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General => Users => Topic started by: geekincolorado on December 01, 2008, 09:24:07 pm

Title: Media Directors for $200 or LESS! Please post
Post by: geekincolorado on December 01, 2008, 09:24:07 pm
It has been just about a year since I first looked at this project but still have not
seen as much progress as I have hoped for.  I am still running my MEDIA CENTER back
and forth between linuxmce and MCE 2005 (swap drive out and put another drive in) as Vista Ultimate was joke.  I like MCE 2005
because the extenders can be bought cheap (DMA 2200 around $130 or 2100 for about $100) or
you can go really cheap like I did for the kid's rooms and use an old KLEGG box to just pick the
.vob files off a share (have gotten these for as a little as $60).  I don't have any clients (Media Director)
that I can use with linuxmce at this time as I still haven't seen anything that this small and works well for under $200.00.  Because
of this I am asking people to post three things about their Media Director(s) if they have one:

By the way for those who care I am in the U.S.

1.  How much you got in the rig?
2.  What does it consist of (specs including models if possible)
3.  On a scale from 1 to 10    1 being easiest   10 being hardest how hard was it to set up.

Thanks!
Title: Re: Media Directors for $200 or LESS! Please post
Post by: tschak909 on December 01, 2008, 09:48:42 pm
"Still haven't seen as much progress as I've hoped for."

Well gee, sorry we haven't done enough to please you.

Here's a thought! Why don't you get down in the dirt with us and help?

*hmm* people like you really piss me off.

-Thom
Title: Re: Media Directors for $200 or LESS! Please post
Post by: hari on December 01, 2008, 10:07:14 pm
By the way for those who care I am in the U.S.
I don't.

Quote
1.  How much you got in the rig?
plenty!!

Quote
2.  What does it consist of (specs including models if possible)
even more!!

Quote
3.  On a scale from 1 to 10    1 being easiest   10 being hardest how hard was it to set up.
Full PnP!! It even washes my laundry.


Get an apple TV.

Hari
Title: Re: Media Directors for $200 or LESS! Please post
Post by: geekincolorado on December 01, 2008, 10:46:45 pm
Absolutely totally uncalled for.  Is that what this whole forum is all about spending time and throwing insults and stupid remarks at people trying to find things out?  If that is the case then you can just delete my membership and all my threads together.  This IS not how linux came about or any other distro.  I spend my days supporting engineers that are from all aspects of development and when we all get together and throw ideas out something gets done.  I do over a hundred kickstart loads a month and don't feel like spending my hard earned time at home figuring something else out.  We don't throw insults at each other or nasty comments like the above.  Please just read post the 3 items or keep your trap shut.  Enough said!!
Title: Re: Media Directors for $200 or LESS! Please post
Post by: totallymaxed on December 01, 2008, 11:18:51 pm
Absolutely totally uncalled for.  Is that what this whole forum is all about spending time and throwing insults and stupid remarks at people trying to find things out?  If that is the case then you can just delete my membership and all my threads together.  This IS not how linux came about or any other distro.  I spend my days supporting engineers that are from all aspects of development and when we all get together and throw ideas out something gets done.  I do over a hundred kickstart loads a month and don't feel like spending my hard earned time at home figuring something else out.  We don't throw insults at each other or nasty comments like the above.  Please just read post the 3 items or keep your trap shut.  Enough said!!

Well ok you have a point... but on the other hand Hari & tschak909 are two of the driving force developers here and they rightly get pee'd off when people casually drop back here and expect something they have no right too.... try contributing instead of taking is my recommendation. Dont just criticise... get involved.

All the best

Andrew
Title: Re: Media Directors for $200 or LESS! Please post
Post by: golgoj4 on December 01, 2008, 11:26:09 pm
Absolutely totally uncalled for.  Is that what this whole forum is all about spending time and throwing insults and stupid remarks at people trying to find things out?  If that is the case then you can just delete my membership and all my threads together.  This IS not how linux came about or any other distro.  I spend my days supporting engineers that are from all aspects of development and when we all get together and throw ideas out something gets done.  I do over a hundred kickstart loads a month and don't feel like spending my hard earned time at home figuring something else out.  We don't throw insults at each other or nasty comments like the above.  Please just read post the 3 items or keep your trap shut.  Enough said!!

