htpc or server?

[TDMVPDPOY]

for a cheap build what do you guys recommend? im looking at building one just for basic streaming,data storage, internet surfing/dl....has to be energy efficient...

currently i can re-use 4th hdd, case and 500psu....

[ElNono]

you gonna hook it up to a tv?

[TDMVPDPOY]

you gonna hook it up to a tv?

yeh man...

my current build is a
q6600 + 4870x2 card = bad power sucker :(

i dont play video games no more...

[ElNono]

What exactly you want to do with it?

I mean, the Logitech Revue is only $99 these days, and it will play stuff off a USB hard drive/pendrive or some other DNLA box you have around. You can browse the web with it, Netflix, Flash, Youtube... and should be fairly low power.

[MannyIsGod]

Damn I'd forgotten that they price dropped the Revue. That might be worth picking up.

[Drachen]

Damn I'd forgotten that they price dropped the Revue. That might be worth picking up.

I told my cousin and her husband about the logitech revue and then said "but don't buy it yet, I am not sure about what it can do" they bought it. Does anyone know if it can do anything besides the above?

[TDMVPDPOY]

What exactly you want to do with it?

I mean, the Logitech Revue is only $99 these days, and it will play stuff off a USB hard drive/pendrive or some other DNLA box you have around. You can browse the web with it, Netflix, Flash, Youtube... and should be fairly low power.

stream porn? hehe or should i just use my xbox360 which is still brand new in the box unopened...dont have games on it since christmas...could just use it as to hold and stream media?

[Heath Ledger]

that box should make a fairly robust htpc i have one about to go the same route. usng ipad 2 as remote, keyboard and mouse equals sweetness

[ElNono]

stream porn? hehe or should i just use my xbox360 which is still brand new in the box unopened...dont have games on it since christmas...could just use it as to hold and stream media?

Don't think you can browse the web or watch youtubes with the 360. But if you're planning on playing skyrm, etc later in the year, might aswell get it hooked up.

[ElNono]

BTW, I don't think you can use the revue as a media *server* (not sure actually, somebody that owns one can confirm/deny). Just as a media player/internet browser/tv google search.

[TDMVPDPOY]

Don't think you can browse the web or watch youtubes with the 360. But if you're planning on playing skyrm, etc later in the year, might aswell get it hooked up.

given up on consoles man,

the only game i think i might buy and keep myself sane from the poon, is probably bf3 and diablo3..i spend most of my time on the comp, just cbf turnin on and off console and monitor...gotto save those kilojoules

actually thinkn about it i think i might make a karaoke machine instead....just mtvs with on/off voice dub with subs...

[ElNono]

tbh, I have a WDTV Live Plus for streaming to the TV and Im pretty happy with it. I stream from my mac, or I can also use a pen drive/harddrive. It has Netflix (don't use it), YouTube, Pandora, etc. For the same money you can get a Revue now though, which should do the same + have web browsing.

[robino2001]

I've been trying to decide what to do recently as well. I was close to pulling the trigger on a WD Live Hub to connect to my TV in the bedroom (where my Uverse RG is), then stream from there to my xbox/ps3 in one room and another tv with a sony HTIAB that I think would connect to it. I mainly wanted to take all of my discs (BR and DVD) and digitize them and store on there for streaming to wherever until I realized my new work laptop didn't have the BR drive I thought it did to rip the BR's.

Now I'm wondering if there is a better/cheaper way to do it. Maybe simply put a Revue, Roku - something in the bedroom and stream straight from a PC in my office... Revue seems interesting to have the google tv aspect as I've never played with that before. Not sure the PC/laptop I have now is powerful enough to use as a media streamer though. I've always resisted the home digital media network but I think the time has come to do it - unfortunately I don't know too much about it.

[ChumpDumper]

for a cheap build what do you guys recommend? im looking at building one just for basic streaming,data storage, internet surfing/dl....has to be energy efficient...

currently i can re-use 4th hdd, case and 500psu....


yeh man...

my current build is a
q6600 + 4870x2 card = bad power sucker :(

i dont play video games no more...If you're going to use all that, why not just replace the cpu and video card with lower power models?

[ChumpDumper]

These days I'd almost consider buying a cheap laptop that had good graphics and networking and just add on from there.

