[geeks] "Enterprise"

[Big Endian]

>On Mon, Oct 01, 2001 at 11:10:13AM -0400, Kurt Mosiejczuk wrote:
>>  Not the same.  I'm sure you don't believe me, but I bet Bill will
>>  agree... it's not just the capture to hard drive, but the guide
>>  data and feature set of the software that makes it worthwhile.
>>  --Kurt
>
>I'll definitely agree with Kurt here.  Like the difference between
>having a linux floppy-based router made out of a PC, and having a
>nice dedicated "router" like a NetGear RT314.  Its nice to have a
>lot of the stuff done for you.
>
It REALLY depends on what you want to do with it.  The core of my 
network is a FreeBSD machine with OC-3,FDDI, FastE and 10BT 
interfaces.  I COULD buy a cisco box to do this but it would cost me 
far more than the cost of the parts on this machine (most of it 
free).  A TiVO is the same way.  Its great for the basics like the 
guide and the other features of the software (I don't own one so I 
can't say) but it doesn't do it as well as a custom build solution 
would.  Granted it takes a lot longer to make that solution and its 
up to you to A) buy a tivo B) and hack it C) build your own from 
scratch D) use VHS like normal people(my choice at the moment).  A, B 
and D lack the capabilities you can do with custom systems (1080i 
anybody?)  using more expensive components on a PC.  A and D lack the 
capability to watch other than on the TV.  B lacks any custom 
abilities you can easily add to C (ie streaming the show over the 
network and recording simultaneously to disk, internet 
controllability, automated disk flush to tape or CD, any kind of on 
the fly editing you want to do).  Now naturally everybody would LOVE 
to have C but most people don't want to spend the time so they go D 
then A, then perhaps B.  I'm still happy with D so I see no need yet. 
If and when I'm rich and sitting on my ass I'll probably jump 
straight to C.

daniel