Advice needed on upgrade from A-110

[cdrsteve]

(06-27-2010 07:46 AM)chris57 Wrote:  Totally wrong statement ........

Chris, I anticipated that my comments would rattle a few cages but I stand by my impressions and comments. Having been around R&D for the best part of 35 years, I would be totally naive to believe that development, release, and issue resolution for a new product line has no impact on available resources for any but the largest organizations. To set the record straight, I have had my A-100 and A-110s since release. I have gladly lived through their maturing process. When I purchased my C-200s I did not anticipate taking a step-back in functionality. What I desired was the functionality that had matured through A-series development and the new features advertised for the C-200. I think those were/are reasonable expectations. I expected that developmental testing (prior to C-200 release) would assure that the C-200 would at a minimum meet the A-110 functionality level as well as provide advertised C-200 specific features. I don't think that I, or other users, should have to wait 2 years for that performance level. IMO, the C-200 still has not reached the A-110 level. And yes, I understand that they are two totally different platforms with differing architectures but one would assume (problem) that a paramount design goal (h/w and s/w) would have been to maintain compatibility/functionality of the previous flagship model. Core issues? Where is fully functioning 1G ether connectivity? I still believe the PCH is currently the finest product line of its type on the market but I also believe it could be so much more. Though I continue to recommend it to friends and family, it is not a product I recommend to anyone who is looking for a plug and play set-top solution. IMO it remains a hobbyist platform and not something I can send to grandma for her use without being her on-call tech support (trust me, I have been there and done that). If we can't be upfront and truthful in our individual assessments of the PCH, it will remain a beta testers dream but never a product you will find stocked on the shelves of your local big box store reaping the benefits of holding market share and providing the "average" consumer an outstanding product and multimedia experience. That's just how I see it. Oh, I am not "throwing out" my last C-200, it will go to a good home where it can get some use as I just don't have the need for it anymore.

[chris57]

I don't know if the one large block of text is deliberate but it makes answering any points difficult & laborious. Please add some spaces and paragraphs.

You started with the wrong expectations. The 200 Series could never launch with all of the functionality of the stable 100 Series on release.
One example - HD Audio from single file playback, 100 Series does it so why doesnt the 200 Series do it on release? Simple, only a month ago Sigma supplied the SDK with HD Audio playback of none BD structures. The 200 Series will have HD Audio from MKV and all of the functionality of the 100 Series on this area. So although you may have to wait that may bring extra functionality.

The C200 WILL reach the stability of the 100 Series in less time that it took the 100 Series. That is because of the learning curve with the 100 Series and the additional resource that Syabas have recruited.
There are two firmware development teams:-
1. Flash/GUI/PopApps known as the DavidBox development and also feeds into the Popbox.
2. Then there is the existing team that did the 100 Series that has had extra resources and expanded.

The NMT will never be a off the shelf Apple type user or grandma type product. The Popbox is aimed at that end of the market.

[cdrsteve]

(06-28-2010 06:55 AM)chris57 Wrote:  You started with the wrong expectations. The 200 Series could never launch with all of the functionality of the stable 100 Series on release....

Chris,

Formatting comments noted.

In regards to your response, let's just agree to disagree. You and I differ in our view of what the C-200 end-user release functionality expectations were and that is fine. It is undeniable that many early adopters of the C-200 felt it was lacking at release.

For now, I will just quietly sit back and watch C-200 development; letting my A-110s meet my current needs. Have a good one.

[chris57]

I concur, we just had different expectations. Had I had your expectations then I agree that I would have felt disappointed, my feelings are that it was a 50:50 split between those with expectations similar to yours, and those who had my understanding. I do think that the majority expected the current bugs to be ironed out quicker than they have though.

On a more positive note I think the next firmware will be a big step forward. It has the new SDK which has improved and fixed some important basics. The one after the more likely to get the new UI so also a big step forward. After the next two firmwares then I would expect Syabas to get fixing/coding themselves to workaround Sigma issues. The downside is that it makes any new SDK/libs/kernel much harder to integrate with your own code.