Review: Google TV Underwhelms
By Leon Shaw
Google TV could suffer like Windows Media Center: it does everything, but only a few of them well.

I've spent some time with Google TV and have formed some definite opinions.

Logitech Revue - Google TV in a box - looks non-descript and comes with a wireless keyboard with limited remote functions. I installed it into my system, which includes a TiVo HD DVR, Classe SSP-800 surround processor, B&W 800 series speaker package, a stack of Rotel amps, a 2:39 Stewart screen, and a Runco Q-750 LED front projector.

Hook up is very simple: the idea is you have to pass the signal from the cable/sat/TiVo through the Logitech box using HDMI. That’s the only way to hook it up, component video is out.



Once connected, I went through the setup menu, the first step of which was very strange. An image comes up and you expand the top/bottom/left/right until it fills your screen. You then tell it who you are and where you live and can either opt in or out of the box tracking what you do. Next, you tell the box the model of your cable/sat/TiVo, the model of your TV if you wish, and the model of your surround sound piece. You then tell it your service provider for cable/sat/TiVo and go through some channel confirmations to make sure it knows how your channel line up is set up.

The next step is to enter your Google Gmail account or create one. You must do this to move through the setup. Once you get past this, it goes out and looks for new software, then reboots.

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