Hey all,

Just noticing ALOT more computer related questions around here lately...have you noticed this as well?

Just curious how/what you guys are doing with computers in relation to your latest systems.

No, I don't mean using them to program our miscellaneous gear...but WHAT are your doing to integrate CPU's into your systems?

Currently, we a beta testing all good and bad aspects of the Windows XP Media Center O/S...

Thanks,

avdude

I got into the custom business explicitly of this trend. Here are some very random observations.

Clearly, convergence is happening, and fast. I have done a large number of media server installations (both things like ReQuest, and traditional computers used with things like the Audiotron) and have had great success. For example, I just finished a dedicated media room for a client (front PJ) who wanted a Mac PowerBook integrated into the system - he's a big iTunes fan. The PowerBook is both a video and audio source in the system.

There's a new wireless standard forthcoming (802.16.3a - it's a subset of ultra-wideband, A.K.A. Wi-Max), that will eventually eliminate most/all interconnects between components, by creating essentially a wireless 'personal area network' among things like receivers, DVD players, DVR's, displays, etc. Wireless flat panels were shown at CES. Goodbye to the nice markups on interconnects, but also goodbye to those silly rat's nest of wires behind all of our installations (yes, I use cable management, but I think we all know what I mean), and good riddance to fishing wires to install that plasma.

Be on the lookout for IP-addressable speakers w/digital amplifiers built-in. Polk Audio is getting ready to roll these out. Add a WiFi or 802.16.3a chip to that speaker box, and we'll finally have high fidelity wireless speakers.

I just attended a preview of NetStreams Digilinx product - this essentially overlays an IP control layer over traditional whole-house audio. I'm attending another preview next week from a company with a similar product, called DestinyIP.

Clearly, it is a thing to move away from the ridiculous lack of standards and from proprietary control systems. Am I the only one who feels that we can do much better than infrared or RS-232 as a control mechanism? As an example: I have two clients using WiFi-enabled PDA's to control their ReQuest music servers. This allows the selection of music from anywhere in the house, wirelessly.

The future is digital and network connected devices - it's that simple.

And predicting the responses: please spare me the "WiFi isn't reliable enough" or "I'm not having my clients rely upon Windows" stuff". Or those that say digital "will just never equal analog". Please remove your head from the sand! Is everything perfect with this stuff yet? Absolutely not! Will it be eventually? You bet - and those that say otherwise are really fooling themselves. I'm pretty sure there were plenty out there who dismissed compact discs as too 'sterile sounding'. How many turntables are installing nowadays?

Obviously, I'm on my soapbox - but I think there are many out there in this business who are ill-equipped for what is nothing less than a revolution in our industry. Ignore/dismiss at your own peril.

Just thought I would show this, as the "because" did not appear above for some reason. You used brackets (capital comma and capital period), which nicely invisiblized that most important word.

Our company integrates computers as well. We are starting to use them for Crestron e-Control. We also set up home networks, and ARQLink for all clients that have an Audio ReQuest. Everything seems to be focusing towards PC control or at least including the PC into the package. We are actually Dell resellers as well.

"Add a WiFi or 802.16.3a chip to that speaker box, and we'll finally have high fidelity wireless speakers"

How do you power these "wireless" speakers

dcci, I think you are right on track.
Right now is an interesting time. I have a associate that I am pushing into the world of Crestron right now. With his computer science background, I often wonder if the effort to learn Crestron would be similar to learn to 'do it ourself', starting with soem existing control softweare for the PC. I have looked at CQC very closely:
http://www.charmedquark.com/
It's would be a larger risk than Crestron right now, but in several years Crestron might be the dinosaur, and CQC or something similar is what everyone is installing.
"The future, very difficult to see", I think is what Yoda said.

I like the word:

ivisiblized

Lets all use it more

Forgive me for being skeptical about the "Windows" part of this new format being perfect eventually. I've been waiting for this to occur since version 3.0.

No, I'm not a Mac advocate. I'm just sharing my experiences.

Heh, I was just about to post a thread asking about media center before I saw this topic.

Avdude, you said you are beta testing it, how is it? Does the software come with the remote? Where is the IR receiver? How is the music server? Please give me any info you can!

-Tim

I can do three pc installs a day.....

heh... 'strategery' is a perfectly legit word. I know this because Dubya Bush said it.

Ernie, I for one am shocked that you of all people coined the word(?) invisiblized. Not very discreet at all. :)

We have been doing a good number of Media Center PCs lately being here in Microsoft's backdoor. I bought one myself and must admit that I really like it. I desperately needed a new PC and relaized that the Media Center platform in a comparable PC was only about $200.00 additional... same as a TIVO.

I like the interface for my music and easily pick tunes from my family room for the whole house system. There are some registry fixes that need to be done in order to use universal remotes but they are easy (anyone needing them can either search RC or ask me and I'll e-mail them to you)

A really intriguing set of products are the Inteset Denzel, Julia, Warren and Vana... check them out at www.inteset.com

The Denzel comes with a Terabyte Drive and platform similar to Windows Media. The Vana is a compact little computer that acts as a client, streaming stored DVDs and music files... has its own preouts for Tv and amplifier in the local room.

As afar as wireless, I sure like the ability to roam around with my laptop but I've had numerous argumants with Microsofties that think the world of it and don't believe me when I tell them that I, as an actual field installer have run into latency issues, and these latency issues DO lead to dropouts in audio. I've seen it enough times to call BS on those that tell me it performs EXACTLY like running a wire. I say f--k it... if I know a device is going somewhere and I can run a wire to it... I'm going to run the wire. If at some point it becomes extraneous then hey, it'll help hold up your house in an earthquake.

Anyway, Avdude is right on... there are more posts and we are moving toward a digital computerized world. I would like to add though that I don't believe that a wireless pair of speakers will ever completely replace the highest end and make things like JMLabs Grande Utopia's obsolete.

This really is a scary trend.

Once a month (at least) my A/V system is gonna crash, and I'll have to wait in Microsoft's help line hell for hours on end for rebooting instructions?

Aw man, that's just not right.