Well folks, it looks like a fairly hard blow has been struck to VMC, the SageTV folks have started getting the HD PVRs and are currently recording component video on their boxes and playing it over their extenders. Seems to be working fairly well for this early in the game.

While I don't think is a knock out blow for VMC, this is a pretty big blow. I wish we would see something come out from MS about Figi and some of the new features.

-Josh

I big blow if you want 4 boxes to record two streams

(2 cable/sattelite boxes, 2 hd pvrs ($500)

no thanks

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Dell xps420 w/ dual ATI cable cards
Hdhomerun for QAM
Panasonic 50" Plasma fed by xbox 360
Panasonic 42" plama fed by xbox 360
3TB in storage and counting

I will take 4 boxes anyday.  Cablecards suck!  I cant do anything with the recorded content (cut commercials, move to server to play easily, stream to my laptop.)  I am counting the days until this works with Vista...may even switch to sage.  I want 2-3 HD PVRs.

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WHS Quad Core, 3GB RAM, 3 HD PVRs, 4.5TB Storage and growing. 42 inch LCD and 92" Projector.

I hear you on the copyright issues. But I would go to sage as I think Microsoft will copyright it within media center. If that is the way you want to go then I think SAGETV is the way to go on the hd-pvr.

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Dell xps420 w/ dual ATI cable cards
Hdhomerun for QAM
Panasonic 50" Plasma fed by xbox 360
Panasonic 42" plama fed by xbox 360
3TB in storage and counting

killervette:

I will take 4 boxes anyday.  Cablecards suck!  I cant do anything with the recorded content (cut commercials, move to server to play easily, stream to my laptop.)  I am counting the days until this works with Vista...may even switch to sage.  I want 2-3 HD PVRs.

im very interested in the solution but directv tuners will be a far far bigger deal to me (and id guess most) if they come like we are all hoping (no stupid cablecard restrictions).  ive tried sage and just cant get past the ui.  it really needs some major improvements (more than what themes will be able to do).  sage7 or whatever the next big version is could be a tipping point though.

Given that Fiji apparently not only has no DirecTV support, but also doesn't even have H.264 support, you are not going to get a chance to see how the DRM on DirecTV would have constrained you, and you will not get the opportunity to use HD-DVR's either.

Oh, and Fiji apparently is now only an OEM release? 

You guys should wise up and move to a solution where you are the target market for developers like SageTV.

Mike,

You have allot of strong assumptions in your statement. Where did you get FIJI will be oem only?

Ps HD-PVR will be dead once cable and sattelite decide to downgrade component video out anyways.

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Dell xps420 w/ dual ATI cable cards
Hdhomerun for QAM
Panasonic 50" Plasma fed by xbox 360
Panasonic 42" plama fed by xbox 360
3TB in storage and counting

PLUCKYHD:

Mike,

You have allot of strong assumptions in your statement. Where did you get FIJI will be oem only?

Ps HD-PVR will be dead once cable and sattelite decide to downgrade component video out anyways.

this thread here:  http://thegreenbutton.com/forums/3/271819/ShowThread.aspx

More confirmation here:  http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/05/next-vista-media-center-leaked-no-directv-hd-till-2010/

Time to move on folks...

I'm with Mike.. I fear this is the final nail for me. I can't wait another 2 years to get HD content in my media center. I've already waited long enough, and I'm tired of being rewarded with delays and more delays for my patience and continued support.

PLUCKYHD:

I big blow if you want 4 boxes to record two streams

(2 cable/sattelite boxes, 2 hd pvrs ($500)

no thanks

And if you want to recompress the analog signal from an already over-compressed digital stream. No thanks! The original stream is crappy enough!

From emails I've received from that Jeff dude, I gather that nothing cool will come out until Windows 7 MCE. Kinda like how they ditched MCE2005, they're putting their efforts into Windows 7!

kudos to SageTV & other providers. This is why you take the good with the bad using Microsoft for Media Center. on the one hand, they're the first (and only), which can get you cablecard content--which, hate it all you want, when you have it working, it's the best HD solution for HTPCs. But, on the other hand, being part of Vista, they move MUCH slower & have a lot more time to incorporate things.

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Mike Garcen
TGB Moderator | MissingRemote Editor/Reviewer| Microsoft MVP - Media Center
My MCE Setup

Why are you waiting for HD content in MCE?

I have been recording HD (with no restrictions) with the R5000HD mod for six months and with Tim Moores FireSTB prior to that.

What are you waiting for?

This reason alone is the primary reason I am test-driving Sage TV right now.  The UI is a bit lame, but I understand it's pretty customizable.  Once I get it flowing smoothly, then I'll work on customizing the UI.  Once that's done, and it gets the WAF seal, then I'll drop money on the HD-PVRs.

While the rumor about the 2nd MC update later this year possibly supporting H.264 is encouraging, I'm not certain I trust or believe it.  "By the end of the year" generally turns into late 1st quarter next year, and sometimes becomes "...well, never!" (see Softsled.)

 

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Ghostlobster
Very happy convert to SageTV! Finally, watching ESPN-HD in real HD on my HTPC without having to deal with the CableCARD fiasco!