[ElNono]

I've been trying to decide what to do recently as well. I was close to pulling the trigger on a WD Live Hub to connect to my TV in the bedroom (where my Uverse RG is), then stream from there to my xbox/ps3 in one room and another tv with a sony HTIAB that I think would connect to it. I mainly wanted to take all of my discs (BR and DVD) and digitize them and store on there for streaming to wherever until I realized my new work laptop didn't have the BR drive I thought it did to rip the BR's.

Now I'm wondering if there is a better/cheaper way to do it. Maybe simply put a Revue, Roku - something in the bedroom and stream straight from a PC in my office... Revue seems interesting to have the google tv aspect as I've never played with that before. Not sure the PC/laptop I have now is powerful enough to use as a media streamer though. I've always resisted the home digital media network but I think the time has come to do it - unfortunately I don't know too much about it.

Beware. Roku doesn't support mkv.

[Drachen]

I have a WD TV Live and Live plus. I guess if I didn't own those, I would probably just get the revue, but I really see no advantage to upgrading. I think I am going to advise my cousin to return the revue.

[robino2001]

These days I'd almost consider buying a cheap laptop that had good graphics and networking and just add on from there.

I've been considering that... I'm planning on buying a new pc/laptop in 5-6 months but I was hoping to do something earlier... I get a project idea in my head and have the desire to start it quickly...


Beware. Roku doesn't support mkv.

Good to know - I thought/assumed that was the case but was not 100% sure.


I have a WD TV Live and Live plus. I guess if I didn't own those, I would probably just get the revue, but I really see no advantage to upgrading. I think I am going to advise my cousin to return the revue.

What about the google tv part of the Revue? Is that worth the difference - aren't they pretty similar except for the Revue has google tv?

Does anyone rip/convert/package their own blu-rays to mkv or whatever?

[leemajors]

I've been considering that... I'm planning on buying a new pc/laptop in 5-6 months but I was hoping to do something earlier... I get a project idea in my head and have the desire to start it quickly...



Good to know - I thought/assumed that was the case but was not 100% sure.



What about the google tv part of the Revue? Is that worth the difference - aren't they pretty similar except for the Revue has google tv?

Does anyone rip/convert/package their own blu-rays to mkv or whatever?

makemkv is a nice little program for ripping blu rays.

[Drachen]

What about the google tv part of the Revue? Is that worth the difference - aren't they pretty similar except for the Revue has google tv?



I guess I should say "for what I use it for, it is no significant upgrade" Most of the "google tv" part of it is active if you have cable/satellite. Apparently all of the broadcast and cable networks have blocked google tv, so you can't search the internet for your shows (even though that is part of the point of it). Essentially (unless I am missing something) the biggest upgrade from the wdtv live plus to the revue is the ability to browse the web (though the wd can play more file types).

[robino2001]

So I've pretty much narrowed down to the WDTV - either plus or hub... the one thing I'm trying to figure out now - I know the plus can pull files off my network from elsewhere (HD on another PC or what not). If I have an external HD hooked to my plus and the plus is hooked into my network, will the files on the HD connected to the plus be visible elsewhere in my network, or do I need the hub for that? (Does that make sense?) I know I can have all of my files on a PC, but none of my PC's right now are fast enough to push/stream high quality video throughout my house where I assume the hub would be (no pc integration needed). I guess I'm trying to figure out if I can do the same thing with the plus and save money.

[ElNono]

robino, I think you would need to install custom firmware on the WDTV live plus to use it as a media server. I personally have it with stock firmware, and I'm pretty sure it doesn't do that (the Hub supposedly does, from what I read). I think Drachen has a live plus with custom firmware so he should be able to tell you.

[Drachen]

robino, I think you would need to install custom firmware on the WDTV live plus to use it as a media server. I personally have it with stock firmware, and I'm pretty sure it doesn't do that (the Hub supposedly does, from what I read). I think Drachen has a live plus with custom firmware so he should be able to tell you.

Yea, if you install wdlxtv live plus (the only custom firmware that I am aware of for the WDs) you can access whatever storage is plugged into the USB port on the WD from the network (among dozens of other added featurs). I can barely remember, but I have a vague recollection of being able to add/subtract files from the USB on my WD live with stock firmware (this was before I had my plus) using ftp to push the files. A bit of a pain, but if you are scared of the custom firmware, then it is an option. I do, however recommend the custom firmware in which case, you can save yourself the money you would spend on the hub.

[MannyIsGod]

Drachen does it play mkvs?

[ElNono]

Drachen does it play mkvs?

