As a small value added reseller, I've become very excited in anticipation of the arrival of a great HTPC solution for the masses. Unfortunately, nothing has come... yet. I have customers that I know would be interested in such a thing but I have a hard time selling something that is half-baked. If *I* have to spend an extra 10 or 20 minutes setting up, or configuring the PC to watch a DVD, then a customer that knows considerably less about PC's isn't going to want the product.
For instance...
MSI Mega... a good product for the most part. However, how hard would it have been to add the ability to control the DVD from the remote supplied with the system? My current livingroom set-up has a Mega with a Radeon 7200 with Logitech Z-680 speakers. Sure, once you get it working, it looks and sounds great. People that come over love it and want one, until I show them the routine I have to go through to start it up. First of all, I have a remote to control the AM/FM Radio, then a Remote Wonder for the DVD or File Player... finally, I have a remote for the 680's and then one for the TV. Normally, you can use the Remote Wonder for volume control, unless you want to enable DTS audio, then you have to use the 680 remote. I wouldn't even need the Remote Wonder if the MSI remote controlled the DVD player. The MSI remote controls the radio and the TV while in Windows, why not the DVD?
Speaking of DVD, in reading the review of the ASUS DigiMatrix, I see that another company had omitted the ability to use the DVD player w/o booting to Windows. I do, however, like the addition of a fully functioning remote and "Media Center" to control all of the PC's functions. My only reason for holding out is the lack of the AM band on the radio (I listen to "Old Guy Radio" on ESPN) and the Optical Output on the front of the PC. Wires temporarily hanging from the front of the PC for game controllers is fine, an optical cable as a fixture in front of my entertainment center won't due.
Back to the MSI mega... I built the PC using the recommended TV tuner and DVD player from the MSI site. I have since found a major bug. My problem is this (aside from not being able to use the remote to watch DVD's)...
When you place the DVD in the drive, it says you are using a disc from the wrong region. I have to go into the DVD drive properties and select the US (Region 1) and then the DVD will play. Restart the PC and you have to re-select the region all over again. Trying to get my girlfriend to understand this is impossible. She wants me to buy a regular DVD player, I'm still holding out. Anyway, I have emailed MSI Tech Support about the problem and they told me I am using an incompatable DVD drive. The subject of my email was "Problem with MS-8216" (the model number of the MSI Drive). After replying that it was one of the drives they recommended, theirs in fact, I was told that the DVD decoder that came with the drive was old and that I would have to use a workaround. It being that I would have to place the DVD in the drive and then restart Windows. When the PC starts back up, the DVD drive is set to the correct region. Does that seem necessary to anyone? I can see it now as I set up my customer's new $1000 HTPC. "To play a DVD movie, first you must start the PC, put in the DVD and then Restart. After it restarts, you must use the mouse to begin the DVD, even thought the system came with this neat little remote that only works the AM/FM radio."
I get around the lack of a proper remote issue by installing AIW Radeons in the PCs, but it seems that it should be unneeded if the Mega was thought through. BTW, I uninstalled the DVD decoder from the Mega and installed the latest from Ati along with Multimedia Center 8.9, and the problem is still there. So I guess the DVD decoder problem is untrue. The workaround they suggested does work, however, so they do know about the issue and how to get around it. I just haven't received the proper explanation as to what the issue is. (Bad DVD drive perhaps?)
The AIW Radeon line... I love these. By far, the best solution I have tried in terms of multimedia performance and user-friendliness. With the addition of FM Radio, it come very close to being the all-around solution. I use the AIW 9600 everyday and, aside from a few sporatic MMC crashes, works great. The only problem is that you have to turn on the PC to use it. My dream would be for ATI to get together with one of their IGP partners and build a HTPC platform. Imagine the Digimatrix with integrated 9200 graphics, Multimedia Center, and a remote that does everything. Just push a button and use the AM/FM/CD/DVD in seconds!!! For more comprehensive options, turn on the PC and viola!!! the Multimedia Center!!!
In the end, I just want a PC that my girlfriend doesn't nag me about. I don't want her calling me at work, asking how to turn on the DVD player for the 100th time. Or asking why it keeps saying she's not in the United States when she puts the DVD in. If an HTPC can finally please her, I could sell them like hot-cakes (or something else that sells fast). There is a market out there for it, I know that every time someone's eyes light up upon seeing my setup. The new Athlon version of the MSI Mega looks even cooler, but I still wouldn't sell it to anyone.
