Comments on: Why You Should Wait To Buy a Set-Top Box http://newteevee.com/2008/12/02/why-you-should-wait-to-buy-a-set-top-box/ NewTeeVee Thu, 11 Mar 2010 18:24:02 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: Roku Adds HD, Updates for Non-Netflix Content | Real Big Firm http://newteevee.com/2008/12/02/why-you-should-wait-to-buy-a-set-top-box/#comment-251417 Roku Adds HD, Updates for Non-Netflix Content | Real Big Firm Tue, 23 Dec 2008 18:19:20 +0000 http://newteevee.com/?p=12929#comment-251417 <p>[...] at least YouTube. This does make the $99 device a more enticing holiday gift, but I still think you should wait before buying one and I’m not alone; others think they may just be a temporary [...]</p> [...] at least YouTube. This does make the $99 device a more enticing holiday gift, but I still think you should wait before buying one and I’m not alone; others think they may just be a temporary [...]

]]> By: Roku Adds HD, Updates for Expansion « NewTeeVee http://newteevee.com/2008/12/02/why-you-should-wait-to-buy-a-set-top-box/#comment-251294 Roku Adds HD, Updates for Expansion « NewTeeVee Sun, 21 Dec 2008 20:56:05 +0000 http://newteevee.com/?p=12929#comment-251294 <p>[...] at least YouTube. This does make the $99 device a more enticing holiday gift, but I still think you should wait before buying on, and other thing they may just be a temporary [...]</p> [...] at least YouTube. This does make the $99 device a more enticing holiday gift, but I still think you should wait before buying on, and other thing they may just be a temporary [...]

]]> By: Klaus Holzapfel http://newteevee.com/2008/12/02/why-you-should-wait-to-buy-a-set-top-box/#comment-250422 Klaus Holzapfel Thu, 04 Dec 2008 20:52:12 +0000 http://newteevee.com/?p=12929#comment-250422 <p>Thanks for shedding some light into this. I am in the video publishing business but even for me it is hard to keep up with all the hardware options to "get the Internet into my TV".</p> <p>It sounds cheesy: But I rather follow a pro like you instead of doing all this research myself.</p> <p>You let me know when I should buy device, right?</p> Thanks for shedding some light into this. I am in the video publishing business but even for me it is hard to keep up with all the hardware options to “get the Internet into my TV”.

It sounds cheesy: But I rather follow a pro like you instead of doing all this research myself.

You let me know when I should buy device, right?

]]> By: pctvcables.com http://newteevee.com/2008/12/02/why-you-should-wait-to-buy-a-set-top-box/#comment-250367 pctvcables.com Thu, 04 Dec 2008 03:53:54 +0000 http://newteevee.com/?p=12929#comment-250367 <p>I couldn't have said it better myself! Don't buy an expensive box - you already have one - your PC.</p> <p>PCTVCables.com</p> I couldn’t have said it better myself! Don’t buy an expensive box – you already have one – your PC.

PCTVCables.com

]]> By: Dave Zatz http://newteevee.com/2008/12/02/why-you-should-wait-to-buy-a-set-top-box/#comment-250345 Dave Zatz Wed, 03 Dec 2008 23:57:04 +0000 http://newteevee.com/?p=12929#comment-250345 <p>Chris, will try to get it up tomorrow, Friday at the latest. Once content is downloaded completely you can ffw and rwd, but not while streaming. I had audio go out of sync twice (pause then play resolved) and I had several instances of brief picture issues, like artifacts or interference. Also it repeatedly loses my WPA2 password and needs to be manually reentered, never got a wired connection to work, some screens fill too slowly and one on occasion the whole thing slowed down to an unusable speed and I had to yank the power cord to reboot. Hmn, guess I wrote my whole post. But the BEST is the DRM photograph I snapped. That's worth waiting for. ;) Maybe I'll just mail it to you.</p> Chris, will try to get it up tomorrow, Friday at the latest. Once content is downloaded completely you can ffw and rwd, but not while streaming. I had audio go out of sync twice (pause then play resolved) and I had several instances of brief picture issues, like artifacts or interference. Also it repeatedly loses my WPA2 password and needs to be manually reentered, never got a wired connection to work, some screens fill too slowly and one on occasion the whole thing slowed down to an unusable speed and I had to yank the power cord to reboot. Hmn, guess I wrote my whole post. But the BEST is the DRM photograph I snapped. That’s worth waiting for. ;) Maybe I’ll just mail it to you.