Actually, far from enough said.

The two people who responded are devs who have busted their ass in THEIR free time to move this project along. In what universe exactly do they suddenly become your employee / research assistant because you want to know something?

Sorry you dont 'feel like' spending your free time to research, but it is FAR from anyone else's job to sit here and do your research for you. And just in case you missed it, there are pages upon pages of those same people helping other uses who have actually put forth a good faith effort to do their own research into their hardware. Seriously man, wtf!?!?! Im no linux guru, but im pretty sure it didnt evolve because of people who 'didnt feel like spending their hard earned time'.

Moral of the story, less flame, more effort on your part. youll find that road a lot more usefull than the entitlement attitude. Oh and searching works too. there are so many threads on hardware... Also, check out the wiki. Im sorry but the hardware aint rocket science. But ill give you some high points:

-Nvidia GPU
-non crappy hard drive for system
-other drives for media
-linux compatible motherboard. <--- general statement because i bought multiple boards which are no longer produced. Dont know what the kids are using for new builds these days.
-pvr 150 or 500 for sd tv
-hd homerun for HD
-(2) nics
-usb_uirt for av control

thats basically what you need. there is more as you expand, but ill leave that to you.

Or you can check the wiki and bypass my generalizations for more specifics. Wiki put there by other users who somehow found the time...
Title: Re: Media Directors for $200 or LESS! Please post
Post by: krys on December 02, 2008, 12:00:00 am
-Free server from work
-4 x $50 workstations off ebay (2ghz, 512 RAM, no HD, small form factor)
-free hub
-free old NIC
-$60 in cat5e and connectors
-$50 usbuirt
up and running for cheap, but I have a long way to go till I am satisfied.
So far the experience has been a little rocky but I would say its easy enough for a novice who knows how to browse this forum. The only problem I havent resolved yet is a NIC that wont netboot.
Title: Re: Media Directors for $200 or LESS! Please post
Post by: Zaerc on December 02, 2008, 03:40:48 am
Absolutely totally uncalled for.  Is that what this whole forum is all about spending time and throwing insults and stupid remarks at people trying to find things out?  If that is the case then you can just delete my membership and all my threads together.  This IS not how linux came about or any other distro.  I spend my days supporting engineers that are from all aspects of development and when we all get together and throw ideas out something gets done.  I do over a hundred kickstart loads a month and don't feel like spending my hard earned time at home figuring something else out.  We don't throw insults at each other or nasty comments like the above.  Please just read post the 3 items or keep your trap shut.  Enough said!!

Looks like we've got another live one here. ;D  Care to point out what exactly was so insulting? ???

/me sings the I want everyting... except having to put in any effort myself song whilst playing the worlds smallest violin for geekincolorado
Title: Re: Media Directors for $200 or LESS! Please post
Post by: geekincolorado on December 02, 2008, 04:23:29 am
Let me point out a couple of things and then I will move on.  First, I asked politely at the beginning with the word, "Please".  Second, I never demanded anything and I was just sharing an observation as to what I have seen as a Linux user over the last year.  Thirdly, being an ass is no way to get help or money for development.  Do you think a company like FIIRE treats their customers like this...I don't think so.  I work for a very large storage company and feedback from customers is primarily how we build our product to have it become what it has (not going to mention names) and treating someone like this is not going to get you any cool toys.  This is just my advice and if you don't like it then please just delete myself as a user and I will look elsewhere. 

Title: Re: Media Directors for $200 or LESS! Please post
Post by: freymann on December 02, 2008, 04:25:38 am
1.  How much you got in the rig?

Over $3 grand and counting.

Quote
2.  What does it consist of (specs including models if possible)

Read all about my setup on my wiki page. Link in my signature below.

