Some Thoughts on BeyondTV 4 vs. Vista Media Center

[Darkk]

Originally Posted by jwismar

I read on one of the Vista MCE Developer's blogs about one feature that will force me to switch, when it becomes available. Apparently Vista supports a new DirecTV HD tuner card that DT are in the process of devloping, MS is testing with, and that should be released some time during 2007. If that becomes a reality -- which is always an open question with DirecTV -- it would be the killer feature for me.

I wonder if Dish Network is doing the same thing? Having a HD satellite tuner card right in my PC would solve alot of issues between the PC and the satellite receiver setups.

I really hope Vista will allow BTV to work with the card so it'll be interesting when it gets released.

Darkk

[KyleK29]

I'm glad I stumpled on this. I have an HTPC box running XP-Pro w/BTV 4.5. I recently considered switching to Vista MCE just for the interface. I don't really care for the Beyond Media interface.

With the Meedio issues, I did some checking and found this other freeware app called SesamTV ( http://www.sesamtv.com ) - it appears to have a good media interface. Going to give it a try and see if a BTV/STV mix would fill my MediaCenter needs (since BTV and BM are seperate apps anyways). Theres also MediaPortal (mediaportal.sourceforge.com).

[dequire]

Originally Posted by KyleK29

I'm glad I stumpled on this. I have an HTPC box running XP-Pro w/BTV 4.5. I recently considered switching to Vista MCE just for the interface. I don't really care for the Beyond Media interface.

With the Meedio issues, I did some checking and found this other freeware app called SesamTV ( http://www.sesamtv.com ) - it appears to have a good media interface. Going to give it a try and see if a BTV/STV mix would fill my MediaCenter needs (since BTV and BM are seperate apps anyways). Theres also MediaPortal (mediaportal.sourceforge.com).

I checked out the sesamtv website, and I don't see anything that would make me want to switch from BM. Really the only alternative I would ever consider right now would be to move back to MythTV, but that's not likely since BM has great plugins. I do agree with some other's sentiments though that many good developers were scared off because of the fear of product abandonment.

FWIW - There are many skins for BM... I can't imagine not finding one I was happy with.

[satkinson]

As the OP points out, the DRM is getting better - as in harder to deal with.

There are times (he said, donning his tinfoil hat) when I think hi-def/blu-ray/the rest is a plot to take what's left of my fair use rights, and to reduce competition, by giving small vendors more issues to deal with.

I'm a tv guy - literally. I work in the business, look at lots of high, medium and low def sets every day, and I'm not sure this transition we're in the middle of is worth it.

Scott A.

[wayner]

WebGuide is a plugin for MCE that offers web scheduling as well as streaming over the web. Check it out.

[Hong]

It is 2012 now, and BeyondTV is still suprior to MC for me. I have tried MC multiple times, and come back to BeyondTV every time.

Hong