Re: Multitainer The Facts!

["Quinten Uijldert" <yahoogroups@xxxxxxx>]

> As an owner of a multitainer already maybe I can shed a little light
on
> pro's and cons for real. Now im no computer whiz so this is straight
and
> honest in my opinion.

Just what the doctor ordered, a 1st hand opinion. Thanks for this (not good
for wallet though ;-) ).

> Looks
>
> I like it as its black, its sexy and very techky looking. Will look
great
in
> my dell 19" rack when I finally get it...

Opinions vary, as I found it quite big and bulky... A big improvement over
any beige box though :)

> Build
>
> Not bad at all.2 spare PCI slots.

Are these normal height ones or half height?

> Audio
>
> Quality is very good although a little quieter for some reason than my
> audigy which I was comparing it to. I use coaxial out so no volume
controls
> that I could see. Mp3 works great.

I take it it also has normal line-out?

> DVD
>
> Not bad on monitor, SVHS is very good but Sony 725 understandably is
still
> better.

I had a salesbod demonstrate the DVD playback to me, but as he was even
struggling trying to disbale the screensaver, I couldnt quite make up my
mind there and then... Would you be able to dive a bit more into that
subject for us? Take a difficult scene from a DVD and compare it to a
normal
player?

> Monitor
>
> Crap! I seem to have lines down left side that although faint get on
my
> nerves, this maybe a fault in the monitor. Picture does seem blurred
to
me.
> Running another PC on it now @1024X768 at 60hrz and its just about ok.
Does
> not like higher refresh rates. Graphics card incase anyone cares is a
voodoo
> 3.

I second that. The unit in currys was horrible vague and blurry. And no
setting in the world could make something more usefull out of it.

> Keyboard
>
> Keyboard is nice in feel but mine does not work. Mouse works but
keyboard
> does not,havnt got to currys yet to get them to sort out the problem,
may
> even be some silly setting somewhere.

The keyboard in currys was working, but the salesbod kept forgetting its IR
and tried to operate it whilst it was located next to the unit... doh!

> Mouse remote
>
> Like this alot.easily pleased me.

Havent seen this one, but I imagine it is just a bog standard remote
control? One that can be replaced by a universal remote control?

> Noise Level
>
> Ants fart louder than this.

When it was playing back DVD I put my ears close to the unit and couldnt
hear a thing (well ok, heared an ant farting ;-)). Excellent living room
material.

> Plans.
>
> This unit will act as a graphic interface through SVHS on all TV's.
The
> mouse remote and maybe pronto if that can emulate it will be used to
> navigate but will be working with Dan hopefully to sort mouse control
out
> later. May even use DVD to do something which may be pulling ripped
DVD's
> from mass storage devices again not sure yet to play on other TV's but
not
> main one.
>
> General.
>
> If I had know about buying them for £200 without monitor I would have
> brought as many as possible. I think at that price you could put one
with
> every telly around the house, network them to your server and have
mp3/dvd
> and web control as well as ace etc.Who needs multi room and running
all
> those different cables just cat 5 and one of these in each room and
what
> more could you ever need (well can thing of one thing at least but not
on
> this newsgroup)
> Like it haven't had enough time to try anything special  but if
someone
has
> anything they would like tried out email me direct and I will try my
best.
>
> Any questions again email me direct.

Well, since the group might be interested in this I thought i made more
sense to post here.

> Ace works well too.
>
> One last thought if only tivo could dump all recorded video to hard
disc
> then maybe this unit could also playback video in each room. Now that
would
> be great.
>
> Have had an idea!!!
>
> Paul

Ok, thats it! Got to have one :)

Q.

--
Very funny Scotty. Now beam down my clothes!