I was originally commenting on an article on Engadget but felt like expanding it a bit here.
Ok, what everyone has to remember is that the User Interface of whatever is presenting you with your >1,000 DVD library has to not just be good, but has to be GREAT. The only GREAT interface I’ve found is from Kaleidascape but sadly that’s only inside their $20k media server (nuts!). In looking at the Niveus and Escient screenshots, they look like rejected 80s MTV visuals… Don’t even get me started on MythTV, Meedio, DVD Lobby or the like; goodness.
Although not leaps and bounds better, I am very happy with Xbox running Xbox Media Center. I have my 2TB library ripped to my file-server and the Xbox Media Center software is by far the most friendly and elegant for access. However, even this isn’t a match to the Kaleidascape UIs. Frankly, I’ve given-up and settled for writing my own interface in Flex. Not sure when it’ll be released, but it’ll definitely be free when it’s done.
Just wanted to add my thoughts to this debate in the hopes of tempering all these new product announcements lately and remind people that a >1,000 DVD library is really pretty useless when you can only see ~9-12 covers on screen at a time… Oh and the Sony XL-1 Digital Living System does look quite impressive, but is still bound by the Microsoft MCE2005 limitations. Sony did have some UI screenshots of a different media server but I can’t seem to locate them right now - more on that later.
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