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04-02-2006, 10:08 AM
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#1
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Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2004
Posts: 92
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No need for an MCE computer.
Just installed SageTV and a Hauppage PVR-150 tuner on my computer. Works great.
By setting up SageTV to save recordings in my TiVo to go folder I can transfer and view them on both my TiVo's with no transcoding. Every recording is saved in TiVo compatible MPEG2.
It's almost like having another TiVo.
Total cost of $180. This is much better and cheaper than buying an MCE computer.
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04-02-2006, 04:19 PM
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#2
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Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Torrance, CA
Posts: 468
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You can buy an OEM copy of MCE and a tuner card for $180. You really didn't save any money by going with SageTV. You might like SageTV better, but not because of the cost.
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04-02-2006, 05:32 PM
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#3
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Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2004
Posts: 92
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by TechDreamer
You can buy an OEM copy of MCE and a tuner card for $180. You really didn't save any money by going with SageTV. You might like SageTV better, but not because of the cost.
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The reason I went with sageTV is because it integrates so well with TiVo. From what I understand MCE records in a proprietary format that would require an extra software step for TiVo to be able to transfer its recordings.
I'm not anti-microsoft or anything, but I think its ridiculous to fork out cash for another OS that looks exactly like XP.
If MCE is better than TiVo or SageTV, then I welcome someone to educate me as I have no personal experience with it. What more does MCE offer?
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04-30-2006, 11:23 PM
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#4
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Hardcore TiVo Geek
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: .worcester.ma.us
Posts: 3,301
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by Narkul
I'm not anti-microsoft or anything, but I think its ridiculous to fork out cash for another OS that looks exactly like XP.
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It looks like XP because it IS XP - Windows XP Media Center Edition. You aren't expected to buy it in addition to WinXP Home, or Pro, but *instead* of either of those.
A lot of PC vendors have made MCE the standard software now. And, of course, Windows Vista will be meda center by default.
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05-01-2006, 09:26 AM
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#5
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Astute User
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Ontario Canada.
Posts: 17,872
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by Narkul
Total cost of $180. This is much better and cheaper than buying an MCE computer.
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This is where people don't get "it". You deed a PC with areound $400+ value to use that card and OS to work. The fact you already to have a PC is beside the point.
__________________
Series 2 234 Hr Lifetime.
Window XP and Ubuntu Linux on my PCs.
Watching more and more in HD direct now.
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05-01-2006, 11:41 AM
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#6
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Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2006
Posts: 217
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by classicsat
The fact you already to have a PC is beside the point.
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Not if you already have one that will work. We already have more computers than people in this household and they just keep multiplying. I doubt any one of them is fully utilized. As computers get more powerful, being a PVR is just going to become a smaller task that they can do in the background.
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05-01-2006, 06:30 PM
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#7
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Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2002
Posts: 231
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by Narkul
If MCE is better than TiVo or SageTV, then I welcome someone to educate me as I have no personal experience with it. What more does MCE offer?
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This comparison doesn't make sense... SageTV, BeyondTV, and MCE are in the same category competing against Tivo.... Now if your question is if MCE is better then SageTV, I wouldn't say it's better, but there are some cool functions that you can't do with SageTV and vice version.
The reason I use MCE is because I have an xbox360 and a regular xbox. Both are connected to my network with my MCE and I'm able to stream anything recorded on my MCE to the other TVs through out the house. Also, the xbox360 can stream HD via the network to my other TV. This is what's called the Media Center Extender function and I think it's great, since I was going to buy the xbox and xbox360 anyways, it's an added feature.
__________________
Russ Wong
MCE 2005 with 5 HD tuners, 1 Analog Tuner, and now with 2.1TB storage.
MCE 2005 dual analog tuner with 400 hours
Tivo Series 2 with 240 hours Lifetime - Decomissioned (anyone interested?)
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05-01-2006, 09:00 PM
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#8
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Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2004
Posts: 92
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by classicsat
This is where people don't get "it". You deed a PC with areound $400+ value to use that card and OS to work. The fact you already to have a PC is beside the point.
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The PVR 150 Tuner card has hardware based mpeg encoding. Minimum system requirements are Pentium III. If you own a system that pre-dates this requirement, then a new MCE computer probably makes sense.
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05-01-2006, 09:21 PM
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#9
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Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: oklahoma
Posts: 4,721
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I bought an ATI HDTV WONDER PC card a year or so ago.
It works great. I can record from an HDTV channel and write to a DVD for watching on the TV. It also can record regular antenna TV or anything you want to plug into the s-video input.
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05-01-2006, 09:25 PM
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#10
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Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2004
Posts: 92
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by russwong
This comparison doesn't make sense... SageTV, BeyondTV, and MCE are in the same category competing against Tivo.... Now if your question is if MCE is better then SageTV, I wouldn't say it's better, but there are some cool functions that you can't do with SageTV and vice version.
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Sounds like MCE is perfect for your needs and I definitely see the advantage for you to use it over anything else.
My original post was to let folks know that there are other options besides buying another computer or replacing their OS. I pointed out SageTV because it works nicely with the TiVo to go function and most of the folks on these forums are interested in things TiVo related.
I'm not so sure that MCE , SageTV, etc. are actually competing with TiVo as the average person would probably be reluctant to put a PC in their living room. I think TiVo is mainly competing with the cable and satellite company dvr's for now.
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05-02-2006, 01:23 PM
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#11
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Astute User
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Ontario Canada.
Posts: 17,872
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by Narkul
The PVR 150 Tuner card has hardware based mpeg encoding. Minimum system requirements are Pentium III. If you own a system that pre-dates this requirement, then a new MCE computer probably makes sense.
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That is If, a pretty strong one at that.
If one did not have a spare PC around it would cost a couple hundered maybe to make something suitable.
__________________
Series 2 234 Hr Lifetime.
Window XP and Ubuntu Linux on my PCs.
Watching more and more in HD direct now.
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