]]> By: MikeM http://newteevee.com/2008/12/02/why-you-should-wait-to-buy-a-set-top-box/#comment-250326 MikeM Wed, 03 Dec 2008 18:36:19 +0000 http://newteevee.com/?p=12929#comment-250326 <p>Agree with Andy and others regarding problems with hardware tied to services. We have a Full HD capable SageTV HD Theater that will essentially play all the content on your PC, Mac and home network, YouTube and video podcasts. It can be a part of a whole home DVR solution with our SageTV Media Center software for PCs or Macs. It also plays Hulu and Netflix video with the PlayOn software. We have a developer community who've built IMDB browsers and other great applications and share most of our technology with the developer community.</p> <p>There isn't any more capable hardware needed and the price is affordable (Full HD for less than $200 today). We'll be able to integrate with most of the open and easy to partner with services. It may get better next year as Chris says but the pickings are pretty good right now.</p> Agree with Andy and others regarding problems with hardware tied to services. We have a Full HD capable SageTV HD Theater that will essentially play all the content on your PC, Mac and home network, YouTube and video podcasts. It can be a part of a whole home DVR solution with our SageTV Media Center software for PCs or Macs. It also plays Hulu and Netflix video with the PlayOn software. We have a developer community who’ve built IMDB browsers and other great applications and share most of our technology with the developer community.

There isn’t any more capable hardware needed and the price is affordable (Full HD for less than $200 today). We’ll be able to integrate with most of the open and easy to partner with services. It may get better next year as Chris says but the pickings are pretty good right now.

]]> By: Andy Brown http://newteevee.com/2008/12/02/why-you-should-wait-to-buy-a-set-top-box/#comment-250320 Andy Brown Wed, 03 Dec 2008 16:40:05 +0000 http://newteevee.com/?p=12929#comment-250320 <p>Set-top boxes that are tied to services (i.e. iTunes, Netflix and Blockbuster) are not the solution for this market. They will always be crippled so as not to allow access to competing, namely free internet, content. I cancelled my cable because I was tired of paying the bill and have explored a series of alternatives that all come up short. My current system is the appleTV running Boxee and that still leaves quite a bit to be desired.</p> <p>The best device is going to be a net-top box: a device intended to provide all that the internet has to offer in terms of video (especially in HD) on your TV.</p> <p>It looks like the only true device in this market was just announced yesterday: http://www.asus.com/news_show.aspx?id=13626. I can't wait to get my hands on this (if the price is right).</p> Set-top boxes that are tied to services (i.e. iTunes, Netflix and Blockbuster) are not the solution for this market. They will always be crippled so as not to allow access to competing, namely free internet, content. I cancelled my cable because I was tired of paying the bill and have explored a series of alternatives that all come up short. My current system is the appleTV running Boxee and that still leaves quite a bit to be desired.

The best device is going to be a net-top box: a device intended to provide all that the internet has to offer in terms of video (especially in HD) on your TV.

It looks like the only true device in this market was just announced yesterday: http://www.asus.com/news_show.aspx?id=13626. I can’t wait to get my hands on this (if the price is right).

]]> By: Chris Albrecht http://newteevee.com/2008/12/02/why-you-should-wait-to-buy-a-set-top-box/#comment-250318 Chris Albrecht Wed, 03 Dec 2008 16:15:41 +0000 http://newteevee.com/?p=12929#comment-250318 <p>@Dave,</p> <p>Let me know when you do and we'll throw a link up. <a href="http://www.naturalnews.com/024992.html" rel="nofollow">Natural News</a> says there are audio issues and the fast forward doesn't work (?!).</p> @Dave,

Let me know when you do and we’ll throw a link up. Natural News says there are audio issues and the fast forward doesn’t work (?!).

]]> By: Dave Zatz http://newteevee.com/2008/12/02/why-you-should-wait-to-buy-a-set-top-box/#comment-250315 Dave Zatz Wed, 03 Dec 2008 15:31:31 +0000 http://newteevee.com/?p=12929#comment-250315 <p>I got to get a post up. The Blockbuster box is NOT ready for prime time. Do not buy until they get this thing a software update.</p> I got to get a post up. The Blockbuster box is NOT ready for prime time. Do not buy until they get this thing a software update.

]]> By: Chris http://newteevee.com/2008/12/02/why-you-should-wait-to-buy-a-set-top-box/#comment-250298 Chris Wed, 03 Dec 2008 07:46:37 +0000 http://newteevee.com/?p=12929#comment-250298 <p>I agree it's probably good to wait on these purchases. I want a system that will enable me to play streaming video from hulu and fancast and maybe even network sites on my tv. That's what I'm looking for--truly on demand tv.</p> I agree it’s probably good to wait on these purchases. I want a system that will enable me to play streaming video from hulu and fancast and maybe even network sites on my tv. That’s what I’m looking for–truly on demand tv.

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