2006-01-08, 04:53 AM
I have been using GBPVR for about a month, I have also tried the demo's of SageTV and BeyondTV, liked the interface of BeyondTV and the features of SageTV. I also have a MediaMVP which I am attempting to use to its capacity.
What I think all these programs need is a better PC interface, seem to spend so much time trying to emulate the Media Center that they don't take advantage of the PC. Think outside the box and take full advantage of the interface options available.
Not saying do away with the existing interface, but let it still retain capabilities of the platform it is operating from.
Right click options, I like being able to right click and get options, I am conditioned to the windows interface as that being an option.
I use the program, alot for watching TV while I surf the internet, as my son is playing video games, I keep it up in the corner, and have it set to stay on top and watch TV while I am surfing. Features I would love to have is option to channel surf without replacing the show I am watching, and a last option to let me easily go back between two different channels.
I am sure once we step outside the Media Center PC box, many other things could be added.
Much easier way to mask out channels I don't watch, whole process now seems very buggy, sometimes working othertimes not to the point that I now have it load all the channels rather than try to clean it up.
Why not take advantage of all the ways you can interact with media and have them on the program. Right now for alot of things I have less control than I would if had a nice remote, favorites, button press macro's.
Winamp like features for playing songs, playlists, multiple views etc.
Not taking away anything from the program, but thinking I will be deciding on SageTV even though I think this program has more inate potential. I think the real focus should be innovation on the interface and making it easier to use and setup. I think that is all that is keeping this from being equal to its commercial competitors, the polish and ease of use to let an average use and succeed with it.
Just my three cents
What I think all these programs need is a better PC interface, seem to spend so much time trying to emulate the Media Center that they don't take advantage of the PC. Think outside the box and take full advantage of the interface options available.
Not saying do away with the existing interface, but let it still retain capabilities of the platform it is operating from.
Right click options, I like being able to right click and get options, I am conditioned to the windows interface as that being an option.
I use the program, alot for watching TV while I surf the internet, as my son is playing video games, I keep it up in the corner, and have it set to stay on top and watch TV while I am surfing. Features I would love to have is option to channel surf without replacing the show I am watching, and a last option to let me easily go back between two different channels.
I am sure once we step outside the Media Center PC box, many other things could be added.
Much easier way to mask out channels I don't watch, whole process now seems very buggy, sometimes working othertimes not to the point that I now have it load all the channels rather than try to clean it up.
Why not take advantage of all the ways you can interact with media and have them on the program. Right now for alot of things I have less control than I would if had a nice remote, favorites, button press macro's.
Winamp like features for playing songs, playlists, multiple views etc.
Not taking away anything from the program, but thinking I will be deciding on SageTV even though I think this program has more inate potential. I think the real focus should be innovation on the interface and making it easier to use and setup. I think that is all that is keeping this from being equal to its commercial competitors, the polish and ease of use to let an average use and succeed with it.
Just my three cents