It does. Both with custom firmware and stock firmware.

[Drachen]

Drachen does it play mkvs?

That is one of the biggest selling points of the WDs, they play EVERYTHING. Well everything outside of FLVs.

[Drachen]

I will say this though, I installed the Boxee software onto my laptop and it seems to be pretty awesome. It makes me want to buy a boxee box especially since I have read that the PC software is far inferior to what is on the boxee box, and it is still pretty good.

[IronMaxipad]

Why not build a HTPC + NAS. Then run XBMC on it.

btw XBMC>>>>>>>>Boxee

[Drachen]

Why not build a HTPC + NAS. Then run XBMC on it.

btw XBMC>>>>>>>>Boxee

I don't really know anything about XBMC. Correct me if I am wrong, but it is a full PC, right? Does it automatically find all of the TV shows available online and place them within the UI without you having to go to the individual websites to find them like Boxee does? (BTW I have a 2GB NAS hooked up to the network... it is where the WDs pull from)

[robino2001]

robino, I think you would need to install custom firmware on the WDTV live plus to use it as a media server. I personally have it with stock firmware, and I'm pretty sure it doesn't do that (the Hub supposedly does, from what I read). I think Drachen has a live plus with custom firmware so he should be able to tell you.


Yea, if you install wdlxtv live plus (the only custom firmware that I am aware of for the WDs) you can access whatever storage is plugged into the USB port on the WD from the network (among dozens of other added featurs). I can barely remember, but I have a vague recollection of being able to add/subtract files from the USB on my WD live with stock firmware (this was before I had my plus) using ftp to push the files. A bit of a pain, but if you are scared of the custom firmware, then it is an option. I do, however recommend the custom firmware in which case, you can save yourself the money you would spend on the hub.

By no means am I saying either of y'll are wrong - actually I quite appreciate the feedback. In doing a little searching, I did run into someone saying they were able to have a WD Live Plus in one room (call it WD1) with a HD (HD1) hooked up to it and then another WD Live Plus in another room (WD2) and they were able to pull movies from HD1 onto WD2 as long as the sharing was set up appropriately. Now, in my case, I wouldn't have the multiple WD boxes - I'd be using my 360/PS3 in one room and a Sony HTIAB in another room. I'm almost thinking about picking up a WD Live Plus from Best Buy ($130 I believe) this weekend and trying it out to see if it works. Either way I'd take it back, if it works, buy the Live Plus from Amazon (~$85 right now).

If it didn't work, I was planning on doing the Live Hub but I'm open to the custom firmware route if you'd be willing to point me in the right direction (I'll search around on it a little too). Either way - thanks again for the info.

***Edit - nevermind on the wdlxtv stuff... pretty easy find and actually one of my coworkers is using it as well.

[Drachen]

By no means am I saying either of y'll are wrong - actually I quite appreciate the feedback. In doing a little searching, I did run into someone saying they were able to have a WD Live Plus in one room (call it WD1) with a HD (HD1) hooked up to it and then another WD Live Plus in another room (WD2) and they were able to pull movies from HD1 onto WD2 as long as the sharing was set up appropriately. Now, in my case, I wouldn't have the multiple WD boxes - I'd be using my 360/PS3 in one room and a Sony HTIAB in another room. I'm almost thinking about picking up a WD Live Plus from Best Buy ($130 I believe) this weekend and trying it out to see if it works. Either way I'd take it back, if it works, buy the Live Plus from Amazon (~$85 right now).

If it didn't work, I was planning on doing the Live Hub but I'm open to the custom firmware route if you'd be willing to point me in the right direction (I'll search around on it a little too). Either way - thanks again for the info.

***Edit - nevermind on the wdlxtv stuff... pretty easy find and actually one of my coworkers is using it as well.

You could be right. It has been a long time since I tried that (Like I said I have a WD worldbook NAS that is wired through ethernet to my router, that is where everything is stored. I have an old 320 GB usb drive that I will plug into the live (not plus, because it is on stock firmware) and check for you. Also, the Live Plus is on BB.com for only 99 bucks (I saw it in the store a few weeks ago for the same when I was returning my otterbox for my evo 3d).... Besides, you want the custom firmware since it allows you to use the remote control android (and presumably apple) app.

[MannyIsGod]

http://www.amazon.com/Western-Digital-1080p-Media-Player/dp/B003MVZ60I/ref=pd_sbs_op_2

Holy crap how had I not seen this before??? Definitely going to pick one up for 85 bucks.

