Setting Up / Maintaining GB-PVR for others.

[bdgbill]

I was wondering if anyone here has setup and maintained GB-PVR for family or friends and if so, how it's going.

I may have been a little "overly enthusiastic" when describing GB-PVR to people over the last few months. Now I have a few people asking me to set up systems for them.

[HtV]

I was wondering if anyone here has setup and maintained GB-PVR for family or friends and if so, how it's going.

I may have been a little "overly enthusiastic" when describing GB-PVR to people over the last few months. Now I have a few people asking me to set up systems for them.

Sounds like a good way to make friends.

[groover km]

I've had a couple of people ask, but nothing has come of it yet. My only advice would be if you set it up for someone else, go with a plain 'vanilla' install - gbpvr and blue skin. This works pretty much without fault.

Then if people want to add plugins, skins, etc., it's *their* choice and you don't have to feel obligated to drop everything and run and fix it.

Just my thoughts.

[firemanpine]

I have had people ask me to set up units for them also. I have led these people in the right direction but it will be up to them to implement. If they want to use it they will need to know how it works. I feel this is the same with all software you can only show them the path but you can not walk the path for them. Just my thought. I have had bad experiences with building computers for family members. They do not take the time to research the simplest of problems before calling. sound tough but when you are receiving calls at all hours day and night it gets old.

i agree with groover km if you do decide to help them out.

good luck

[jbyram2]

I'd agree w/ firemanpine. I've had relationships with long time friends go sour on account of a computer I built that didn't work quite right. GBPVR is a great system, but it's complicated enough that I would hesitate to build a system for someone.

[reboot]

I have an extended family of 12, plus at least that many friends that run GBPVR, and only need to support 2 or 3 of them every month or so. Most of them catch on to it pretty quickly, and only need help when adding some new hardware.

[Lindsay]

This is a very good question . I support a good friend who lives close and doesn't believe in imposing on me. I can also log into his machine which can be helpful. His hardware, software and drivers all seem to work pretty well, too. So this situation is fine and he thinks GBPVR is the best thing he's done with his computer.

But I am not keen on supporting others because I dread a difficult setup and the fact that computer support always takes more time than anyone plans for (or pays for!!).

To skip to a more general question, how will this type of functionality be mainstreamed??? MCE? Nope. Viiv? Nope (see here http://www.theinquirer.net/default.aspx?article=29849). The harsh reality is that the general public have little idea about security, backups, networks, program updates etc, etc that it is inconceivable that they will be able to manage a setup as complex as a GBPVR-type system. Then add in the major moves to lock everything up with DRM. Whew, my brain hurts. Any ideas, anyone?

[madcat]

I actually don't mind supporting friends/family with their computers. I never literarlly built computers for them, but supported few during the process of deciding and purchasing. And support few remotely today. Some are clueless, and taking over their PC is far faster then explaining what to do... (even though the connection is slow - some are half way around the globe!). However, none of these are PVRs.

I would recommend, that if you decide to help/build them, include in the setup the option for you to remote control ([RemoteDesktop or alike + DynDNS or alike + the needed open ports] OR [LogMeIn]). The only caveat is that it will not be satisfactory to "debug" video quality issued.

[bdgbill]

Thanks for the advice.

For:

Person #1 - Friend at work - Moderate computer skills.
---Going to point him to GBPVR.Com and offer advice.

Person #2 - 50ish woman at work - Has a hard time downloading and unzipping email attachments.
---Recomending Tivo

Person #3 My girlfriends boss - No computer skills beyond email and web browsing.
---This is one is tough because I think GBPVR is the only solution for what he wants to do. He has digital cable and satelite and wants to combine the 2 sources into one channel list and epg. He is ready to go by a new system to my specifications just to run GBPVR (I'd really rather not be responsible for a $1500.00 "disapointment" to my girlfriends boss).

Thinking of sending him to a local computer shop to have a system built and GBPVR installed and configured.

[groover km]

Probably heresy, but for person #3, I'd try and point him at MCE because:

- He'll be familiar with and 'trust' microsoft.
- The droids at Best Buy can sort him out.
- You can then offer help and advice in a 'just trying to help' capacity, rather than feeling responsible.

But maybe that's just me. I have enough trouble with WAF factor, without taking on GBAF...