Quote
3.  On a scale from 1 to 10    1 being easiest   10 being hardest how hard was it to set up.

I would say that the initial setup was rather difficult, but I came back with new equipment that 'just worked' (thank goodness) and then put in some time and effort to make it work.

If you're into the Microsoft run the exe file and be finished mode LMCE ain't for you.

As for media directors...

I've tried two VIA based boxes that cost me under $200 including shipping. Both were initially connected to older style TV's via the RCA Video Out. I added a remote and some network cabling. Probably still under $200 a pop. I have since sold one that was in my office and swapped out an old CRT TV in the master-bedroom for a 22" widescreen Acer monitor. Both via boxes wouldn't run LMCE properly so I installed MythBuntu onto them, mapped to my media drive in the LMCE core, and enjoyed.

Other media directors? For testing purposes.. my existing Dell Notebook. UI1 works fine with LMCE here. My HP Pavallion a1730n. Boots up great as a LMCE MD. However on both of these machines I can't watch LiveTV but lights, photos, music and movies all work. This hasn't been a major problem yet and I'm waiting for 8.10 to be released to see if that fixes up my issue.

Other cheap media directors for under $200? I've got my eye on this box to eventually go into the master bedroom and replace the via box:

http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16856167032&Tpk=N82E16856167032
MSI Wind PC Intel 945GC 1 x 200Pin Intel GMA 950 Black Barebone
Currently $165 CDN.

If I book marked that correctly, this box was talked about recently in the forums and is workable. That's a bit cheaper than the other box I had in mind:

ASUS EEE BOX B202 BLACK, INTEL ATOM 1.6G,1G,80G,XP,KB

which is currently $355 CDN from a Canadian ebay store.

If you look over my wiki page you'll see my living-room MD was simply a AMD 4200 barebones that I added more 'stuff' to and the core is the same thing.

How much money you may need to spend depends on your requirements.
Title: Re: Media Directors for $200 or LESS! Please post
Post by: Zaerc on December 02, 2008, 05:12:51 am
Let me point out a couple of things and then I will move on.  First, I asked politely at the beginning with the word, "Please".  Second, I never demanded anything and I was just sharing an observation as to what I have seen as a Linux user over the last year.  Thirdly, being an ass is no way to get help or money for development.  Do you think a company like FIIRE treats their customers like this...I don't think so.  I work for a very large storage company and feedback from customers is primarily how we build our product to have it become what it has (not going to mention names) and treating someone like this is not going to get you any cool toys.  This is just my advice and if you don't like it then please just delete myself as a user and I will look elsewhere. 


Customers, products, companies... are you sure you're in the right forum here?  Maybe you should ask for your money back.  :P

Furthermore the only one that I see being an ass here is you.  I don't see anyone telling you to "keep your trap shut" as you so eloquently put it yourself. ::)  And like I asked you before, "treating someone like" what exactly? 

Also feel free to delete your own account anytime, nobody will be in a rush to do it for you.  Oh the drama!

Title: Re: Media Directors for $200 or LESS! Please post
Post by: hari on December 02, 2008, 09:38:30 am
Get an apple TV.
this was no offense, but it looked like that our geek in colorado does not want to spend time into his home automation project. So a finished product is maybe a better idea.

And it was a subtile pointer to my setup

 |
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\  /
 V
Title: Re: Media Directors for $200 or LESS! Please post
Post by: totallymaxed on December 02, 2008, 11:34:43 am
Let me point out a couple of things and then I will move on.  First, I asked politely at the beginning with the word, "Please".  Second, I never demanded anything and I was just sharing an observation as to what I have seen as a Linux user over the last year.  Thirdly, being an ass is no way to get help or money for development.  Do you think a company like FIIRE treats their customers like this...I don't think so.  I work for a very large storage company and feedback from customers is primarily how we build our product to have it become what it has (not going to mention names) and treating someone like this is not going to get you any cool toys.  This is just my advice and if you don't like it then please just delete myself as a user and I will look elsewhere. 

