One correction from your story....The original Chumby (the classic) is not vinyl but real leather (and Italian leather too).

Netflix doesn't have this yet. I would like to take it for spin and try it out though.

Ending up playing with this for about ten days on my fresh/clean install of Windows 7 x64. When this works, it's great but I have nothing but a string of problems. From the DTB add in not working correctly on extenders, ShowAnalyzer GUI doesn't starting or hangs when you attempt to kill an active job, machine doesn't go back to sleep, etc.

When every one of these three different software components are working, commercial skipping doesn't work 100% of the time too.

There are too many moving parts/pieces to get this working reliably. On top of that, the author wants $30 for ShowAnalyer yet doesn't appear to be very responsive to forum posts/updates.

I would pay $30+ for a simple, Lifextender type interface, with one GUI to use along with the rock solid stability that I had in Vista. For now, I've uninstalled everything and have gone back to hitting the 30 sec. skip when need. My thumb never fails me.

It looks like Windows Media Center and Tivo users were affected so I'm guessing the guide data was FUBAR.

Off to the torrents to grab Fringe...

Think of the children! How will they watch their Disney DVDs in the SUV? Or in their beds with a portable DVD player when they have the H1N1? The horror.....

Hey, we would love to come to your Halloween party. First things, first...where is the outlet where me and my buddy can plug in?

Yes, Lifextender is dead and doesn't look like it'll be updated to support Windows 7 and the WTV file format.

This lets Directv compete with local cable weather insertion.

A new model Chumby will be coming out soon for $99 (intro pricing and then go up to $120). I don't work for Chumby but was one of the early customers and paid $200 for my black bean bag Chumby that is still going strong today.

Four years? No way is everyone and their grandma going to go out and buy converter boxes again within four years let alone ten years.

OTA ATSC MPEG-2 broadcasts are here to stay.