So what is sage media center?

[zz5]

At first, based on the press release, I was thinking that maybe Sage was actually building a true set top box, just like TIVO or ReplayTV. In other words, something with customized processor and motherboard. But now I'm thinking the set top box is just something like mikbro was selling, just a regular computer with Sage installed. Am I wrong?

That's a great idea of making a "set top box" using Linux though because the problem with Linux is using those alpha drivers. If you pick out all the components, then that's not a problem. You save $100 on the OS. I'm hoping that that the product in the picture will accept multiple tuners because that's a nice low starting price of $400. It would be great to have some base hardware so you know what you have will work fine, know how many tuners it can accept, etc.

[ErsatzTom]

Didn't the press release say that it would come with two tuners? Can't remember...

t

[mayamaniac]

Originally Posted by Opus4

The extender is the MVP. No question about it; it is being shown, so it is public.
Anyone see this page: SageTV linux box pic at PC World.com?
- Andy

Odd that not one sageTV user here is there at CES to take some snap shots and details of these new frey products. If anyone has any more pictures and info, please post them. Thanks.

[Cayars]

http://forums.freytechnologies.com/f...ead.php?t=9322

[stanger89]

Originally Posted by Hector

$400 is a little high for a pvr box nowadays,

A 140Hr Tivo is $600 at least (depending on how you choose to pay for the guide data).

[samson]

I have one question

I wonder what they are using for video out ????????

pvr-350?

we know its not the x-card

[Hector]

Yes but of course that means it has a 160-200 gig hd, a hardware decoder and guaranteed lifetime free guide data.

I personally doubt the $400 Sage box has any of those.

But I will agree that $600 is even more to pay which is why Tivo is in deep doo doo. I can get a PVR for no upfront cost and $5 per month from DTV or a HD PVR for $12 a month from my cable company.

At $400 it needs to be superior box. I know I can't build a Sage box that is superior to the 140hr Series 2 Tivo for $400 even if I stole half the parts*.

peace . . .

* Unless it's the RIGHT half

Originally Posted by stanger89

A 140Hr Tivo is $600 at least (depending on how you choose to pay for the guide data).

[stanger89]

Originally Posted by Hector

Yes but of course that means it has a 160-200 gig hd, a hardware decoder and guaranteed lifetime free guide data.

I personally doubt the $400 Sage box has any of those.

Alright, I'll bite

Guide data, for Tivo that's for the lifetime of the box, not the user, and if Tivo goes under? Sage, we don't know, but it's far more likely to support something like XMLTV than Tivo is.

Don't know about a hardware decoder, but Tivos are SD output only, and for HD outputs hardware decoders are pointless.

I'd be really surprised if the Sage box didn't have a 200GB HDD (the Tivo would have about a max 160GB HDD based on their 1GB/hr calculations, heck it could be a 120GB).

[Methius]

Oh man, I hope they finally fix the PVR-150 /(MCE) bug so I can fully use it..
All those other setbacks :-/

[mls]

Originally Posted by stanger89

I'd be really surprised if the Sage box didn't have a 200GB HDD

Me thinks ye are a dreamer stanger89

[Cayars]

Originally Posted by samson

I have one question

I wonder what they are using for video out ????????

pvr-350?

we know its not the x-card

How do we know that?

[mayamaniac]

Originally Posted by Hector

Yes but of course that means it has a 160-200 gig hd, a hardware decoder and guaranteed lifetime free guide data.
I personally doubt the $400 Sage box has any of those.
[/SIZE]

You sure like to be negative about everything. In this image, it says the EPG is free: Click

[mightyt]

Originally Posted by Opus4

The extender is the MVP. No question about it; it is being shown, so it is public.

Anyone see this page: SageTV linux box pic at PC World.com? The caption below the pic (3/4 ways down the page) reads:

- Andy

Hey !!! That look very much like THIS Ya think?

Yep ... "Looks like" SageTV "may be" officially offering a HW/SW bundle to compete with it's MCE counterparts. Wonder if HP / Compaq and others will consider Sage ... Heck they sell Intel and AMD boxes ...

Hmmmm .... T.

[Hector]

Originally Posted by mayamaniac

You sure like to be negative about everything.

