Workstation Recommendations

[mike1961]

Hello - what is a good configuration for a workstation? I guess the main concern is probably keeping the noise of fans to a minimum and also quality of the output to the TV.

Finally - I'm confused on just exactly what a media extender is and how it is different from a computer. Are there pros/cons to having one and how are the licensing issues worked out with Sage? Can I use a license with that I got from Sage for a pc with a media extender instead?

Thanks,
Mike.

[stanger89]

Originally Posted by mike1961

Hello - what is a good configuration for a workstation? I guess the main concern is probably keeping the noise of fans to a minimum and also quality of the output to the TV.

If you're up to building you're own, I'm very happy with my components:
http://forums.sage.tv/forums/showthr...ht=mini+review

Finally - I'm confused on just exactly what a media extender is and how it is different from a computer.

Firstly, and extender is NOT a computer, that there is the biggest difference. It is (usually/ideally) a small, inexpensive, cool, quiet, dedicated device.

Are there pros/cons to having one and how are the licensing issues worked out with Sage?

Pros are (generally):
Small
Cheap
Quiet

Cons:
Less versitile (limited playback formats mainly).

Depending on setup they may have better (on an SDTV) or worse (on an HDTV) quality than a PC.

Can I use a license with that I got from Sage for a pc with a media extender instead?

SageTV offered a client license trade in after they released the extender, if it's still going on, then you can trade in. But no, licenses are not interchangeable.


In a nutshell, the way licenses work is you register 'n' extender licenses on the SageTV server, and then the first 'n' extender that connect are licensed. I'm not sure what happens after that, either they don't work or they go into trial mode.