For instance...
MSI Mega... a good product for the most part. However, how hard would it have been to add the ability to control the DVD from the remote supplied with the system? My current livingroom set-up has a Mega with a Radeon 7200 with Logitech Z-680 speakers. Sure, once you get it working, it looks and sounds great. People that come over love it and want one, until I show them the routine I have to go through to start it up. First of all, I have a remote to control the AM/FM Radio, then a Remote Wonder for the DVD or File Player... finally, I have a remote for the 680's and then one for the TV. Normally, you can use the Remote Wonder for volume control, unless you want to enable DTS audio, then you have to use the 680 remote. I wouldn't even need the Remote Wonder if the MSI remote controlled the DVD player. The MSI remote controls the radio and the TV while in Windows, why not the DVD?
Speaking of DVD, in reading the review of the ASUS DigiMatrix, I see that another company had omitted the ability to use the DVD player w/o booting to Windows. I do, however, like the addition of a fully functioning remote and "Media Center" to control all of the PC's functions. My only reason for holding out is the lack of the AM band on the radio (I listen to "Old Guy Radio" on ESPN) and the Optical Output on the front of the PC. Wires temporarily hanging from the front of the PC for game controllers is fine, an optical cable as a fixture in front of my entertainment center won't due.
Back to the MSI mega... I built the PC using the recommended TV tuner and DVD player from the MSI site. I have since found a major bug. My problem is this (aside from not being able to use the remote to watch DVD's)...
When you place the DVD in the drive, it says you are using a disc from the wrong region. I have to go into the DVD drive properties and select the US (Region 1) and then the DVD will play. Restart the PC and you have to re-select the region all over again. Trying to get my girlfriend to understand this is impossible. She wants me to buy a regular DVD player, I'm still holding out. Anyway, I have emailed MSI Tech Support about the problem and they told me I am using an incompatable DVD drive. The subject of my email was "Problem with MS-8216" (the model number of the MSI Drive). After replying that it was one of the drives they recommended, theirs in fact, I was told that the DVD decoder that came with the drive was old and that I would have to use a workaround. It being that I would have to place the DVD in the drive and then restart Windows. When the PC starts back up, the DVD drive is set to the correct region. Does that seem necessary to anyone? I can see it now as I set up my customer's new $1000 HTPC. "To play a DVD movie, first you must start the PC, put in the DVD and then Restart. After it restarts, you must use the mouse to begin the DVD, even thought the system came with this neat little remote that only works the AM/FM radio."
I get around the lack of a proper remote issue by installing AIW Radeons in the PCs, but it seems that it should be unneeded if the Mega was thought through. BTW, I uninstalled the DVD decoder from the Mega and installed the latest from Ati along with Multimedia Center 8.9, and the problem is still there. So I guess the DVD decoder problem is untrue. The workaround they suggested does work, however, so they do know about the issue and how to get around it. I just haven't received the proper explanation as to what the issue is. (Bad DVD drive perhaps?)
The AIW Radeon line... I love these. By far, the best solution I have tried in terms of multimedia performance and user-friendliness. With the addition of FM Radio, it come very close to being the all-around solution. I use the AIW 9600 everyday and, aside from a few sporatic MMC crashes, works great. The only problem is that you have to turn on the PC to use it. My dream would be for ATI to get together with one of their IGP partners and build a HTPC platform. Imagine the Digimatrix with integrated 9200 graphics, Multimedia Center, and a remote that does everything. Just push a button and use the AM/FM/CD/DVD in seconds!!! For more comprehensive options, turn on the PC and viola!!! the Multimedia Center!!!
In the end, I just want a PC that my girlfriend doesn't nag me about. I don't want her calling me at work, asking how to turn on the DVD player for the 100th time. Or asking why it keeps saying she's not in the United States when she puts the DVD in. If an HTPC can finally please her, I could sell them like hot-cakes (or something else that sells fast). There is a market out there for it, I know that every time someone's eyes light up upon seeing my setup. The new Athlon version of the MSI Mega looks even cooler, but I still wouldn't sell it to anyone.
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