First impressions

[Steerpike]

I just downloaded and installed GB-PVR, and I have to say it's a nice program, with lots of features.   But the initial 'user experience' was both good and bad.  I muddled through the issues, and now I know how to use it, but I thought I'd note down some observations while the experiences are still 'fresh' - you only get one chance to be a 'new user'!

I'm a technical guy, running IT and customer support for a software company, so I'm both technical and user-oriented.

Obviously, the screens are designed to be 'simple', and the 'TV interface' model is being used, rather than a typical windows application interface - is this because people are expected to use this on an actual TV?  I assume so.  

Anyway, I found the menus confusing.  On some screens, I am provided with navigation, but on others, I'm not.  For example, on the 'Recordings' screen, there is a 'main menu' button that takes me back to main menu, but on the 'TV Guide' screen, there is no navigation.  It took me a while to realize that 'escape' would take me back to main menu (hard to admit to, but true!!!.

On the 'Search Guide' screen, a single-click on the letters causes it to be highlighted, but no action occurs. Again, it toom me a while to realize I had to double-click on the letter.  And how to scroll through the letters ...? I tried hitting the 'S' key to get to the letter 'S', but no dice.  There are no arrows to click on to scroll the list; I finally realized that page down and down-arrow keys worked.   Once you know, it's easy ... just letting you know that first time in I was puzzled by this!

Back to the 'Recordngs' screen ... if I select 'manual rec', the 'channel' item is selected, with left/right arrow icons to the right.  I clicked away on those arrows trying to change the channel for some time, until I realized I had to use the left/right keyboard keys.  I wanted to move the selection to another entry (eg, start time) and clicked on the entry ... no luck.  Down arrow worked, of course.  

So by now, of course, I'm clued in that this is much more like a 'TV' interface, designed to be operated by a remote with limited buttons (and no mouse!.  Once I got this, it was plain sailing, but ... this is a windows app, and I started out expecting a 'windows app-like' experience.  

I also had my first BSOD experience in over a year with this program, somewhere along the way - it was about 2am, and I was bleary eyed, so can't say exactly what caused it - I 'think' I was trying to get it to record without having downloaded the full EPG, not sure.  

I was hesitant to install '.net framework' as I've never had to install it before (and I download/install a LOT of software!, and at work we have found clashes between .net and Oracle Application Server components .... but I installed it anyway and no problems so far!  

I followed instructions in another thread here and got Closed Captions to both record and play back - and THAT was my reason for downloading GB-PVR in the first place.  This alone makes the experience worthwhile!

Given the user-interface is 'TV-oriented', and assuming the purpose is for people to build this app into a standalone PVR, is there a recommended display card for TV-out? I've read somewhere that the Matrox is the best.

Providing these comments in the interest of sharing my first-time experience, not to whine.

[sub]

Quote[/b] ]Obviously, the screens are designed to be 'simple', and the 'TV interface' model is being used, rather than a typical windows application interface - is this because people are expected to use this on an actual TV?  I assume so.

This was designed this way, because I wanted to use it on my TV. I didn't want to use a mouse or a keyboard for doing my recordings, I wanted to use a remote.

Quote[/b] ]On some screens, I am provided with navigation, but on others, I'm not.  For example, on the 'Recordings' screen, there is a 'main menu' button that takes me back to main menu, but on the 'TV Guide' screen, there is no navigation.  It took me a while to realize that 'escape' would take me back to main menu (hard to admit to, but true!!!.

Hey, I'm not graphic designer, sometimes I just end up with no space left for putting a main menu button. Given that I'm using my remote, and I'm my target audience, I'm quite happy to press the 'home' button my remote to get back to the main screen.

The BSOD will be related to the PVR250 drivers.

[Steerpike]

Hey, I fully appreciate the 'screen real-estate' issues, and I did realize, after about 30 minutes or so of messing with the program, that the app was using a 'TV plus Remote' model, and from then on it was plain sailing. I just wanted to give my first impressions as a new user, because once you've figured something out, it's hard to remember what it was like the first time! And you, as the author, will never have that 'first time user' experience, because you designed it.

Is there a 'help' document that explains the various keys, both on remote and on the PC? You just mentioned above that you hit 'home', and that's equiv. to 'esc' on the PC. Is that written anywhere? How do I pause, skip forward, etc on both PC and with remote?

Thanks again for the great program ... please don't take my comments as criticism!

[sub]

Dont worry, I appreciate the feedback.

http://www.gbpvr.com/QuickStart/shortcuts.htm

[fini]

Quote[/b] (sub @ Oct. 10 2004,13:28)]Given that I'm using my remote, and I'm my target audience, I'm quite happy

LMAO, the honesty is brilliant...

fini

[tomcru01]

Not Windows Xp friendly. I installed the software but cannot get it to work with my video capture card (plextor PX-M402U), It started to download the guide but never finished and just hanged. I tried to uninstall it but cannot. Tried to repair, using the same installation file but couldn't either. Now, I got stuck with it and it loaded everytime I boot my Pc but never able to run it. And I thought the navigation menu was very confusing too. Lastly, it uses alot of CPU resource and very slow going from screen to screen.
Rating this software from 1 to 5, I would give it a 2 and wouldn't recommend anyone to use this software yet.

[sub]

Ah, thanks...

I dont remember seeing any of your questions. If you'd asked, I'm sure we could have help you out.

For future reference, what did you find confusing about the menus? Given the interface was designed for the Hauppauge remote (which you dont have), I'm sure this may have added to the confusion. Did you read the first item in the FAQ? It contains a like of keystroke equivalents for the Hauppauge remote (http://www.gbpvr.com/QuickStart/shortcuts.htm)

Also, given you comment about being slow going from screen to screen, whats the specs of your machine? Anything from the target 1Ghz and up should be fine.

[reven]

Quote[/b] (tomcru01 @ Oct. 13 2004,21:19)]Not Windows Xp friendly.  I installed the software but cannot get it to work with my video capture card (plextor PX-M402U), It started to download the guide but never finished and just hanged.  I tried to uninstall it but cannot.  Tried to repair, using the same installation file but couldn't either. Now, I got stuck with it and it loaded everytime I boot my Pc but never able to run it.  And I thought the navigation menu was very confusing too.  Lastly, it uses alot of CPU resource and very slow going from screen to screen.
Rating this software from 1 to 5, I would give it a 2 and wouldn't recommend anyone to use this software yet.

slow? its by far the quickest pvr i've seen (not including freevo havent tested that) if you think this is slow try media portal.

if anything is slow its your computer not gbpvr.

only compliant i have is, i dont know what gb stands for, is it subs name? just curious

[sub]

Yeah, its my initials - not very creative I know. It was only every going to be a working name, but I never came up with anything better...

[reven]

well its better than GAM (Got All Media)