I decided (by the coaching of my lovely bride) that if I was going to do this, I should just go 100% and see how it stacks up to my (now in a pile in the middle of my living room) Windows 7 Media Center. I am just going to boil this down to the pros and cons:
Pros:
1. Intuitive: some people have said other wise, but I thought from hook up to navigation I felt like I didn't have to use my degree to get around. Once again I am comparing this to setting up a W7MC PC.2. Potential: how can you list potential as a pro?, and list it so early? Well right away I see the promise when I see the "Gallery" app from my android so prominently displayed on the screen. It works the same way as on my phone, integrates with my Picasa account (which I still need to do a write up on), and is just a work of art on the big screen. Similarly the Netflix and Pandora apps just work and are easy to setup. I do have to say though the Pandora app has no where near the sex appeal as the Boxee variant, but this whole device suffers from that.
3. RF Keyboard and Android Remote App: Very well done, however the keyboard has a con, see below. Side Note - great IR blaster.
4. Integration with Google Reader: My "Queue" shows up in my Reader account, which means if I find an interesting Pod/VodCast I just add it to the mix through my browser from anywhere.
5. Browser: It works really well with the keyboard, has flash support, and even "incognito" browsing if you so desire.
Cons:
1. No Apps: I am just going to say Google has at least stated this is coming. However, this has to be stated early since most of the following cons (sans keyboard issue) are related to a single app's failing, and there are already apps on the market available for my Android phone that resolve all of these issues, but I still have to list it as it sits now.2. Sorting (app Logitech Media Player): Only alpha sorting, this is horrific for somebody like me that downloads a lot of their shows. I have to say though this failure is pretty common, I have had popcorn hours and wdtv's with this same issue, amazing something so simple being overlooked.
3. No SMB only DLNA (app Logitech Media Player): This was my first time using DLNA and it was horrific. My opinions about DLNA is it is a cheap work around to lazy manufactures for not just throwing in more support for codecs. I tried Windows 7 "Play On" and "Mezzmo" for the PC to get my content to this device. When transcoding kicked in I could hear my fans on the downstairs PC kick into high gear and the output on the TV upstairs was grainy and double compressed, not to mention audio sync issues. Google and Logitech say more format support is coming, but if it comes through DLNA forget it. An SMB browser is sadly needed.
4. Keyboard Backlight: Or lack thereof. Really Logitech? Really? This thing costs $300 and you can't backlight the keyboard? Do you think most media viewing areas are well lit? This one chapped my hide.
5. Reliance on another "box": Most of the features I am just not using in the Google TV because I don't have satellite (this has integration for Dish Network) or an external cable or even over the air tuner box. I think they should have bundled in something for the price point, at least over the air.
New Setup:
So the final question, Mr. W7MC, what is in your rack now? Well, I honestly don't know if I am going to go back to the a full fledged PC. To get rid of con #3 I hooked up my WDTV Live, because it has a great SMB browser that plays all formats without transcoding. For live TV browsing I moved my antenna up to my TV and ran the optical out it provides to my receiver. I don't have a guide now, and I can't record live tv, but those were 2 items when you are mainly grabbing your shows from "other soruces" that aren't much of an issue. It also turns out my TV has a better OTA tuner than my TV Tuner card in my PC had, so I get more stations (namely PBS Kids, so the toddler is happy). Those 2 changes combined with the Google TV for Netflix and Pandora and a future app platform down the road are all I need. I have my hopes I will again be able to retire the WDTV Live after a future firmware version. We will have to see what Q1 of 2011 brings.
Side Note: It wouldn't be impossible to pull off this switching nightmare and remain wife approved without a Logitech Harmony remote, if you don't own one, go buy one (link below to a cheapo entry level).
Would I buy this device? Nope. A single WDTV Live Plus would do what I want and more. I do think though at some point after apps are released that something like the Sony version with an integrated BluRay player is going to be veeery promising.
I will miss Windows 7 Media Center + Boxee for the sex appeal, but I am guessing not running that beast 24x7x365 is going to bring some savings to the power bill.
