Omega Owners Forum
Chat Area => General Discussion Area => Topic started by: theolodian on 19 December 2006, 12:29:58
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Would like the opinion of the real geeks. :)
Got my eye on two little trinkets for Xmas. The first I am almost sure to get, the second is not very likely at this time. However, I would like your thoughts on both. I have never used regular Linux, so embedded could be a bit of a stretch for me. However, it looks like something worth learning.
First one: http://www.neurosaudio.com/osd/osd.asp
Other one: http://craig.gp2x.de/review/GP2XReview.html
Cheers! ;)
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i almost asked my uni to buy me a GP2X for a project... never did in the end.
However i really like the first one you posted up, not read it all yet... just skimmed over it. But looks great bit of kit, it says its got home networking. I spy the RJ45 connection on the back, but it would better if it had wireless. Because you could use it downstairs with your TV but since its only wired networks, could prove annoying.
I vote first one, GP2X is basically a PSP that runs Linux..
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i almost asked my uni to buy me a GP2X for a project... never did in the end.
However i really like the first one you posted up, not read it all yet... just skimmed over it. But looks great bit of kit, it says its got home networking. I spy the RJ45 connection on the back, but it would better if it had wireless. Because you could use it downstairs with your TV but since its only wired networks, could prove annoying.
I vote first one, GP2X is basically a PSP that runs Linux..
Wireless isn't an issue for me, since the wireless router is plugged into the cable modem behind the tv. 18" of CAT5 and I'm on wireless. :)
Not that I have an upstairs :( :P
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i almost asked my uni to buy me a GP2X for a project... never did in the end.
However i really like the first one you posted up, not read it all yet... just skimmed over it. But looks great bit of kit, it says its got home networking. I spy the RJ45 connection on the back, but it would better if it had wireless. Because you could use it downstairs with your TV but since its only wired networks, could prove annoying.
I vote first one, GP2X is basically a PSP that runs Linux..
Wireless isn't an issue for me, since the wireless router is plugged into the cable modem behind the tv. 18" of CAT5 and I'm on wireless. :)
Not that I have an upstairs :( :P
Personally i am waiting for apples project "iTV" dunno if you heard of it, seen it on one of Steve Jobs Keynotes.
Its about the size of a MacMini just 50% thinner, has wireless and connections for a TV. The nice interface you get on new Mac's with remotes (Spinny screen) you can get on your TV and it access all your movies and music on your Mac, from your TV. Should be good and well priced ;D
I know you can use something like a xbox 360 as a media server to do the same, but its just too expensive. I expect the "iTV" to be a lot cheaper.
Pictures & read here:
http://www.engadget.com/2006/09/12/hands-on-with-the-apple-itv-prototype/
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That looks like just a player? I need a recorder, and also already have HDMI and optical out on the Mini. Does look cool though. Wonder if it uses the whole screen on HDMI unlike the Mini? ::)
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Don't get me wrong - Linux has its place - but not in consumer stuff or on desktop PCs.
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Don't get me wrong - Linux has its place - but not in consumer stuff or on desktop PCs.
I might as well start playing with it sometime. OTOH, do you know of a similar consumer product that I should consider?
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Don't get me wrong - Linux has its place - but not in consumer stuff or on desktop PCs.
I might as well start playing with it sometime. OTOH, do you know of a similar consumer product that I should consider?
I'm a Media Center man, but not sure I would recommend them, except to techies. Don't get me wrong, excellent stuff, but not quite ready for dumb consumer market quite yet. Being Windows XP, making changes, or adding new features, codecs etc etc is easy...
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Thanks. Well, I ordered it so we'll see how it goes. What I wanted was something that recorded MPEG4 and I could transfer it to my computer, but ran independently of my computer so that I could have it record without leaving the computer on. This is the only thing that I found in that price range that would do that. Being able to play back is secondary, I can do that better from the computer. It's getting royally difficult to find VHS tapes these days, and I would rather keep stuff on CD-R than VHS anyway.
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Thanks. Well, I ordered it so we'll see how it goes. What I wanted was something that recorded MPEG4 and I could transfer it to my computer, but ran independently of my computer so that I could have it record without leaving the computer on. This is the only thing that I found in that price range that would do that. Being able to play back is secondary, I can do that better from the computer. It's getting royally difficult to find VHS tapes these days, and I would rather keep stuff on CD-R than VHS anyway.
As I said, MCE ;)
Get an OEM copy of MCE for around £70...
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Thanks. Well, I ordered it so we'll see how it goes. What I wanted was something that recorded MPEG4 and I could transfer it to my computer, but ran independently of my computer so that I could have it record without leaving the computer on. This is the only thing that I found in that price range that would do that. Being able to play back is secondary, I can do that better from the computer. It's getting royally difficult to find VHS tapes these days, and I would rather keep stuff on CD-R than VHS anyway.