Hmmm... firstly I would not hold Fiire up here as a good role model... searching the Forum will show you that a number of people have had rather less than stellar service from them.

However the reference to customers is interesting... no one here is a 'customer'. This is a FOSS community and not a commercial endeavor in any way shape or form. Yes I work for a company and yes we build home automation systems and those systems ship with our 'flavour' of LinuxMCE which is called Dianemo. However my participation here is not about selling anything to anyone at all... its about putting something back into the community to balance the incredible value we get back from the people here and the software they create and shape. This community is a mix of all kinds of people from an incredibly diverse set of backgrounds and who have an equally diverse range of skills that they contribute. Some are developers and contribute code others are just users who contribute by testing or jut using the system... and there are all kinds of people in between these two extremes.

All of us here will help anyone who needs help on a 'free as in beer' basis. But we all get a little peeved when someone arrives here and just moans about everything.

Get involved positively is recommendation :-)

All the best

Andrew
Title: Re: Media Directors for $200 or LESS! Please post
Post by: seth on December 02, 2008, 02:02:22 pm
 :(
I would come to the defense of the people using their vast knowledge and spare time in making this project desirable. There are good reasons for the things that were said in response to the original post. These guys work very hard, and sacrifice very much for this project. They have my respect, and if you stick around, you will learn to respect them as well.

But as to cost, I can chime in on this as I do not have a lot of money for this project, but I get by.

My Core is headless and is running on an hp proliant ML330 G3. I received this from work, but have seen them on e-bay for <= $300 US.
This has a single Xeon 2.8GHz dual core CPU and 2.5G of Ram. It does the job nicely.
It has an onboard Broadcom Gigabit ethernet, and an additional Broadcom chipped Compaq Ggabit ethernet adapter.
It has 1 100G IDE drive (OS and MD images), that I bought for $40 US
A 80G SATA2 drive (Audio, Photos, Documents as per pluto structure) that I got for free from a friend
A 500G WD SATA2 drive (TV recordings) This was $69.99 OEM from Newegg.
A 500G WD MyBook external USB/SATA2 drive (Videos) $69.99 eCost.32+14+
2 Asus OEM Black DVD Drives (Read only) that were $16 each from newegg.
A Rosewill SATA2/E-SATA card 4 - SATA ports, 2 - E-SATA ports that I got for $14 from Newegg. (Newegg rocks)

My Living Room MD is my primary viewing/listening station
This has just recently been upgraded, and I am sad to say is not running just yet. I purchased a new board and chip combo from Newegg, it cost $114.99 Free Shipping and is an Asus M3A78-EM with and AMD X2 5000+ CPU. I also purchased 2G of ram DDR2 1066 for $32.99 free ship.
It is house in an nMedia HTPC200BA Black HTPC case with a silent nmedia powersupply, this cost $180 for everything from Newegg about 2 years ago. Was previously a knoppmyth box.
It also has 2 Hauppauge PVR150MCE cards in it, that both came with MCE remotes, and USB IR receivers (fully plug and play w/LMCE) and I got them for about $60 each on e-bay.
I do not use the MCE bits here, I use a USB-UIRT $65 Shipped, and a Gyration remote 310US $40 Circuit City (I have 2 of these) so $80.

My Family room MD is a Compaq Evo w/ a 1.8GHz CPU and 512M of ram. $50 Craigslist
It is attached to a Kworld PC to TV converter $55 Newegg
Has one of the MCE remote/receiver combos on it.

These are the only new items in my setup, the rest can be viewed on my user page contained in my signature.

So recently, and the ones that are most used the total is:

$1000 rounded up.

I do not currently do HD, if this were the case the MD specs would probably need to change, but even with the MD's in my girls rooms, I still come in under $1300 dollars, for everything.

This does not include my Insteon automation deployment, but even adding that it would still come in under $1600 US.

