Advise on new ‘client’… (or PlaceShifter) SW

[wado1971]

So I’ll be replacing my htpc and need advice on which direction is best – in regards to SW. My existing machine (full ATX in an Oregen X10 case) is too large for my new LR setup. I already have the new HW for a smaller HTPC setup and want to make sure I don’t make any mistakes with my choice of OS & SageTV software. No HD2OO comments required – the ‘pc’ capability is a must for me for both the ‘fun’ factor & DVD/CD drive.
My new HW is no screamer but my expectations are high - Atom 330 + Ion. I’ve used the PS on occasion (laptop) but my past usage is a server (quad6600) with 2 pc clients. So my main decision on the new build is between the placeshifter & client SW with a secondary consideration for running the linux OS due to OS cost.
I will never run studio from this new machine so…….. I’m interested mostly in the differences between PS & client on the performance & feature front. TIA for any comment / info.

1) Is the PS as stable as the client has been for me in the past?
2) I notice subtitles are working for PS but seem to be missing in the client – is this normal?
3) Does the PS UI navigation, animation, & fanart viewing draw from the server cpu?
4) If you set the PS for “local” network it does not transcode and uses the local video card – correct? But then where are the settings for overlay, etc?
5) Any picture quality difference between the two SW’s? (with wired network)
6) Is the linux PS version exactly like the Windows PS or is it a hybrid between the windows client/PS? I’m still a bit confused on the linux version.
7) Do most stvi’s work with both linux or windows? Anything I should watch out for? (MyMovies plugin, SMW)
8) How do you modify the PS UI with stvi’s? Do I need to modify the SageTV server STV to match the way I want the PS UI to function?

rob

[dgeezer]

I have been using the same hardware Nvidia Ion N330 for about 4 or 5 months as a client and have been pleased with it. I run windows 7 and the regular sage client. I don't think that the placeshifter software is appropriate for use on your home lan. When I first set up SageTV years ago I bought a placeshifter license thinking that I needed that for my client pc. It seemed like I remember it would transcode all the video, even across my network. I also could not get the remote to work. I finally determined that I needed a client license. I have never used the placeshifter application. I really think it's only intended for use outside your home network, ie over the internet.

However, using the client software on my Ion works just as well as my HD200 as far as playing back recordings and using the SageMC interface. I don't use any of the fanart plugins, though.

I didn't know that a linux client license existed. If so then the ion would be a strong competitor to the HD200.

[wado1971]

Originally Posted by dgeezer

.....I didn't know that a linux client license existed. If so then the ion would be a strong competitor to the HD200.

Thanks for the input on the 330-ion.

As for the linux 'client' - It doesn't exist, only a linux PS license is available. This is where I'm still confused. I can't believe the linux PS version is crippled in any way as compared to the windows version of the client??

[Fuzzy]

Just use the Windows Client software, This is what it's designed for. Placeshifter is really just for WAN use. It doesn't play DVD's, it doesn't do hardware acceleration, so that ION will be useless, and the UI is slower, as it is all processed on the server.

Client is the right tool for the job. The fact that it is limited to windows makes the rest of the decisions easy. I'd recommend Win7 for any HTPC setup, and sage is no exception. The video rendering is vastly improved over any other windows version.

[koan00]

You dont mention your sources, will you be doing H.264 or just MPEG2?

I have a PS license in addition to what's listed in my sig, and I would not suggest going that route. It's slower, less reliable, and less configurable.

For example the PS just uses Mplayer which does software based rendering of all the content. This means you wouldn't be able to choose a codec that uses the hardware based acceleration the ION chipset provides. You would have to rely on the meager CPU power provided by the Atom CPU alone.

[wado1971]

Thanks Fuzzy & Koan00 for the input – I think you’ve confirmed my suspicions. I actually installed the linux PS on the ION about a week ago and although I only had a few hours to play around with it, I had a feeling this was the wrong direction for my main viewing machine. It’s unfortunate I can’t use a free OS for this rig – seems like a waste of a Win7 license to task a single program to.
thanks

[Fuzzy]

I figure with the advantages Win7 gives to video playback (the acceleration is VERY important on an ION platform), it is definately not a waste.

[koan00]

All of the acceleration features are still available on XP using the Sage Client. Why not use an old XP license?

[Fuzzy]

Not entirely correct, not ALL accelleration features are there. EVR (and more importantly, DXVA2.0) adds further accelleration capablilities to more advanced CODECs, like H.264 and VC-1, not to mention accellerated post-processing. IMHO, every little bit helps when dealing with Atom processors. If money is tight, yes, and XP license will probably work, but I don't see much point in installing XP on a new system these days.

[koan00]

One point I could see for XP is that Sage supports it. So if you forsee actually needing to contact support, XP or Vista is required.