is this the best solution?

[Chaoszz]

Hello everybody, i have been reading a lot on this forum and would like to ask you a question.
I have been looking for a solution like the squeezebox for some time now, and was very happely surprised when i heard about this cool device.
But now i am wondering: the squeezebox (and the other devices like the transporter etc. too) is a good solution to stream your digitised audio to the stereo set in the living room.
But isn't it better to find a device that can stream video too?
I was wondering why people would settle for a device that can only stream audio.
For the same amount of money there are devices that can do both, why not go for that?
Would love to hear your arguments to go for the squeezebox solution.

Chaoszz

[snarlydwarf]

But now i am wondering: the squeezebox (and the other devices like the transporter etc. too) is a good solution to stream your digitised audio to the stereo set in the living room.
But isn't it better to find a device that can stream video too?

Only if they a) streamed HD, b) did not require and c) I had a reason to stream video.

Considering that I don't watch movies at all the same as I listen to music, I don't see a reason to stream movies... plain DVD players are $30, that works well and beats the process of ripping a DVD to the hard drive and using a ton of disk space.

Hard drives would have to get a LOT more capacity to make it worth while (especially for HD content), the interface would need to include a way to manage 'extras'...

I have never seen anything that comes close to managing a video library as well as SC does music... and then, I'm still left with the "why bother ripping and storing a movie I may watch once a year..."

[Chaoszz]

Good points snarlydwarf.
When you talk about movies i am with you, but what about pictures.
I would like to be able to watch my pics too, they are allready stored on that same harddrive.
It would be dissapointing to have to buy another streaming device for video (pictures, and home video stuff) wouldn't it?

[Zaragon]

You could also look at it another way. Do you want to have your TV on just to be able to listen to music. My music amp is completely independant of the TV and the though of firing up a 52 inch LCD just to change a track isn't particularly appealing.

Even with fully integrated systems it could get to be somewhat annoying. Then consider other situations like kitchens, bedrooms etc do you want to have a TV running there just to chose music.

This is one of those situations which tends to go against the multi-purpose device. The TP and SB family do one job and do it very well almost certainly because they don't try to do other things.

Don't forget that as you are running a PC (of varying OSs) as a server then it is also fully capable of serving other things to additional devices such as XBoxs, Netgear 8000s and others.

Having said that if there were a different device that could show photos with the capabilities and flexibility of the SB then I'd buy it.

[syburgh]

Wouldn't want the SB or Transporter to require a TV to navigate, which is (effectively) the case for existing video/photo set top box type devices (like MythTV, Windows MCE, Apple TV, XBMC). A device that supported both SB and "smart cable box" navigation schemes sounds like a difficult product to do well.

That said, there was a networked photo viewing device that played streaming audio, the Roku PhotoBridge, which never found a market. The Apple TV also promises these streaming video and photo viewing functions, but the lack of imitators suggests this market may not yet be right...

For the last four years my cable box has had a USB 2.0 interface, LAN, and high resolution video outputs; all the hardware necessary for a network video/photo viewing product is already installed in many people's home, though the cable company has no software to support these functions and does not play in this market. New gen game systems also seem to support this to varying degrees (e.g. XBOX, Playstation), so I can see how this could be a hard business to enter and sustain.

HDTV sets also seem to be gaining interfaces with each revision-- USB, SD/MS, maybe Wifi or ethernet will be next?

That said, I would also buy some sort of converged media device (video, photo, audio) if it worked as well as the SB/Transporter does with network audio-- a modest request.

As for the SB solution, it's probably a matter of taste. For me, it dramatically increased the amount and variety of music I have time to enjoy. IMO, few gadgets have that sort of impact.

[jsprag]

This is one of those situations which tends to go against the multi-purpose device. The TP and SB family do one job and do it very well almost certainly because they don't try to do other things.

That's my reason too.

Remember the Chevy El Camino? Tried to be part car, part truck and ended up sucking at both. Most of the devices I've looked at and/or purchased that do photos+video+music are multimedia El Caminos. The SB plays music exceptionally well and doesn't require a TV to do it.

[Chaoszz]

HDTV sets also seem to be gaining interfaces with each revision-- USB, SD/MS, maybe Wifi or ethernet will be next?

Thanks for the reactions all.
I suppose you are right at the television aspect, it would be annoying to have to start the television just to change tracks.

The above quote is a very strong one in my opinion, it would be great if the tele had an integrated wifi or ethernet, that would solve the problem.

chaoszz

[Phil Leigh]

Only if they a) streamed HD, b) did not require and c) I had a reason to stream video.

Considering that I don't watch movies at all the same as I listen to music, I don't see a reason to stream movies... plain DVD players are $30, that works well and beats the process of ripping a DVD to the hard drive and using a ton of disk space.

Hard drives would have to get a LOT more capacity to make it worth while (especially for HD content), the interface would need to include a way to manage 'extras'...

I have never seen anything that comes close to managing a video library as well as SC does music... and then, I'm still left with the "why bother ripping and storing a movie I may watch once a year..."

PopcornHour is a "squeezebox" for all things video..it will sit happily next to my SB. They both do what they do - I don't want a single box for both.
My reason for ripping DVD is simple...have you seen how much space 1,000 DVD's take!

[4mula1]

HDTV sets also seem to be gaining interfaces with each revision-- USB, SD/MS, maybe Wifi or ethernet will be next?

Ethernet is already here on some Sony and Toshiba models (and probably others). A 200+ watt giant picture frame just doesn't sound all that appealing to me. I'm sure my wife would love it, though.

[norderney]

PopcornHour is a "squeezebox" for all things video..it will sit happily next to my SB. They both do what they do - I don't want a single box for both.
My reason for ripping DVD is simple...have you seen how much space 1,000 DVD's take!

How much hard drive space is required to store 1000 DVD's?