You remind me of a lot of my colleagues that didn't bail before the dot.com crash. They didn't know what they were talking about either.

In this image, it says the EPG is free: Click

Lets go slower. In comparing a $400 box to a $600 box I said the $600 box guarantees lifetime guide data and it does. I also said the $400 box does not guarantee a lifetime of guide data and it doesn't.

Maybe you just sent the wrong picture. Feel free to try again.

[Hector]

Guide data - if Sage fails the average user that buys the canned box is dead, trust me. But you're right in that someone could do it.

Decoder - good point regarding HD customers.

HD - Hmmm, I dunno. I am trying to imagine the cost of building this box and making money at $400. The HTPC solution to all of us is MUCH better than the stb pvr solution but it also costs us more. and we feel it's worth it. I'll bet very few people here have a box they're happy with that they have less than $400 in.

Obviously they've given it a lot of thought, it will be very interesting to see what they came up with. You know another thing is that this is just the entry level box and maybe they don't want it to sound too expensive. They could well be targeting the high end market. Hard to say sans any marketing info but that might make more sense. Target people who want a superior solution but are not the type who want to have to build and maintain it.

peace . . .

Originally Posted by stanger89

Alright, I'll bite

Guide data, for Tivo that's for the lifetime of the box, not the user, and if Tivo goes under? Sage, we don't know, but it's far more likely to support something like XMLTV than Tivo is.

Don't know about a hardware decoder, but Tivos are SD output only, and for HD outputs hardware decoders are pointless.

I'd be really surprised if the Sage box didn't have a 200GB HDD (the Tivo would have about a max 160GB HDD based on their 1GB/hr calculations, heck it could be a 120GB).

[stanger89]

Originally Posted by Hector

Guide data - if Sage fails the average user that buys the canned box is dead, trust me. But you're right in that someone could do it.

Same is true of Tivo, and while I don't know the financials of Frey tech, but Tivo's fincancials aren't that great, what running a -38% Profit. Plus DirecTV dropped them. Just pointing out that Tivo isn't a sure thing either.

[mayamaniac]

Originally Posted by Hector

Maybe you just sent the wrong picture. Feel free to try again.

It said, "Search and Schedule Recordings with the Subscription Free 14-Day Programming Guide." To me, that means that you don't have to pay for the EPG, like it is with the current version.

[Cayars]

I wouldn't doubt if the entry level box is 256MB RAM, 80-120GB HDD, no floppies, maybe CD/DVD, intgegrated network, audio & video, PVR capture card.

I wouldn't doubt if this box isn't designed for good output but is intended to be used with the MVP player for output.

Just thinking out loud. Building the system this way I can see how they could do it for $400. The $400 could also be a bulk price and not a consumer price for all we know but I'd doubt it.

[Hector]

The current version is not guaranteed free guide data. It may be free for now but they retain the right to change their mind at any time and start charging you for it (read your EULA its in your Sage directory). I'm sure you realize there is a big difference between that and a lifetime guarantee of free.

I'm not trying to defend Tivo over Sage, I was just pointing out the value proposition of the $600 Tivo that someone else used as a comparison. I DO NOT even believe an S2 Tivo lifetime or no is worth $600 but it is guaranteed and that's part of the reason for the cost. That's not being negative that's just a fact. Maybe Frey will guarantee free lifetime guide data for their box but so far you've not read that.

Originally Posted by mayamaniac

It said, "Search and Schedule Recordings with the Subscription Free 14-Day Programming Guide." To me, that means that you don't have to pay for the EPG, like it is with the current version.

[Hector]

I agree completely, I just meant in the eyes of the consumer looking at the value prop.

Tivo's business model is not sustainable because its not built on any competitive advantage. It was an awesome idea but anyone can replicate it. If you were to ask Tivo what their core competancy is I'm not even sure what they'd say. About the only things they have going for them is they had a big head start and their name has become ubiquitous.

They did just announce a partnership with Microsoft which Gates even mentioned and made a little deal of. I thought it was a little surprising given everyone thinks they're doomed.

peace . . .

Originally Posted by stanger89

Same is true of Tivo, and while I don't know the financials of Frey tech, but Tivo's fincancials aren't that great, what running a -38% Profit. Plus DirecTV dropped them. Just pointing out that Tivo isn't a sure thing either.