The most heavily used MD in the house would be the Evo. And that if you were to buy a MCE remote seperate, only would cost approximately $160 US, so that would come under the $200 price range.  :)

Lets see Fiire do that  ;)

I hope you see that this project is worth staying with, and that giving the proper respect to those who make it all work, will definitely allow it to improve your style of life. It has improved mine.

Welcome, and Regards,

Seth
Title: Re: Media Directors for $200 or LESS! Please post
Post by: fearingsept on December 02, 2008, 02:43:43 pm
Quote
how much is in your rig?
About $700 and some change in actual computer hardware, Did not include cost of cable, wall jacks.

Quote
What does it consist of (specs including models if possible)
Hybrid Core: Abit-AN8 Motherboard, AMD Athlon 64 x2 3800, 1Gig of RAM. 2 Western Digital 250GB Hard Drive, Western Digital 160GB Hard Drive, Hauppauge PVR 150, Biostar NVIDIA 7300LE, iPanel w/pen

MD1: ASUS Mother board that I scrapped out of an old unit, I don't even know what it is off hand. Intel Celeron 2.6Ghz Processor, Nvidia 5100 PCI video card (running UI2 w/translucencies), 1Gig of ram, NIC 10/100, Microsoft IR blaster and remote.

MD2: Dell GX270 small form factor. given to me by my work. Had blown caps on the mother board. I replaced the caps and it works great. P4 2.5Ghz, 512mb of ram. some crappy ATI video card running UI1, NIC 10/1000.
 
1  8 port gigabit switch
I am sure there is more but I cannot recall at the moment.

Quote
On a scale from 1 to 10    1 being easiest   10 being hardest how hard was it to set up.

2 or 3 if you get known working hardware. 6-8 if you just plug in whatever you happen to have lying around. I am on a fixed technology budget but I still manage to find ways to get parts and try them out. I find that it helps if you have an old system set up as a test hybrid and maybe a slow switch. I use these for testing changes to my system so I don't break anything. Since I fix computers on the side anyway this is hardware I happen to have. It has proven very helpful in troubleshooting and testing unsupported hardware.




To go further on the point I think others are trying to make: perhaps you may have perceived others reactions to your comment rude or uncalled for. But you have to at least understand where they are coming from. Unlike large companies that have vast amounts of resources most developers here are using their spare time and funds to do a great deal of work. The results may not come as quickly as you might like but as it sits this system does so much more then anything else out there right now for the least amount of cost. Still, I believe LMCE has more potential then any other media project and home solution then I have seen to date.   It has not always been easy for me but I am in love with the concept and am die hard for this project. Which leads me to a point where I even feel bad because I cannot help more. I am often asking questions and most of the time I get answers that are very helpful.

If you are looking for just media extensions and a DVR then I would suggest going with another system that just does that. But if you are looking for a smart home solution that basically does everything and is still improving then I say be patient, buy supported hardware for ease of use and build good relationships with people on this forum and you will see the reward with very little effort.
Title: Re: Media Directors for $200 or LESS! Please post
Post by: skeptic on December 02, 2008, 04:15:07 pm
One thing that bugs me about this forum is when people new to LMCE ask what they think is an innocent question and get slapped around for it.  I'm not saying Thom/Hari/etc. are wrong, I happen to agree with them, just asking for everyoneto be a bit more diplomatic.

GIC - seriously, do some searching here and on the wiki.  If you did you'd know LMCE supports UPnP devices, most likely including the media center extenders you have.  I don't think it supports live tv, but I really haven't played with it so I don't know for sure.  It also uses "windows" shares for media, so that $60 KLEGG box (whatever it is) sounds like it would work the identical way in LMCE. 

It's also very important IMHO to point out that LMCE is NOT just a media center.  It is a full home automation system, will take over and control all your AV devices, answer your phone, let you "get the door" via video, call your cell phone if sensors detect someone in your house, play literally thousands of old school video games (thanks again Thom, my boys are loving that), etc. etc. etc.  If all you want is a replacement for MS MCE you should be looking at MythTV, a much more similar setup.

