TiVo vs MythTV

I've got a TiVo HD and a homebuilt MythTV system. Both have been working for years, but I just transplanted the TiVo in to the main den system (swapping out an original Series 1 TiVo that is no longer subscribed.)

What TiVo gets right:

- the remote is the best ergonomic unit I've ever held.

- SemiLive TV is faster to change channels and records continuously even when the box is 'off'.

- CableCard tuners are great. CableLabs ought to be destroyed for their refusal to allow open-source or even unembedded implementations of the CableCard.

- initial setup is much easier, and much more user-friendly

- some of the on-screen displays are better designed

What TiVo gets wrong:

- there's advertising on the .main menu

What MythTV does better:

- expandability of disk space. My MythTV has almost 4 TB of disks attached. When disk prices come down, so does my cost of adding storage. The process is transparent: hook up disks, copy files if desired, add to a storage group.

- adding tuners. I have three currently and have run as many as 5 simultaneously.

- adding front ends: I can run the system from (currently) four stations in the house, and I can add more. TiVo will let you share with other TiVos, but you can't really consider them all at once. A MythTV also makes a dandy home media server.

- copy/transcode to other systems. It's easy to burn to a DVD or copy to a USB stick or transcode to a format for a mobile video device.

- open source means everything can be changed.

In summary: TiVo if you are willing to trade choice and flexibility for ease of setup and ads. MythTV for the opposite choices.

Post from mobile portal m.livejournal.com

TiVo vs MythTV

I've got a TiVo HD and a homebuilt MythTV system. Both have been working for years, but I just transplanted the TiVo in to the main den system (swapping out an original Series 1 TiVo that is no longer subscribed.)

What TiVo gets right:

- the remote is the best ergonomic unit I've ever held.

- SemiLive TV is faster to change channels and records continuously even when the box is 'off'.

- CableCard tuners are great. CableLabs ought to be destroyed for their refusal to allow open-source or even unembedded implementations of the CableCard.

- initial setup is much easier, and much more user-friendly

- some of the on-screen displays are better designed

What TiVo gets wrong:

- there's advertising on the .main menu

What MythTV does better:

- expandability of disk space. My MythTV has almost 4 TB of disks attached. When disk prices come down, so does my cost of adding storage. The process is transparent: hook up disks, copy files if desired, add to a storage group.

- adding tuners. I have three currently and have run as many as 5 simultaneously.

- adding front ends: I can run the system from (currently) four stations in the house, and I can add more. TiVo will let you share with other TiVos, but you can't really consider them all at once. A MythTV also makes a dandy home media server.

- copy/transcode to other systems. It's easy to burn to a DVD or copy to a USB stick or transcode to a format for a mobile video device.

- open source means everything can be changed.

In summary: TiVo if you are willing to trade choice and flexibility for ease of setup and ads. MythTV for the opposite choices.

Post from mobile portal m.livejournal.com

Caffeine alters my time-sense

The day goes by faster when I am caffeinated to the right level. I don't think work output changes, just my retro-perception of time elapsed. I suspect this is a selective focus issue.

Caffeine alters my time-sense

The day goes by faster when I am caffeinated to the right level. I don't think work output changes, just my retro-perception of time elapsed. I suspect this is a selective focus issue.