[XCSSA] AT&T IPTV

[xcssa@xcssa.org]

On Sunday 27 May 2007 23:53, xcssa-admin@xcssa.org wrote:
> Since a story appeared on /. today
> (http://slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=07/05/27/2315239&from=rss), I
> decided to pass on my experiences with it.

[...]
> Now let's talk about the equipment.  It sucks.  Really horrible.
> They're manufactured by Motorola and run Microsoft's IPTV software.
> Think Media Center on WinCE.  Really slow, buggy, non-configurable, and
> the list goes on.  The DVR is neigh unusable, but thank god you can
> schedule recordings through the internet.  It's actually faster to get
> the computer, turn it on, connect to Yahoo, and search and schedule
> recordings through a web browser than to use the remote for the set top
> box.  Yes, it's that horrible.
[...]
> The DVR has so many problems I don't even know where to start.  It can't
> even do simple things like record an entire series of shows at any time.
[...]
> Sometimes it says I'm not subscribed to the channel and I can't watch
> the recording.  That brings me to DRM.  Yep, it's got integrated DRM.
> It's Microsoft.  You cannot record some programs, period.  They're
> restricted.  No TV for you!

Wow..  Maybe they'll learn their lesson (as the Chinese and other Asian 
dev-shops are) and start using fast-dev, already existing tools from 
Linux/FLOSS world.  No worries about DRM there! :)


> In conclusion, I have to recommend against anyone getting this service
> unless you just don't care about the issues I've described.  That is, if
> you're just looking for a cheaper alternative to SDTV+Internet and don't
> care about a reliable DVR, then this CAN be a cheaper alternative to
> TWC. ...  
> Packages start at $74/month.  On the other hand, if you are, as I 
> suspect most people on this list are, a techie looking for the next
> great technology, this isn't it.
[...]
> I'd rather pay the higher price of cable for a
> service that works rather than a half-assed, rushed, buggy, crippled
> service.

Thanks for the report and the heads up Nick!

Me.. I'm a trailing edge tech geek.  Sure, I've got a nice MythTV PVR setup... 
but just basic cable and a dual analog tuner (PVR500MCE) that works nicely.  
I have a HT ready projector now.. and might go HD some day... but I really 
don't want to pay more than $65/month for my cable+RR.. not to mention I 
can't justify a 1-2TB storage array right now (just have a 200GB RAID-1 array 
right now)... so for now, I guess I'll just stick with what I have.

Thanks again for the report.

Tweeks