Heard of the DigitalDeck (it's SageTV-like)

[FamilyMan]

A friend of mine sent me this link because he has seen my 3-room SageTV setup and wondered whether Sage was the "engine" behind this product:

DigitalDeck

They sell this product at SmartHome. The 3-room version costs $4,630!

[shhas]

Not much useful info on their website... Of course, they say that you don't need to know how it works!

Anyway, it seems like a a customized Linux box/media portal combination. The part I did not understand is that it says the the server and clients talk to each other via infrared.. I can't see how infrared would work for clients that cannot physically see the server.

If someone else can digup more info, it would be interesting.

[FamilyMan]

You can download the user and installation guides from the SmartHome site I linked above.

The main media server (MX1000) and the extenders (eDeck's) communicate via wired Ethernet (no wireless). It doesn't support HD recording but it does allow control of CE devices connected to any of the extenders via IR transmitted through the eDeck. They also claim to be able to record/view from multiple devices connected to any of the extenders (basically, they create a channel for any connected device). If this product does all what it claims it can do it will be a very cool and compelling option for those who are not HTPC enthusiasts.

[dbfresh23]

$4,630!
Obviously they are going for the people that have too much money and don't know any better!

For $4630 that thing better make me coffee, wash & iron my clothes, mow the grass and take out the trash!

Even an MCE system like that could be had for less then $2000.

I doubt they'll have a problem keeping up with sales demand!

Heh, for that $4630 I could put together a SageTV system w/ clients and have enough left for a nice big screen tv!

[kerryp24]

This system isn't being sold to people like us. DIYers
It's geared toward people who want whole house audio/video distribution without having to know how it works.
It's an ok system (I do know quite a bit about it, but don't ask how ;-)), but it is strickly an analog compression system. They don't do HD, yet (they keep talking about it), but it would require a rework of the fundamental storage and delivery system.
It does networking and streaming amazingly well.

Not for, gear heads, like us tho. ;-)

Kerry

[dbfresh23]

Even still, I can have a Tivo in each room w/ a lifetime service agreement for WAY less.

3 Tivos and 3 LT agreements ~$1100-1200

Sure you don't get the general storage, but you can have 3 HD TVs with the remaining money!

[FamilyMan]

I agree. If I didn't know anything about computers and SageTV then I would probably opt for the Tivo's before I'd slap down the money for the DigitalDeck. I would get the Tivo's because, as a general consumer, I now understand the PVR concept. Tivo spent a lot of marketing money to educate the average consumer and transforming their product name into a "verb." What DigitalDeck is banking on is that most people would rather buy a complete system that works out of the box than attempt to cobble different off-the-shelf products together to get the same functionality. For one price (however high), you get a completely integrated, networked whole house PVR/MUSIC/PHOTO/DVD/VCR/IR distribution system. I just hope they reserved a significant portion of their startup capital for the "verb creation" marketing campaign.

[kerryp24]

You're misunderstanding.
This isnt just about Tivo or recording tv shows to watch later.
This is WHOLE house WHOLE A/V distribution.
You can put DVDs in different units in the house and watch them in other places.
Two different units can watch the same DVD at different times.
Pause and go back to it.
You can listen to different music in any room their is an eDeck.

Yes, I know "WE" can do all that stuff, but the average non propeller head, can't.
And Digital Deck has worked all the kinks out so it all happens invisibly. Even to the point of automatic updates of software.

BTW, not everyone wants to get their fingers dirty with STVs and NVidia Decoders.
I love my SageTV systems, don't get me wrong. But then again, I'm a propeller head.

Kerry