LMCE is a huge complex system and while once setup it's great, it's still far from being as mature and polished as say MythTV.  Things are changing fast.  Apparently you are disappointed in the progress made so far, but I really think it's due to ignorance.  I don't mean that as an insult, just that you should really spend some time on the forums, wiki, and testing things for yourself before voicing your opinions on lack of progress. 
Title: Re: Media Directors for $200 or LESS! Please post
Post by: Dale_K on December 02, 2008, 08:15:10 pm
I'm not sure if this is possible, but I'd like to come to the defense of everybody.

First, I'm a life long Windows guy, I'd go so far as to say I'm an expert as I've been in the business of networking/building/repairing computers since before there was a Windows (Netware 2 FTW!!).  Until recently with LMCE I've had virtually no experience with Linux of any kind.  Not that I ever had a problem with it, it just isn't used in my career market.

So, with that in mind I can explain how us Windows people think and why I think there was a misunderstanding in this thread.  Windows people are commercial-centric.  We pay for everything.  You want to add another user?  That'll be $100, oh, they need email too? Another $50, and so on.  So, as an effect of that, we are typically demanding.  The reasoning being "I'm paying you an ass load of money, you better have a patch yesterday and you better support anything I can buy."  And usually they do because they want our money.  So, having been accustomed to that sort of workings for so long, most Windows people don't really think anything of asking things like: "Why doesn't it already have drivers?  What do you mean this hardware isn't supported?  When is a patch coming out?"  None of that is meant to be insulting or desparaging, we just think like that because it's how we've been conditioned.

Now, having just started to delve into LMCE I've had a huge culture shock.  Um, It's free? Really? You're shitting me.  Wait, AND I can go online and chat live with the actual developers?!?  Get the fuck out a here!   This is too good to be true!  Well, it is if you don't let go of your conditioning.  LMCE is free because people like me and you donate their time and money to develop it.  In most cases for no reward other that the project itself.  This is a radically foreign concept to us Windows people.

However, the beauty of the project is also it's bane.  Free means limited resources and those are being provided by a very small percentage of the community busting their asses harder than the rest of us can comprehend.  And you have to bear in mind that I'm sure they get many people everyday that are "Hey, I just saw this video of LMCE and downloaded it.  Make all my shit work for me and I'll check in with you later."  (Because that's how Windows people are conditioned)  From the perspective of the people working so hard on this project that comes off sounding extremely selfish, condescending and greedy.  Imagine you spend all week remodeling your kitchen and your Wife gets home, takes one look at it and the first thing she says is: "Couldn't you make the counter longer?  My cutting board won't fit on that."  You'd be like, "Fuck you bitch, next time do it yourself."  Now imagine the people that have been working on this project for years.  It's understandable that they'd have a strong reaction to a similar statement.

So, the misunderstanding part is two-fold:

Us Windows guys have to really think about what's going on here, it's a truly amazing thing involving collaboration and support from guys just like us and our "commercial" model doesn't apply.  Support is whatever people have time to provide and WE can be those people.  You don't have to be a Linux programmer to provide support to others, it can be as small as connecting a previously untested piece of hardware and reporting your experience.  The important thing to remember is that it's thankless and NOT what you're accustomed to from a software development perspective.  We have to keep in mind whenever posting that these people are GIVING their time, be thankful for whatever help we can get and be willing to do our own research if help isn't available.  (Don't be afaid to learn Linux, it's actually pretty cool if you can retrain yourself)  LMCE is an awesome home automation solution and as a consequence it is complex.  Don't think for an instant that you're just going to plug in your stuff and *poof* everything works.  It's like having a super hot girlfriend that's a complete bitch, there's a lot of work involved but the payoff is worth it.

Linux guys, give us Windows people a little margin for error, we don't mean anything malicious.  We're just new and have to overcome years of conditioning.  For some of us that's easier than others but it does take adjustment and I think most of us are trying.  I do realize that you have to deal with a lot of us, but remember, we're here BECAUSE the system is great.  Most of us want to help but don't truly understand what's going on and just need a little time and patience.  Try to bear that in mind when we say something inappropriate.

