administrator, IT Manager, and Infrastructure Specialist.

The reason I go through this is because articles like LifeHacker's, screws these programs up for the intended parties. In the past 2 years this product as well as others has seen a price increase and now a testing process from MS to try to weed out individuals from using these products. TechNet used to be available for everybody, but people abused the system, selling their licenses keys to sometimes unsuspecting users, sometimes not, now MS has redefined its usage and purpose.

Jeff

[Stach]

Originally Posted by MCE-Refugee

You guys are describing the operation of the HD200 when it is already powered up & you operate the remote control. I am talking about plugging in the power adaptor or actually switching on the power. If you do that then the HD200 takes many minutes to be ready for use. This is true even for standalone i.e. non-Sage mode which is bizarre as a WD TV Live or similar media player with like functionality just takes a few seconds to be ready.

MCE-Refugee, it sounds like you either have it misconfigured or more probably a defective unit as I can leave my unit unplugged, plug it in/turn it on and 15 seconds later be linked to my SageTV Server and on the SageTV screen....and that's with a "5 second pause" (although it seems shorter than that) to automatically connect. It really is that quick for the rest of us...

-Stach

[gplasky]

Originally Posted by MCE-Refugee

You guys are describing the operation of the HD200 when it is already powered up & you operate the remote control. I am talking about plugging in the power adaptor or actually switching on the power. If you do that then the HD200 takes many minutes to be ready for use. This is true even for standalone i.e. non-Sage mode which is bizarre as a WD TV Live or similar media player with like functionality just takes a few seconds to be ready.

Originally Posted by Stach

MCE-Refugee, it sounds like you either have it misconfigured or more probably a defective unit as I can leave my unit unplugged, plug it in/turn it on and 15 seconds later be linked to my SageTV Server and on the SageTV screen....and that's with a "5 second pause" (although it seems shorter than that) to automatically connect. It really is that quick for the rest of us...

-Stach

Same here. 15, 20 seconds max from plugging in the power to the connecting screen. I have set it to wait 8 seconds before autoconnecting to SageTV server.

Gerry

[wrems]

I just timed my HD200 from cold boot. Pulled power off the unit for 20 secs and plugged it back in and set a stop watch. It took nearly 2 minutes before v7 home screen popped up. It didn’t get to the auto-connecting to server screen until 1 minute 40 seconds in,..

Pressing Home key on remote after initial boot gets me up and running in 7 seconds.

Pressing Power key on the remote takes 20 seconds to get to the home screen.

Are you guys saying the initial cold boot time for myself and MCE Refugee are not normal?

[wayner]

I think the 15-20 seconds from unplugged is also unreasonable. I would say that my experience (not timed) with my five different extenders attached to various servers through the years would be about 15-20 seconds from pressing the power on to Sage Main Menu (using SageMC) and about 45-60 seconds from plugging in to Sage Main Menu. It is definitely a significantly longer startup process when you cycle the power cord to the unit.

[Bizarroterl]

Originally Posted by JetreL

The terms say you agree to that but MS doesn't restrict or monitor you to not use it everyday.

But what they do is give you 10 licenses able to be installed on 10 machines for each license for every piece of software Microsoft has.

A license that has been issued does not expire. Even after your subscription expires. This is perfect for hobbyist such as us who would want to know how software interacts with other software, etc.

Not totally true. With a Pro subscription you get one license for each iteration of the current server (2008), not 10.