Is E and Charlie ibn for a BIG unhappiness?

[Bob Haller]

First this is NOT a E bashing post!!!! REALLY!!! READ ON!

But consider this. Has E ever released so many new receivers all at the same time before?

With their track record for bugs just what will occur if all the new boxes have issues at the same time?

This is my question? I certinally hope it doesnt occur!

[Neil Derryberry]

They haven't released anything yet. Rumors abound, but the only imminent receiver release scheduled is the 811. I'll only believe a date on the 921 when it hits the shelves.


As for bugs... bugs happen. I'm sure that Mr. Haller will be able to blow up anything satellite-related that he gets his hands on just hours after he receives the box.

[Cyclone]

The 811 looks like it is just a glorifed 301/4900 that has HD. The same OpenTV interface. Most of it looks like tried and tested technology. I'm sure that the intial release will have a few minor bugs, but no show stoppers.

The 921 is essentially a 721 with HD capability. Again their teeth was cut on the now 1+ year old 721. So likely bugs only with the new HD portion of the unit, but the rest of operation of the 921 has been well tested.

322/522. These are brand new STBs. Likely to have the most introduction bugs. They look really cool though. And they aren't silver either. :D

111 - Who cares if it has bugs.

[Jerry G]

First this is NOT a E bashing post!!!! REALLY!!! READ ON!



At least be honest. Yes it is. You're simply trying to be an alarmist and get people upset. I don't see any constructive aspect of your post. Just what is it that you expect people to do in response to your post? Dump Dish? Get worried? Get an ulcer? Cancel their hardware orders?

[Cyclone]

Jerry, Bob is a Firestarter. He does this all the time. We just ignore the provocative nature of his choice of words and work the topic at hand.

[xgrep]

With their track record for bugs just what will occur if all the new boxes have issues at the same time?I would be very surprised if there were more than two software bases inside all these new boxes, maybe even one. This means they'll get pretty much the same bugs for all receivers. It also means they have a lot more engineers dedicated to the software. So I'm expecting fewer initial bugs in the first place, and better support (i.e., quicker and more frequent updates), even though they may take a higher volume of calls. In fact, if the volume is high but the number of unique problems is small, they will be in much better shape than they are today.

If every receiver has its own totally unique SW, then they're doomed. But I'd be very surprised if this were the case.

x

[boba]

Remember the 301 comes in two versions the 013 and 010 so they have two versions of software for that one product. Now the 111 and 311 should run off one of those two versions. They look like a striped down version and a direct replacement for the 301 so it may just work out of the warehouse. But why would you need a 111 the marketplace has changed to the point I sell RCA DRD435's for $49.00 it has Optical output,two sets of A/V outputs, "S" video output, caller ID, Picture in Guide and 3 days of stored programming. The 111 has a dedicated remote with ch 3/4 rf out, and virtually no other features. What are they going to do give it away free for existing customers? Right now DISH should have a model line up of 322 as the base receiver, 522 as the base DVR, 811 as the base HDTV receiver and the 921 as the HDTV DVR. This should be the entire model line up starting with a $99 receiver only base price. The 322 with Super Dish should start at $149.00.

[Jerry G]

Jerry, Bob is a Firestarter. He does this all the time. We just ignore the provocative nature of his choice of words and work the topic at hand.

Yea, I know all about Bob. It's really sad that he finds such a need to try to create discontent and increase people's anxieties.

[AndyMon]

Yea, I know all about Bob. It's really sad that he finds such a need to try to create discontent and increase people's anxieties.
I think that maybe you endow him with too much power
:wizardhat
He's not really that adept, is he? <G>

[AndyMon]

Interesting that the 811 has a newer chipset for HD than the 921 which, on that side of the equation, was supposed to be closer to the 6000. Sort of a dichotomy.

[Bob Haller]

I wasnt trying to alarm anyone. I merely tried to point out this is a major time for E software engineers.

So many new models all scheduled for release about the same time.

I hope they are stable releases.

[Chris Freeland]

Remember the 301 comes in two versions the 013 and 010 so they have two versions of software for that one product. Now the 111 and 311 should run off one of those two versions. They look like a striped down version and a direct replacement for the 301 so it may just work out of the warehouse. But why would you need a 111 the marketplace has changed to the point I sell RCA DRD435's for $49.00 it has Optical output,two sets of A/V outputs, "S" video output, caller ID, Picture in Guide and 3 days of stored programming. The 111 has a dedicated remote with ch 3/4 rf out, and virtually no other features. What are they going to do give it away free for existing customers? Right now DISH should have a model line up of 322 as the base receiver, 522 as the base DVR, 811 as the base HDTV receiver and the 921 as the HDTV DVR. This should be the entire model line up starting with a $99 receiver only base price. The 322 with Super Dish should start at $149.00.

I mostly agree with you, I do think E* should keep the 311 STB for those who want a basic 1 tuner STB, I agree that the 111 is totally un-necesary.

[Jacob S]

Perhaps the 111 will be a cheap replacement for those that want a new DishPro receiver instead of a DishPro adapter for the SuperDish upgrade.

[Bob Haller]

the super dish pro switcgh will not need a adapter for legaxcy receivers, its built in.

[Bill R]

--

[Bob Haller]

Bill I cant possibly make you happy.

No I am NOT a professional writer, poll taker, just a regular poster with limitd writing skills who wonders how E will deal with possible software troubles on all their new boxes at once. I think releasing a one new box every few months is better than putting them all out at one time. Historically new E boxes have software issues:(

Bill honestly if you find so many troubles with my posts why not just ignore them altogether? PLEASE!

[Bill R]

Bob,

Please use the spell checker on this board.

[JosephF]

I think this is a very valid question. Myself, I think the biggest potential for problems comes on the PVR side.

Based on past history, I doubt there will be much in the way of problems with the 111 or 311. E* has done a very good job on their basic receivers (301 most recently and the 2700/2800/3700...) before that.

I would also hope that the 811 has leveraged a lot of the 301 OpenTV code, making it less susceptible to problems.

As for the 322, this is nothing but the equivalent of two 301's in one chassis. I would again hope that this is pretty basic functionality that they can handle fairly easily.

Now, 522 & 921 could be entirely different stories. I think E*'s past history on PVR boxes is clearly checkered. Having two boxes that apparently share no code (although the 921 appears highly leveraged off the 721) could be a risk, or an advantage. At least if one has bugs, the other will not automatically have them as well.

Last, keep in mind that E* now has three different sources for coding (ETC, Eldon and EDN), making coding resources less of a problem.