Title: Re: Media Directors for $200 or LESS! Please post
Post by: hari on December 02, 2008, 08:36:06 pm
well said, Dale_K!

best regards,
Hari

ps: damn, you reminded me on odipkt :-)
Title: Re: Media Directors for $200 or LESS! Please post
Post by: tschak909 on December 02, 2008, 09:44:00 pm
Dale_K: Spot on. Thank you. We will try to be more diplomatic.

*HUG*

-Thom
Title: Re: Media Directors for $200 or LESS! Please post
Post by: golgoj4 on December 02, 2008, 11:39:57 pm
dale_k's comment should be 'required' reading. As Thom said, spot on.
Title: Re: Media Directors for $200 or LESS! Please post
Post by: krys on December 02, 2008, 11:59:58 pm
Dale that was so off topic, back to the point... when is my hardware gonna be supported????

J/K
I know I feel lost in linux and I have been asking a TON of questions, thanks to all those who answer even if its not polite. Unlike others i really don't care if your mean as long as I get my answer!!
Title: Re: Media Directors for $200 or LESS! Please post
Post by: skeptic on December 03, 2008, 12:24:19 am
Dale that was so off topic, back to the point... when is my hardware gonna be supported????

J/K
I know I feel lost in linux and I have been asking a TON of questions, thanks to all those who answer even if its not polite. Unlike others i really don't care if your mean as long as I get my answer!!
It's "you're" you dumbass.  There's your answer.


kidding, KIDDING.   ;D
Title: Re: Media Directors for $200 or LESS! Please post
Post by: tschak909 on December 03, 2008, 12:26:16 am
And just like that, we've devolved into a youtube comments thread.

*ba-dum-ching*

-Thom
Title: Re: Media Directors for $200 or LESS! Please post
Post by: hari on December 03, 2008, 12:28:51 am
anybody wants some popcorn?
Title: Re: Media Directors for $200 or LESS! Please post
Post by: golgoj4 on December 03, 2008, 01:28:14 am
2 x asus m2npvm (no longer made)  - $100 each
2 x 500 gb hds - $150 total
1 x usb uirt - $60.00
1 x linksys 3102 ata - $60.00
MD cases - free
500' of cat6 - really dont remember
remodel boxes, connectors (coax, cat 6),wall plates - $50
leviton home networking enclosure - $60.00
cat6 patch panel - $30.00
7 x 50' coax cables - $20 ea i wanna say. i went lazy here and got ones that had the head already because i had plenty of pull space in the wall.
wall patch materials, drywall, spackle - $75 (i tore through a lot of plaster  ;D )
7 x X10 wall switches at about $12.00 each
1 x X10 motion sensor flood (with video!) for $150
dlink gigabit switch - $80
1 x pvr 500 - gift.
1 x pvr 150 - $60 or $70


and thats a rough estimate and really doesnt include time spent hiding wires and various other things done to prevent clutter and properly install everything.
Title: Re: Media Directors for $200 or LESS! Please post
Post by: geekincolorado on December 03, 2008, 03:56:32 pm

So, with that in mind I can explain how us Windows people think and why I think there was a misunderstanding in this thread.  Windows people are commercial-centric.  We pay for everything.  You want to add another user?  That'll be $100, oh, they need email too? Another $50, and so on.  So, as an effect of that, we are typically demanding.  The reasoning being "I'm paying you an ass load of money, you better have a patch yesterday and you better support anything I can buy."  And usually they do because they want our money.  So, having been accustomed to that sort of workings for so long, most Windows people don't really think anything of asking things like: "Why doesn't it already have drivers?  What do you mean this hardware isn't supported?  When is a patch coming out?"  None of that is meant to be insulting or desparaging, we just think like that because it's how we've been conditioned.

So, the misunderstanding part is two-fold:

Well said as that is also my background. 
I am finally getting to understand cost(s) and such for this mighty beast.  I have been doing some digging and will be giving it a shot.