2010-10-23, 15:29
Hannes The Hun Wrote:defected07, we already have a thread about this netbox. I use this exact device as an HTPC (XBMCbuntu) and love it, but as you mentioned you have to add RAM, HDD, and a remote solution, so the price is somewhat relativised, esp. if you want to go the full route and add a small SSD as I did. also keep in mind that these Ion boxes seldom work out-of-the-box even with newest XBMClive builds so you need at least a bit of understanding with linux.
boxee is some kind of instant-on XBMC experience, but we'll have to see how it works out when the first customers get their boxes. I still don't like the whole social networking stuff, and I absolutely like to have full customizable control over my XBMC experience. also in the meantime there's some serious competition going on in this media box business, esp. given the fact that Google TV goes to market at the same time and might have similar playback capabilities, at least when there's an app for that (and it might well be an XBMC port *winkwink*)
I wish these guys all the luck in the world, but they're a littlebit late on the market, given the problems with the tegra2 chipset and the complete hardware switch to the intel CE4100. and speaking from a (german) customer perspective, the magic border is 199€ for such a device. 229 might already be too much for a lot of customers, given that similar (more simple, granted) realtek- or sigma-based players retail for starting around 100€. finally, the advantage of having a fully connected device with library mode and all the additional features is not obvious to joe average.
199 euro will be the price after the first weeks. im sure. its the usual way when you introduce a stunning new product. all early adopters will pay more to get it asap
also i think there will be a xbmc port soon after the release because boxee iss xbmc