Well, you're not getting the pads anytime soon as they still aren't shipping.

I only install DigilinX with Request ARQ servers - not Escient. The Escient interface was just completed and I haven't had a reason to try it. The ARQ interface was the first and works incredibly well.

Make sure your installer knows how to 'group' rooms with the new firmware. Especially since you won't have a touchscreen in each room. The keylinx is a little tough to control the source (I have seen Beta versions but am still waiting on mine to ship. Uggggg)

FWIW - I love Digilinx (even without video support (sorry Gary)).

I love audio too, but in the world of music servers, if you do not have video, you defeat the entire purpose. If you cannot view your music collection, you cannot choose your music.

The Audio sounds better than most anything distributed out there, and the Video is on the way. I can see what the Music server is doing, which is all thats needed for a lot of jobs. And with HiDef distribution still in the "high" price range, its prefered to do all that locally if possible. Distributing S or compos just doesnt cut it. I do see your point, but don't think its the be all end all of the system.

S and composite look a lot better than stareing at the wall and certainly is better than a moulator.

How does your Tivo look on that display?

The sad but true fact is that most people spend much more time watching TV than listening to music.

Selling distributed audio may work great for you, but it's not for me.

I know what your saying, it is a fault in the slaw right now, but they do have the video distribution in the pipeline. But the concept thats been selling it is simply the wonderful control. Granted, considering its still new not to many experiments have been done with it. But I was and still am amazed at the slickness of the control and the pure sound quality. The PDA control of the music manager is another strong point.

When are the keypads shipping? I don't want to have to wait...Is it just the color one that is not shipping yet?

Thats the whole point of DigilinX. Two way metadata and control with the touchscreens. I suggest you read up on it.

I just dont see the need to distribute video with the audio system. Use the Audio Control Cat5 video distribution if thats the objective. Maybe its a control issue where you want to control the video with the touchpanels? I would rather use a remote for that. Maybe its camera distribution? Well, the IP Panasonic cameras now work with the Digilinx touchpanels and any computer on the network. Maybe its about HVAC or lights? Well, Aprilaire and Lutron systems integrate with the DIgilinX touchscreens and any computer on the network.

IP is the future and if you don't know networking you're going to be on the outside looking in in a few years time.

Any other suggestions?

To anwser your question, Fireballs are very easy to use, fairly easy to set up if you have decent networking skills, and very reliable.

What is the purpose of the CD changer in the system? To effect CD burning? Why would I want the CD if I have the mp3 on the machine? I don't get it.

Alan

As I said earlier, it actually makes thingd WORSE to have the CD changer conected and filled!!

And as far as the ripping, it is a CD player, not a data drive.
If there are small errors on the CD, then skips get recorded into the MP3 file. It cannot spin up and re-try the damaged area multiple times to fill the buffer and produce a skip free file.

I'm glad I am not the only one that thinks that Request is absolutely superior product to this machine.

I wouldn't know, I've never hook a CD changer to a fireball and can't imagine why anyone would.

I've alway assumed this feature was just a holdover from the Tunebase days.

No one's making you use a CD changer the Fireball works fine without one.

And as far a Request goes, they have a user interface only a geek could love.

ejfiii,
For those that are young and like to stand next to a itty-bitty screen on the wall, I suppose that the Digilinx system will do.

For me and most of my customers, we prefer a larger viewing screen and a more flexible input/output infrastructure.

I am constantly researching new products, which include Netstreams. I attended more than one Netstreams training seminar and I have chosen not to offer this product to my clients. My reasons are many and stem from my eighteen years of experience in the audio and video world, exhaustive research, and personal testing procedures.

Don't get me wrong, I am not saying anything negative about your choice to offer Digilinx or the Netstreams products in general. I am just saying that it doesn't meet my criteria at this time.

We are mostly going to be using laptop's to control everything anyways..so im not worried about that..I think we are going to choose the ReQuest server..