Maverick wrote:
Dude, you didn't read far enough.We have no desire to provide software support (or deal with zap2it
I think you answered your own question right there. Someone who is interested in spending $1000 to record HDTV, and who doesn't have enough knowledge/experience to build their own Myth box, will want service, support and a warranty. I believe that's one reason TiVo has been successful, my mom can use it and if she has a question, they have a number to call. MythTV isn't "my mom" kind of simple, just trying to have her login to a website and sign up for zap2it would far exceed her abilities...
Maybe I misunderstood your target market, -Kenneth
Later on he says, "Then you, as knowledgeable mythtv admins can turn around and offer your consulting services to prospective interested parties to help them set up the mythbox (and will let you instruct them in setting up their own personal account at zap2it, and explain how the surveys work, etc.)."
In other words, you could turn around and resell it along with your support. Or sell your services and the box at cost, or do it all for free and they only pay for the hardware - whatever! I think that it is a cool idea.
In fact, I like the idea of a "reference design". Hardware that has already been deemed the best combination for a mythbox packaged up along with the inital install and burn in. Could offer some options such as multiple tuners, bigger disks, and so on...
I know that many people agonize over what hardware to get - look at all the questions on this list. I know that I did and I certainly ended up with more work than I planned once I tried to put all mine together and get all drivers working together nicely. Admittedly, I went a harder route with a streamlined Gentoo install (still working on it - heh).
Hell, newbies on list might opt just to pick up one of these "preapproved" setups - could link to it directly from the mythtv site if it is a truly altruistic offer. At least they won't be bitten by unexpected problems such as a PVR-250MCE requiring patches, messing with lirc, and so on. I'd buy one (assuming it looks good and specs are nice) if I hadn't already sunk my $1000 building my own from scratch.
Also, if they source everything at cheaper bulk prices, it would be the best bang for your buck. Most of us are stuck with buying parts retail or reusing old hardware.
So far the only negative points I have are:
1) you're stuck with the hardware offered.
2) if you aren't using one yourself, it makes it more difficult to administer someone else's (recover from catastrophic disk crash, for example)
Ian.
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