Using SageTV as a front end?

[Biff Byford]

I just learned that the SageTV (http://www.sage.tv)software for build-your-own-PVR projects also has a MAME front end. See this review:

http://www.byopvr.com/Sections+index-req-viewarticle-artid-9-page-3.html

Apparently, it's completely unsupported, screws up the SageTV app if you allow MAME to change screen resolutions, and only runs one emulator at a time ... but other that THAT

http://forums.freytechnologies.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=5276

Seriously, though -- a robust, commercially built application that does PVR, a music jukebox, a photo library, and mame front end duties, all accessed through a TiVo-like interface -- I've got to admit I'm intrigued.

Being a commercial app, it installs and configures like a commercial app (e.g., no text configuration files or non-standard interfaces), has ongoing support, etc.; plus, it seems to be built with the Hauppauge TV capture card in mind. They even sell it bundled with a Hauppauge 250 card and a remote control for $179.

Given that the SageTV CTO seems to weigh in on the discussion board regarding this feature every once in a while, I'd guess it's a pet project and may be improved in the future.

I'm imagining how slick it'd be for my kids to have an integrated PVR, DVD player, photo library, jukebox and MAME launcher, all controllable with a remote control ...

Anyone have first-hand experience using SageTV as a front end? Or another PVR software that might do similar stuff?

[liquid8]

SageTV is a decent PVR program. There are a couple others that have MAME plugins for them.. including MyHTPC... It will work for a generic launcher, but you won't get the nice options that you would get using Mamewah or other Emulator frontends..

LiQuiD8