[ElNono]

That's what I have. It's a nice little box.

I think the reason I didn't pick up a Boxee was that it was more expensive at the time. The price difference didn't seem to justify what I was going to use it for.

[Drachen]

That's what I have. It's a nice little box.

I think the reason I didn't pick up a Boxee was that it was more expensive at the time. The price difference didn't seem to justify what I was going to use it for.

Yeah, it is more expensive. Basically it looks like a better version of a roku (great internet streaming) with a slightly worse version of the WD (local content access without quite as much support for codecs). If you look at it that way it is like buying 2 devices for about 60-70 percent more.

[MannyIsGod]

The price bumps up to 97 when I include the USB N internet adapter but thats not really a big deal.

[leemajors]

The price bumps up to 97 when I include the USB N internet adapter but thats not really a big deal.

can't just plug it in?

[ElNono]

The price bumps up to 97 when I include the USB N internet adapter but thats not really a big deal.

What do you mean internet adapter? The thing has an ehternet + USB plug built in. Or do you mean wifi?

[ElNono]

Yeah, it is more expensive. Basically it looks like a better version of a roku (great internet streaming) with a slightly worse version of the WD (local content access without quite as much support for codecs). If you look at it that way it is like buying 2 devices for about 60-70 percent more.

tbh, I'm pleased with the WD replacing my old Popcorn hour. I didn't even bother with the custom FW since it does what I need to do with the stock FW.

[MannyIsGod]

Wifi. I don't want to run wires as this will be in my bedroom. I have the PS3 on my main TV and thats wired.

[leemajors]

Wifi. I don't want to run wires as this will be in my bedroom. I have the PS3 on my main TV and thats wired.

ahh ok, i prefer to wire when I can.

[MannyIsGod]

Really with a good N connection I find it uneccessary. I can stream 1080p quality files over an N connection and its typically just fine.

[robino2001]

Grabbed the live plus tonight at BB - you're right, it was $99 there. Will still likely take it back even if it works and go through amazon... $110 after tax w/ BB, $85 w/o tax at Amazon.

Will try the streaming stuff eventually this weekend. Still playing with the best way to rip a dvd and "compress" (I know it's not technically compression) it down into a .mkv or whatever that will be as universal as possible.

[Drachen]

Really with a good N connection I find it uneccessary. I can stream 1080p quality files over an N connection and its typically just fine.

I have watched planet earth HD (1080p) on the live plus using that particular wireless N dongle. It works great.

[Heath Ledger]

I'm getting the revuentomorrow.

[robino2001]

Didn't play around with it too much last night but was unable to get the Live Plus to push to other equipment using standard settings. Kinda leaning towards just going with the Live Hub... I'd likely buy another hard drive if I stuck with the live plus anyway - so why not just pay the money for the plus + the hd to get the live hub and know it'll work like I want.

At least that's the thought process for now. Could easily change.

[leemajors]

Grabbed the live plus tonight at BB - you're right, it was $99 there. Will still likely take it back even if it works and go through amazon... $110 after tax w/ BB, $85 w/o tax at Amazon.

Will try the streaming stuff eventually this weekend. Still playing with the best way to rip a dvd and "compress" (I know it's not technically compression) it down into a .mkv or whatever that will be as universal as possible.

I bought one of the new Apple TVs last year, mainly because of the capability to push stuff from my phone to the TV, and to use my iPhone as a fully functional remote for it. I have ripped around 100 DVDs and Blu Rays in the last year.

The best way I have found to rip regular DVDs is with Handbrake - you go from a regular DVD, where the video file is anywhere from 2GB to 8GB depending on the movie. Using Handbrake, I can get that file down to under 3GB as an m4v or mp4, which the WD Live should easily play. mkvs I download I also use handbrake to convert, and it generally halves the file size, which is great for saving space (and the Apple TV upconverts to 720p which is all my tv does anyway). There are a bunch of presets and customization options available if you're not concerned with saving space though. If you are ripping a movie with subtitles, make sure you add them into the file under the subtitle section though. It won't do it by default.