As I said, MCE ;)
Get an OEM copy of MCE for around £70...
I'm confused. Isn't that a PC OS? How does that help me record MPEG4? Still need some sort of adapter.
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Thanks. Well, I ordered it so we'll see how it goes. What I wanted was something that recorded MPEG4 and I could transfer it to my computer, but ran independently of my computer so that I could have it record without leaving the computer on. This is the only thing that I found in that price range that would do that. Being able to play back is secondary, I can do that better from the computer. It's getting royally difficult to find VHS tapes these days, and I would rather keep stuff on CD-R than VHS anyway.
As I said, MCE ;)
Get an OEM copy of MCE for around £70...
I'm confused. Isn't that a PC OS? How does that help me record MPEG4? Still need some sort of adapter.
By default, it records a (MS) version of MPEG2. But being a PC at heart, nothing stopping you scheduling batch jobs to convert to XVID etc...
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Thanks. Well, I ordered it so we'll see how it goes. What I wanted was something that recorded MPEG4 and I could transfer it to my computer, but ran independently of my computer so that I could have it record without leaving the computer on. This is the only thing that I found in that price range that would do that. Being able to play back is secondary, I can do that better from the computer. It's getting royally difficult to find VHS tapes these days, and I would rather keep stuff on CD-R than VHS anyway.
As I said, MCE ;)
Get an OEM copy of MCE for around £70...
I'm confused. Isn't that a PC OS? How does that help me record MPEG4? Still need some sort of adapter.
By default, it records a (MS) version of MPEG2. But being a PC at heart, nothing stopping you scheduling batch jobs to convert to XVID etc...
It does if you have a media center PC with a coax TV in, which I don't have. I don't have any sort of video in, so I would still need some sort of USB adapter. It does look interesting if you buy the media center PC though.
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It does if you have a media center PC with a coax TV in, which I don't have. I don't have any sort of video in, so I would still need some sort of USB adapter. It does look interesting if you buy the media center PC though.
I built my media center - standard components, just in a more appropriate 'dvd player' looking case. I put in a pair of twin tuner PCI cards for a total of 4 tuners...
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It does if you have a media center PC with a coax TV in, which I don't have. I don't have any sort of video in, so I would still need some sort of USB adapter. It does look interesting if you buy the media center PC though.
I built my media center - standard components, just in a more appropriate 'dvd player' looking case. I put in a pair of twin tuner PCI cards for a total of 4 tuners...
Hah! I don't even get 4 channels over the airwaves! Have a digital NTL box.
It should be here today, so maybe next week I will be able to say how well it works.
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It does if you have a media center PC with a coax TV in, which I don't have. I don't have any sort of video in, so I would still need some sort of USB adapter. It does look interesting if you buy the media center PC though.
I built my media center - standard components, just in a more appropriate 'dvd player' looking case. I put in a pair of twin tuner PCI cards for a total of 4 tuners...
Any chance of some pics TB? I've been pondering a media centre for a while and would like some ideas/ guidance.
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It does if you have a media center PC with a coax TV in, which I don't have. I don't have any sort of video in, so I would still need some sort of USB adapter. It does look interesting if you buy the media center PC though.
I built my media center - standard components, just in a more appropriate 'dvd player' looking case. I put in a pair of twin tuner PCI cards for a total of 4 tuners...
Any chance of some pics TB? I've been pondering a media centre for a while and would like some ideas/ guidance.
I have for the last year had the Coolermaster CM260 case with iMon (iMon is crap - the software is awful). Trouble with that case (iMon aside) is the required risers are rarer than rocking horse shit (found a type that fit, so bought loads of them ;))
I now use an Elonex Artisan case. I guess I'll get the Coolermaster one going soon.
http://www.coolermaster.com/index.php?LT=english&Language_s=2&url_place=product&p_serial=RC-260&other_title=RC-260CM%20Media%20260
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Elonex one, though mine was built from a Advent (PC World's own make) branded one.
http://www.cnet.co.uk/misc/print/0,39030763,39190581,00.htm
The oem for this is FIC, and as per usual with FIC, no info available. Fic's name for the product is Spectra.
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First report:
Packaging is stunning, really looks cool. Comes with all of the bits.
Software is nowhere near complete. Tried to see some JPEG's just to check it out since already on camera card. Crashed the unit. Turns out it can't handle pics over 800x600. Need to do a firmware update, but not risking downloading it with IE7 corrupting all of my downloads. Several new firmware versions being released each month. Latest should be better, but still a long way to go.
The hardware is exactly what I wanted, so I hope that the software gets to a reasonable stage in the next few months. Only came out in September and a lot fixed since then so there may be hope, but I wouldn't suggest running out and getting it for a while yet.