SageTV Takes on Windows Media Center

No one home media center option is perfect for everyone. Both Windows Media Center and SageTV both fit the bill with this consideration. While SageTV has tons of cool options and other goodies, is it really the best choice?

Would MS be a safer bet since they have been doing this awhile? You had better just read the review and decide for yourself.

The key to any home theater PC (HTPC) is the front-end software you use to drive it. The front end, often referred to as a “10-foot user interface,” is the gateway to the media tools that record, store, and catalog the video, audio, and other media on the HTPC. It’s what makes the PC look and act like something other than a PC. It’s this application that will ultimately make or break the whole affair. We’ve looked at a number of these applications over the last several years including ATI’s EazyLook suite, BeyondTV, and Showshifter. All have strengths and weaknesses, though of the three, BeyondTV has been the most impressive.

The most recent entry into the fray has been Windows XP Media Center Edition. The 2005 version adds some new bells and whistles, including high-definition support, but it’s only available in the OEM version, which can be tricky to find.

Frey Technologies’ SageTV is another such media application that has cultivated a dedicated following, and so we decided it was time to give this one a try to discover if it’s up to the task of powering a HTPC. SageTV offers an excellent combination of features and functionality including a tightly integrated electronic program guide (EPG) that ranks among the best we’ve seen. However, we hit some speed bumps along the way as well. If you’re getting ready to build a new HTPC, should SageTV be your media application of choice?