For Blu Rays, there is a more complicated way and a simple way. They are much more protected than regular DVDs, and you would likely need AnyDVD HD just to rip the image, then demux it by running it through TS Muxer, then recombine and remux the files together with another program. It's not terribly hard, but it does involve multiple steps.

http://lifehacker.com/5559007/the-hassle+free-guide-to-ripping-your-blu+ray-collection

Alternatively, you can just use Make MKV and make mkv files in a few clicks - and it's still free since it is in beta, and it works great:

http://makemkv.com/

[TDMVPDPOY]

The best way I have found to rip regular DVDs is with Handbrake - you go from a regular DVD, where the video file is anywhere from 2GB to 8GB depending on the movie. Using Handbrake, I can get that file down to under 3GB as an m4v or mp4, which the WD Live should easily play. mkvs I download I also use handbrake to convert, and it generally halves the file size, which is great for saving space (and the Apple TV upconverts to 720p which is all my tv does anyway).

any clip thats in mkv format 720/1080 around 2gb+ is worth the dl...hate fkn tools who rip them down to 500mb looks shit then avi....

[Drachen]

I bought one of the new Apple TVs last year, mainly because of the capability to push stuff from my phone to the TV, and to use my iPhone as a fully functional remote for it. I have ripped around 100 DVDs and Blu Rays in the last year.

The best way I have found to rip regular DVDs is with Handbrake - you go from a regular DVD, where the video file is anywhere from 2GB to 8GB depending on the movie. Using Handbrake, I can get that file down to under 3GB as an m4v or mp4, which the WD Live should easily play. mkvs I download I also use handbrake to convert, and it generally halves the file size, which is great for saving space (and the Apple TV upconverts to 720p which is all my tv does anyway). There are a bunch of presets and customization options available if you're not concerned with saving space though. If you are ripping a movie with subtitles, make sure you add them into the file under the subtitle section though. It won't do it by default.

For Blu Rays, there is a more complicated way and a simple way. They are much more protected than regular DVDs, and you would likely need AnyDVD HD just to rip the image, then demux it by running it through TS Muxer, then recombine and remux the files together with another program. It's not terribly hard, but it does involve multiple steps.

http://lifehacker.com/5559007/the-hassle+free-guide-to-ripping-your-blu+ray-collection

Alternatively, you can just use Make MKV and make mkv files in a few clicks - and it's still free since it is in beta, and it works great:

http://makemkv.com/

Yeah, this is a pretty cool feature, the WDs have been able to do that for a pretty good while with DLNA.

[leemajors]

any clip thats in mkv format 720/1080 around 2gb+ is worth the dl...hate fkn tools who rip them down to 500mb looks shit then avi....

they don't look like shit converted with handbrake on the computer, and the Apple TV upscales to 720p pretty well. I used some other tools before that that did look like shit though.

[MannyIsGod]

Ordered the WD and adapter today. Will report back this week.

[ElNono]

I was tempted to get an AppleTV + hack it with Plex, but max video output being 720p is not acceptable. Especially with the WDTV doing 1080p for the same price.

[robino2001]

I bought one of the new Apple TVs last year, mainly because of the capability to push stuff from my phone to the TV, and to use my iPhone as a fully functional remote for it. I have ripped around 100 DVDs and Blu Rays in the last year.

The best way I have found to rip regular DVDs is with Handbrake - you go from a regular DVD, where the video file is anywhere from 2GB to 8GB depending on the movie. Using Handbrake, I can get that file down to under 3GB as an m4v or mp4, which the WD Live should easily play. mkvs I download I also use handbrake to convert, and it generally halves the file size, which is great for saving space (and the Apple TV upconverts to 720p which is all my tv does anyway). There are a bunch of presets and customization options available if you're not concerned with saving space though. If you are ripping a movie with subtitles, make sure you add them into the file under the subtitle section though. It won't do it by default.

For Blu Rays, there is a more complicated way and a simple way. They are much more protected than regular DVDs, and you would likely need AnyDVD HD just to rip the image, then demux it by running it through TS Muxer, then recombine and remux the files together with another program. It's not terribly hard, but it does involve multiple steps.

http://lifehacker.com/5559007/the-hassle+free-guide-to-ripping-your-blu+ray-collection

Alternatively, you can just use Make MKV and make mkv files in a few clicks - and it's still free since it is in beta, and it works great:

http://makemkv.com/

Fantastic - thank you much. Exactly what I needed. I have handbrake but haven't played around with it much. Also have makemkv... used that for some rips (just dvd so far). Will look through the rest of what you said and might have more questions. Thanks again.

