HD300 - Some nubie questions

[oldfolkie]

Mark,

I understand the appeal of virtual folders based on metadata, although, for me, I don't find it to be so important for video. I just physically layout my folder structures how I want to see them (Animation, Documentaries/(type), Concerts, Movies/(genre), TV/(series), etc. You could always do it based on resolution, or you could have resolution as a sub-folder, or you could have resolution as part of a title folder name. Obviously not as flexible, but it works for me. Of course, you could still use Mezzmo anytime you wanted to browse a virtual folder based on any other metadata you wanted, although you wouldn't be able to play DVD rips this way.

You will be able to play DVD rips once you Import into the HD300, although I agree with wildgoose about the SageTV media center software, maybe even if you don't have a Tuner. Extender mode just gives you so much more, even without TV recording.


wildgoose,

As I mentioned earlier in the thread--and after much experimenting with the HD200 and on a WDTVLive with custom firmware--I'm seriously thinking about a Squeezebox for music. It seems to be the audio equivalent of SageTV (which is great for video). I'm currently wavering between the Touch and the Duet. Any thoughts? (I hope I'm not too much off topic.)

Oldfolkie

[wildgoose]

I have both the Touch and the Classic. While both are equally functional, the Touch is definitely a better eye candy. I just scanned all my CD cover art and it made the playback a lot more interesting. Synchronized play also works quite well. My network is wired. Personally I prefers a display on the device rather than a display on the remote (powered by custom battery that needs to be replaced every now and then..)

One area that I do wish the squeezebox can do better is to provide more advanced random/shuffle playback. One should be able to rate songs easily, and random play should play songs of higher rating more frequently than songs of lower rating. Be able to partition the music (my music, kids music, wife's music) would also be very nice. There are addons that can do these things, but they are written by 3rd party and I feel like things like this should be an integral part of squeezebox.

Amazon currently has a sale on the Touch for $268 (not long ago it was selling for $350 for some strange reason, normally it's $299). I purchased both units 2nd hand from craigslist.

[oldfolkie]

Thanks. I had originally thought about the Duet, but with the availability of mobile control software (which harkens back to the beginning of this thread relative to HD300 audio), the Touch is now sounding better. I've been keeping my eye on ebay, but the Touch has been going for not that much less than Amazon and I'm thinking I might like the warranty that comes with a new unit.

[markus46]

Yep. I just purchased SageTV software. HD300 in extender mode does almost everything I want.

Thanks to all for your help and suggestions!

Mark

Originally Posted by oldfolkie

Mark,

...

You will be able to play DVD rips once you Import into the HD300, although I agree with wildgoose about the SageTV media center software, maybe even if you don't have a Tuner. Extender mode just gives you so much more, even without TV recording.

...
Oldfolkie