Go BTV! REp#*& sucks

[queonda]

http://www.htpcnews.com/index.php?op...d=361&Itemid=2

[cncb]

$100 for the software with a $20 annual fee? They must be kidding...

[Fonceur]

Then again, for a first PC version they do have a bunch of features that SnapStream still hasn't implemented after many years head start...

[merrypig]

It actually sounds quite promising. If it has cc support I'll be giving it a whirl. $20/year is peanuts.

[cncb]

Originally Posted by merrypig

It actually sounds quite promising. If it has cc support I'll be giving it a whirl. $20/year is peanuts.

How long do you think it will be only $20? If a service fee doesn't bother you, you might want to check out Tivo...

[merrypig]

thank crunchy it's friday..

[Fonceur]

Originally Posted by cncb

How long do you think it will be only $20?

I would bet that most users spend more than $20 a year to update/upgrade their HTPC and home theater...

[Rich A]

I was a beta tester for their original ReplayTV. It was a Tivo like box and had a gigantic (sic) 10 GB hard drive. Originally it retailed back then for $1,000. Over the next few years I bought two more as they added new features and bigger hard drives. Of course we soon found out how to clone the hard drives to our own with our own bigger and cheaper drives. I think at the end they were offering a box with a 320 GB HD.

One of the interesting features these set top PVR boxes had (the later models) was the abiltiy to copy shows across the Internet to another ReplayTV owner. I did a couple tests and once received a one hour show from the West Coast to my East Coast location. It worked in the background 24/7 and generally took about a day to make the full move.

ReplayTV changed hands several times, over the years. I still have one of them but havn't used it since I discovered Snapstream a few years ago.

A few weeks ago, they sent me an Email pushing their new software based product.

I believe the last company to own them was a high end audio/video component manufacturer. Maybe Denon, or Harmon Kardon or something like that. I wonder who owns them now ??

[cncb]

Originally Posted by Fonceur

I would bet that most users spend more than $20 a year to update/upgrade their HTPC and home theater...

Yes, I agree. But like cable, satellite tv, Tivo, etc. there is nothing you can do if they start raising the rates on you. Either pay up or move on. They will have to really have something special to justify an annual cost. Now if that includes version updates then it might make sense...

[merrypig]

And if SS goes under because they didn't charge enough? Same doomsday scenario in my book.

[cncb]

Ok, but I hardly think that the annual fee going up is "doomsday". SnapStream going under is unlikely whereas as an increasing annual fee is a given.

[Bigbird999]

SnapStream going under is unlikely whereas as an increasing annual fee is a given.

So if tomorrow, SS started charging $2 per month to continue to have access to their EPG, what would you do? I would be pissed but I doubt it would make me switch to the competition.

I agree with Merrypig, if the Replay software works better than BTV, $20 per year is nothing.

BB

[merrypig]

I'd pay the charge and cheer SS for becoming a mature business at last.

[rugby]

I too lived and died by my replaytv's back in the day. I still miss my 5250's as I could share shows seamlessly within my network (no link software needed, I could just browse the other device as if it was local). I've since replaced my 5250's with 2 DirecTivo's and the quality of the recording is great, however I miss sharing of shows between units. I'm currently testing BTV and thinking of getting rid of DirecTV altogether and going completely ATSC as I can get most all locals on HD.

Replaytv's were great back in the day. If they would have had HD capabilities in the software I might consider going back.

[MarcP]

Originally Posted by Bigbird999

So if tomorrow, SS started charging $2 per month to continue to have access to their EPG, what would you do? I would be pissed but I doubt it would make me switch to the competition.

I'd stay too if they also change their communication policy with their customers. If they stay silent like they are today, I wouldn't go for a monthly fee.