2008-02-18, 20:36
Disclaimer * This is just an idea I had. I just want other's opinions. I know it might end up being a sensitive subject, but please keep it civil. Hearing both sides is welcomed. *
Once the time is right (months away), and the true hardware requirements are more apparent. What do people think about creating an Open Hardware Spec based around one specific platform and building a community supported image tailored to the Spec? The image would be designed with the bare minimum necessary to run XBMC and require no Linux knowledge.
Once this Open Spec has been defined, people could go out and purchase the hardware, assemble, install the custom tailored image, and have a community supported XBMC platform similar to the original Xbox. I don't think this would deter people from using other hardware, specifically more advanced users, but just give people an easy way to get into XBMC for Linux.
There could possibly be a XBMC sponsored store which sold a Spec Compliant hardware kit and a preconfigured machine. A portion of these sales would be donated to XBMC developers. There would be no profit on the kit although assembly cost would have to be accounted for in the preconfigured machine’s cost.
My personal opinion is that once XBMC Linux has reached some level of maturity, it could be a real competitor to the mainstream media centers available currently. However, without a fixed platform, like the original Xbox, achieving any sort of real penetration will never happen, and it will only be an option for more experienced users. I would love to see XBMC take aim at Vista Media Center, and I think it can happen.
What we do not want is to have many "Prebuilt XBMC Machines" floating around the internet with people paying money for these machines that all have different specifications and no support. People would go crazy and XBMC could never see real market growth.
I am not asking that we discuss in detail the hardware choices or image customization. I just want to see if end users and developers alike are open to an idea like this. Thanks.
Dustin
Once the time is right (months away), and the true hardware requirements are more apparent. What do people think about creating an Open Hardware Spec based around one specific platform and building a community supported image tailored to the Spec? The image would be designed with the bare minimum necessary to run XBMC and require no Linux knowledge.
Once this Open Spec has been defined, people could go out and purchase the hardware, assemble, install the custom tailored image, and have a community supported XBMC platform similar to the original Xbox. I don't think this would deter people from using other hardware, specifically more advanced users, but just give people an easy way to get into XBMC for Linux.
There could possibly be a XBMC sponsored store which sold a Spec Compliant hardware kit and a preconfigured machine. A portion of these sales would be donated to XBMC developers. There would be no profit on the kit although assembly cost would have to be accounted for in the preconfigured machine’s cost.
My personal opinion is that once XBMC Linux has reached some level of maturity, it could be a real competitor to the mainstream media centers available currently. However, without a fixed platform, like the original Xbox, achieving any sort of real penetration will never happen, and it will only be an option for more experienced users. I would love to see XBMC take aim at Vista Media Center, and I think it can happen.
What we do not want is to have many "Prebuilt XBMC Machines" floating around the internet with people paying money for these machines that all have different specifications and no support. People would go crazy and XBMC could never see real market growth.
I am not asking that we discuss in detail the hardware choices or image customization. I just want to see if end users and developers alike are open to an idea like this. Thanks.
Dustin