2.1 Please knock my socks off..

[edbmdave]

Ok, I have MCE 2005 (http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/m...r/default.mspx), and have looked at the Media Center Extender Technology (http://www.linksys.com/products/prod...id=33&prid=658). WOW!! A PC that provides a central server for my home entertainment that lets me be more or less dynamic and in control of content, plus multituner support, AND hardened appliances I can put in my kids room, my living room, my guest room, and my bedroom. WOW. This is what I wanted to achieve. And it all exists Today. No vaporware. No questions about it Microsoft wants this Marketspace.

Yesterday SageTV ruled the market. Unique in what it provided. Today, they need to catch up. Guys PLEASE do it again and show us your ingenuity and lead the market. I am really looking forward to your announcement on 2.1

[mlbdude]

Don't forget that MCE is dual tuner and not multi tuner. It also can only handle once source. I like MCE, but the PVR side is pretty basic. The non PVR stuff sure looks tasty though .

[JasonJoel]

Yup. The Media Center Extenders are CERTAINLY a compelling option! Although the Linksys one for over $250 seems a bit steep. Hopefully the XBOX extender is cheaper.

I've long said that the next 'BIG THING' for computer based PVR is to get a full functioned stand-alone client box (like the Media Center Extenders).

The average (or slightly above average) person is NOT going to put PC's all over thier house just to watch recorded TV!

Jason

[lovingHDTV]

MCE also supports HDTV tuners. The winning feature in my opinion.

You can have 2 standard tuners and 1 HDTV tuner for a total of 3 tuners.

[Brett]

Originally Posted by lovingHDTV

MCE also supports HDTV tuners.

You may want to read up on it. I heard it was extremely limited, and also implemented the broadcast flag.

-Brett

[erics]

Originally Posted by edbmdave

Ok, I have MCE 2005 ([url]WOW!! A PC that provides a central server for my home entertainment that lets me be more or less dynamic and in control of content, plus multituner support, AND hardened appliances I can put in my kids room, my living room, my guest room, and my bedroom. WOW.

I've got MCE 2k5 on the way too and I'm excited. But you should be aware that unlike SageTV, MCE LIMITS the total number of clients (Extenders) to 5 per MCE box and ONLY 1 extender my be wireless. All other extenders must be wired. Im guessing this limitation was put in place because 802.11G just doesn't have the bandwidth so they put in a hard limit on wireless connections to keep the support calls down.

-EDIT - i can't find anything on the official MCE website that says it limit's the total number of extenders to 5 per MCE box. I read this somewhere on thegreenbutton.com but I can't be sure it's factual. But what I can confirm from Microsoft's own FAQ is that MCE will only support G and A networks. It will not support a mixed B/G environment. Also from their FAQ, BOTH MCE and Extender box CANNOT be wireless. Only 1 can be wireless at a time. And if you want the MCE box to be wireless, you can only use a wireless PCI card or a wireless Ethernet bridge. You cannot use a USB wireless device on the MCE server.

[erics]

Originally Posted by mlbdude

Don't forget that MCE is dual tuner and not multi tuner. It also can only handle once source. I like MCE, but the PVR side is pretty basic. The non PVR stuff sure looks tasty though .

I do not believe this is correct. From what I've read, you can hook-up analog cable to tuner1, a DirecTV STB to tuner2, and an ATI DTV/HDTV card for OTA DTV or HiDef on tuner3. In otherwords, MCE2k5 supports 2 analog tuners and 1 DTV/HDTV tuner. Whatever sources you choose to pipe through your analog tuners is totally up to you.

Also, the PVR500MCE is a "MULIT TUNER" and it certainly will be supported. The info is here for all to read. http://www.hauppauge.com/pages/produ...pvr500mce.html

[edbmdave]

A total of 6 devices works for me..

Main Server - Media Room
Living Room, Den, three bedrooms. Perfect.

Right now, I have My SageTV in Media Room, an EPIA M1000s in two of the bedrooms with SageClient, an MVP in another, and two full machines in LivingRoom and Den (I play games on these.)

(More than this and I think I have a real disease and need a support/therapy group)....

Yes. I do realize that Sage is more tuner friendly, (in number and kind) than MCE2k5 but I think MCE2k5 offers enough for it to work.