Comments on: Gefen Introduces USB Support For Upcoming PVRs http://davisfreeberg.com/2007/01/18/gefen-introduces-usb-support-for-new-pvrs/ Wed, 31 Aug 2011 01:39:44 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: davis http://davisfreeberg.com/2007/01/18/gefen-introduces-usb-support-for-new-pvrs/comment-page-1/#comment-15779 davis Thu, 18 Jan 2007 20:28:32 +0000 http://davisfreeberg.com/2007/01/18/gefen-introduces-usb-support-for-new-pvrs/#comment-15779 I think the DRM restrictions are part of why I view my issue with HBO as a morally ambiguous area. On one hand, I'm not breaking any laws, but on another hand, I'm kind of violating the spirit of my subscription agreement with HBO by time shifting the content for later on. If the cable companies and studios allowed me to have everything on demand or allowed me to move my content around my home, I'd probably feel worse about using technology to get around their monthly fees, but as long as they insist on using DRM to limit what I can do with my content, it's hard to feel bad about using their own DRM files in a way that they may not intended. I think the DRM restrictions are part of why I view my issue with HBO as a morally ambiguous area. On one hand, I’m not breaking any laws, but on another hand, I’m kind of violating the spirit of my subscription agreement with HBO by time shifting the content for later on. If the cable companies and studios allowed me to have everything on demand or allowed me to move my content around my home, I’d probably feel worse about using technology to get around their monthly fees, but as long as they insist on using DRM to limit what I can do with my content, it’s hard to feel bad about using their own DRM files in a way that they may not intended.

]]> By: Matt http://davisfreeberg.com/2007/01/18/gefen-introduces-usb-support-for-new-pvrs/comment-page-1/#comment-15716 Matt Thu, 18 Jan 2007 19:04:07 +0000 http://davisfreeberg.com/2007/01/18/gefen-introduces-usb-support-for-new-pvrs/#comment-15716 One of the biggest problems that I have seen from DRM is the infringement on our right to make fair-use copies of media that we own. For example, if I wanted to rip 10 DVD’s to leave them on my PC in a fashion similar to a jukebox, I would technically have to break the DRM. The same goes for a lot of newer CD’s. In my mind when something has DRM it is more like I am renting it, despite the fact I have a receipt that proves my ownership. I can’t legally do whatever I would like with it, and in most cases I wouldn’t be able to return it for a refund if I felt the DRM was too much. Enough about that – this Gefen PVR does indeed sound promising if they can get away without having to put up with any of this DRM crap. It sounds like it might fit into SanDisk’s USBTV initiative that was announced at CES. One of the biggest problems that I have seen from DRM is the infringement on our right to make fair-use copies of media that we own. For example, if I wanted to rip 10 DVD’s to leave them on my PC in a fashion similar to a jukebox, I would technically have to break the DRM. The same goes for a lot of newer CD’s.

In my mind when something has DRM it is more like I am renting it, despite the fact I have a receipt that proves my ownership. I can’t legally do whatever I would like with it, and in most cases I wouldn’t be able to return it for a refund if I felt the DRM was too much.

Enough about that – this Gefen PVR does indeed sound promising if they can get away without having to put up with any of this DRM crap. It sounds like it might fit into SanDisk’s USBTV initiative that was announced at CES.

]]>