I want PIP

[Goodspike]

With DTivos what you do is set one tuner to one channel you want to watch, and the other tuner to the other channel. You then switch between watching each channel, freezing the picture before you change to the other channel. That way you can watch two football games at once, and not miss any of it.

Far better than PIP, IMHO, and something you could do with Sage without too much trouble (and you wouldn't need to freeze the one you're leaving).

[Mahoney]

I still like to channel surf from time to time. Gives a chance to be surprised by something you weren't expecting to watch.

[wrangellboy]

I'd just like to pipe up and say I'd like PIP as well. For many of the reasons listed above. PIP is an incredibly useful feature when watching live t.v. You can scan the channels during (gasp) commercials, or you can watch 2 football games at once, or you can keep track of a *your sport here* game while your wife watches Dr. Phil...

Also, whats with people on pvr boards jumping all over anyone who wants to watch live t.v. Just because you have a PVR doesn't mean you should never again watch live T.V. I ask you people this, if someone is on right now that you want to watch, do you record it and watch it later just to avoid watching it live? Whats the point of that?

I'd like to hear a semi-official stance on this from the Sage people because right now I see it as a substantial shortcoming in the product. If the official stance is no way no how I might have to look elsewhere for PVR software...

[sfisher]

Originally Posted by wrangellboy

I'd just like to pipe up and say I'd like PIP as well. For many of the reasons listed above. PIP is an incredibly useful feature when watching live t.v. You can scan the channels during (gasp) commercials, or you can watch 2 football games at once, or you can keep track of a *your sport here* game while your wife watches Dr. Phil...

Again I say, read my posts above... You can, for all intents and purposes have PIP by using the Sage Client.

-Steve

[lotusvball]

Originally Posted by sfisher

Again I say, read my posts above... You can, for all intents and purposes have PIP by using the Sage Client.

-Steve

That's create for someone who has the time to set this up and pay for multiple licenses. I want it built into the curent interface as an out of the box feature. I know that I have seen this in numerous DVR products and it is the one thing right now that I wish SageTV had.

[wrangellboy]

Originally Posted by sfisher

Again I say, read my posts above... You can, for all intents and purposes have PIP by using the Sage Client.

-Steve

Not to be rude but the solution you describe is inelegant at best. How is that going to work on a keyboard/mousless htpc system hooked to a tv (ie only controlled by ir remote)? How are you going to launch the second window? How are you going to switch back and forth? It's essentially a non-option for a non desktop htpc.

Real PIP would be controllable by the remote and allow you to switch between windows easily, transpose the windows, open or close the windows, etc... Running a second instance of the client isn't going to do any of this easily. I can see ways it would work, but probably not without girder, so you're looking at $60 in cost just to get PIP ($30 for the client, $30 for girder).

[sfisher]

Originally Posted by lotusvball

That's create for someone who has the time to set this up and pay for multiple licenses. I want it built into the curent interface as an out of the box feature. I know that I have seen this in numerous DVR products and it is the one thing right now that I wish SageTV had.

Maybe they'll add it in the next version, I don't know. I'm just saying if you really need it now, this is a way to get it now.

Many people are using the Client-Server set-up anyway, (There are a lot of advantages to it) it doesn't cost them a thing, and there is no setup necessary.

Although I haven't tried it, it might be possible for Sage Client to work on the same box as the server. If this is the case, and I think that it has a pretty good chance. (Sage Tech should probably know the answer) Then the total outlay is the price of one Sage Client Licence ($30) not exactly a major expenditure, if you really want the feature.

Oh, and of course, there is nothing to stop you from having 3 - 4 PIPs running at the same time; All on the one Sage Client licence. Assuming you have the resources...

-Steve

[sfisher]

Originally Posted by wrangellboy

Not to be rude but the solution you describe is inelegant at best. How is that going to work on a keyboard/mousless htpc system hooked to a tv (ie only controlled by ir remote)? How are you going to launch the second window? How are you going to switch back and forth? It's essentially a non-option for a non desktop htpc.

Real PIP would be controllable by the remote and allow you to switch between windows easily, transpose the windows, open or close the windows, etc... Running a second instance of the client isn't going to do any of this easily. I can see ways it would work, but probably not without girder, so you're looking at $60 in cost just to get PIP ($30 for the client, $30 for girder).

I didn't say it was perfect, just possible now. It all depends how much you want it. What IR remote do you have anyway? My streamzap ir remote, is able to mouse around and control multiple instances of Sage Client without Girder just fine.

[wrangellboy]

I'm using the 45 button hauppauge remote. My point was really that I don't want to see the windows desktop ever. I hope I didn't sound too rude, that wasn't my intention. I'm just trying to bring exposure to the PIP issue so that perhaps the Sage guys will think about implementing it.

[sfisher]

Originally Posted by wrangellboy

I'm using the 45 button hauppauge remote. My point was really that I don't want to see the windows desktop ever. I hope I didn't sound too rude, that wasn't my intention. I'm just trying to bring exposure to the PIP issue so that perhaps the Sage guys will think about implementing it.

No problem about being rude, and if and when it gets added I'm sure it will be a seamless as the rest... Point is, you can do it now if you really want it.

What's the issue if you see the Windows Desktop once in a while? It's just a screen. And you could eliminate just about everything off it but TV related items if you really wanted to.

[Goodspike]

Originally Posted by wrangellboy

I'd just like to pipe up and say I'd like PIP as well. For many of the reasons listed above. PIP is an incredibly useful feature when watching live t.v. You can . . . watch 2 football games at once, or you can keep track of a *your sport here* game while your wife watches Dr. Phil...

As I noted, if you have two tuners (which would be necessary for PIP also) you can use the pause/watch method to watch two games at the same time.

And I'm sorry, but if this PIP thing allows my wife to watch Dr. Phil (or Oprah) during the game, that's a feature I don't want at all!

[wrangellboy]

Think of it this way goodspike. If you choice is only Dr. Phil or Dr. Phil with the game on part of the screen which will you choose?

[sleonard]

Originally Posted by wrangellboy

Think of it this way goodspike. If you choice is only Dr. Phil or Dr. Phil with the game on part of the screen which will you choose?

To mow the lawn.

[nyle]

I choose jump out the window. Just make sure it's high enough so Dr. Phil can't try to later Psychobablize you.

Don't you like walking in the door from work to hear - "You know what was on Dr. Phil today?"

[sfisher]

Originally Posted by nyle

I choose jump out the window. Just make sure it's high enough so Dr. Phil can't try to later Psychobablize you.

Ah, self defenestration!