[leemajors]

I was tempted to get an AppleTV + hack it with Plex, but max video output being 720p is not acceptable. Especially with the WDTV doing 1080p for the same price.

i have a tv that does 720p max, so it works for me. otherwise i probably would have gone with the wd

[TDMVPDPOY]

wat do you guys think of ex servers as a game build? i saw a few ex lease comps on sale with dual xeons and some CAD video card....

[Heath Ledger]

I bought the Logitech rev its ok I thought it would find vids on my network but that's not the case not sure if I'm gonna keep it

[ElNono]

wat do you guys think of ex servers as a game build? i saw a few ex lease comps on sale with dual xeons and some CAD video card....

Some of them can be electricity hogs and not give you the performance a Core i5/i7 will give you.

[robino2001]

Took back the WD Live Plus today for the Live Hub. Sony HTIAB, 360 and PS3 all pick it up in a heartbeat - so no modding firmware... figure the extra $100 is worth the internal storage plus KNOWING that it works.

Also was making vid files from DVD using DVDFab and Handbrake but was making MKV's which (i knew but didn't click) won't play on Sony or MS, so am trying to remake the files to MP4's to see if it'll work on everything. If it does, then I'm set and have figured out my stuff. Thanks again for all of the help and comments through this thread - sorry to the OP for semi-hijacking it.

[robino2001]

I semi-lied... one more question. So I'm making the M4V's using handbrake but for some reason, my Sony HTIAB won't recognize those either - even though the PS3 does and it's almost the exact same interface. It won't recognize avi's either, I assume divx might be the way to go even though the specs say it recognizes M4V's... any suggestions on what software to use to make divx from DVD rips? Any thoughts on the file issue in general?

[MannyIsGod]

All I know is that extensions aside my ps3 has trouble with certain versions of each. It will play certain files of a certain type without a hitch and not others of the same type.

[leemajors]

did you try flipping the drop down menu to mp4?

[robino2001]

did you try flipping the drop down menu to mp4?

The container, yes, but I didn't notice the drop down menu in the video tab until this morning - so we'll see if that does anything. I'm trying that now, but handbrake keeps stoping at 100.00% completion and just sits there - won't close out the file. Trying to figure that part out now.

[MannyIsGod]

Man - this thing was a PITA to setup. After I got it going and downloaded the newer FW it read my wireless network without a problem, though. Netflix runs great so far but I haven't had a chance to test it stream from my laptop.

It looks as though PSMS does read it though.

[robino2001]

I didn't have any set up issues with my Live Plus when I tried it outside of needing to download new FW 3 times... once that finished, it worked like a champ right away (outside of doing what I wanted it to do without hacking it). The Live Hub had a few quirky things to get it working fully right (needing to unplug the power cord after set up to get files to show properly - apparently a bug) but now that it's up and running, it works fantastically as well. Does exactly what I want it to do.

I think I'm caving and buying the revue for the living room though to access the live hub. Can't get the HTIAB to read my files from the Live Hub so I'll go Revue for the google tv add-on assuming it plays nice with the Live Hub (seems like it should). If that sets up well, then I'm done tinkering with the system and will continue pushing digitizing all of our dvds - then will be off to decide what to do with the discs we won't want anymore.

[Heath Ledger]

I would hold off on that revuew purchase Robino. Mine started endlessly rebooting (known issue after searching forums) and Amazon video on demand would not work, yo uwould click to play a movie or watch a trailer and nothing would happen.

[Heath Ledger]

Also the revue did not find any of my video files located on other pcs on the network.

[robino2001]

Saw your messages too late... picked it up yesterday (can always take it back though... I buy little toys all the time from best buy and take them back). Hooked it up, haven't found anything special with google tv yet but it detected all of my stuff on my network/live hub instantly. I'm sure the wife will enjoy the easy email/internet access and haven't a reliable internet connection for pandora/netflix as opposed to our flaky HTIAB in this room is worth it assuming I don't get rebooting issues like you had Heath. Only semi "cool" thing I've seen so far is being able to turn on Pandora and have it on in the background while I pull the TV screen back up... I'm sure it'll be cool to have for our fantasy football draft tomorrow as well.

I'm planning on looking into/learning more about apps for google tv/the revue... I have no clue if you can download/add your own or is it simply "it is what it is"?

***Edit - nevermind - answered my own questions regarding GTV apps

[Heath Ledger]

You will see a lot more apps once they update gtv to honeycomb. I will revisit it when that happens but the reboot issue was the last straw for me i found online other people having the same issues.