GBPVR - Why You Did It - Wired News ?s

[rsingel]

I'm working on a story for Wired News about a range of DIY media center projects and I wanted to see if anyone here wanted to talk with me about why they decided to go the GBPVR/DIY route.

If you reply here, would you mind using your full name so I can quote you, alternatively you could also (and I'd actually prefer) drop me a note at ryan ATSIGN ryansingel.net. If you really want to talk, include your IM info or phone number and time to reach you in your email.

I did just build my own GBPVR so I'm not completely ignorant...

Thanks,

Ryan Singel

UPDATED: Thanks to all of you all for your replies and for your help in the forums with my newb questions. As Volksman posted earlier the story ran today, Wednesday March 8. Let me know if I got anything wrong. <a href="http://wired.com/news/technology/0,70328-0.html">Story</a>

[ejeffers]

I went With DIY primarily because there are no monthly fews, reffering to Tivo and Cable/Satellite provider DVRs. Also, its self accomplishment, knowing that you have created your own home built system that does everything a commercial DVR or MCE computer can do. Not to metion the excellent support from Sub and the community who develop lots of plugins and skins, etc.

If you really want to, my email is ejeffers@gmail.com (how surprising)

[haripj]

I refuse to pay for Tivo - having a monthly fee for a PVR just does not make sense to me. Its like having a monthly fee to use your VCR.
Plus I found out that I already had most of the components needed to build the PVR in my PC. Didn't have much further to go.
I must say that the availability of GBPVR as a free software with no monthly fee had to do a LOT with the decision to go ahead with it.
Email me at haripj@yahoo.com with any questions.
Good luck with the write-up.

[ydekmekji]

In some respects, I would say that the first draw to GBPVR was that it was free. However, over time, I have sent in donations to SUB, and perhaps the amount of money would have matched a commercial program. So it's not just the price that led me to choose GBPVR over other pvr software.

if you're intrigued for more, send me a pm on this board and we'll go from there!

[daphatty]

At first, I did it because it was cheaper than TiVo. After 12 months, I've easily spent more money than a lifetime subscription for a TiVo on this hobby. But the bottom line for me is control. I can do whatever I want with the content I record (and pay for). I love being able to watch my shows on my PSP. I love that my wife can watch her Oprah and Days of our Lives. Nothing beats the loving you get from High WAF!

[erik]

I did it because I could not buy a networked PVR here in the Netherlands.
Of course I wanted the PVR because we wanted to be free from the timing imposed by the broadcaster and we HATE commercials ;-)

[A_Brass]

For me, it was the birth of our first child. All of sudden I couldn't watch the few shows I liked because we had diapers to change or bottles to feed, or any other child related distraction. We cut our monthly expenses so that ment no DVR from the cable company and Tivo was out of the question. I started looking for a better way to record TV. The VCR was just not cutting it. We missed shows, couldn't find blank tapes, or taped over each others shows. When I stumbled onto GBPVR I was hooked. I had enough peices/parts to get started all I needed was a PVR card. When I got the GBPvr working I was in heaven. I took some time to get the wife on board but now I think she likes it as much as I do. And it found its way into my son's weekly routine. I now have 10hrs of Thomas the Tank Engine, That cannot be deleted.

More info let me know. aaron.brassard@verizon.net

[stu8080]

I was intrigued by the TiVo idea, coming home to find the past days worth of TV available on demand. TiVo seemed expensive and limited at the time, and other commercial apps such as Showshifter and BeyondTV were not flexible enough, were slow in development and were US focused in terms of TV guides etc.
I was drawn to GB-PVR because i thought it was a UK based developer! I soon realised Sub was from NZ but by then i'd realised how fast this project was moving, how skilled Sub was and how quickly bugs and problems were addressed by Sub and forum members.
Ive spent far more on this than i would have with a TiVo partly because of the trial and error nature of it but i think i have a far better system, everything works flawlessly including many plugins (especially the excellent MusicLibrary2) and is also always on and so acts as network storage and backup, and platform big for downloads through the day.

[stu8080]

forgot to add: Stuart Phillips, NE UK, stuartphillips8080@hotmail.com feel free to contact me

[danIrl]

No TIVO like system available in my Country. Wanted to record from my analog cable using a good EPG based system. Also knew that If I used a software based solution, if would be more flexible, as plugins are constantly being written for such applications. (i.e. playing music, viewing pictures, etc)

Initially went down the Linux/MythTV route, primarily to avoid Microsoft & Windows. IVTV drivers were not stable enough, so reverted back to Windows and found a really good program and community in GBPVR.