CES: Boxee ready for the big time

Boxee is one of the more fool-proof ways to get stuff like Netflix, Hulu, Comedy Central and even network television to your computer: here's a live demo given to BBG from the loud and booze-soaked floor of CES Unveiled.

You can also download it in MP4 format.

[#1 posted by knifie_sp00nie , January 15, 2009 7:07 AM]

I recently got in on the Boxee alpha and have been playing with it. It's everything I was looking for in media center software. The ability to stream the Daily Show/Colbert Report and Netflix on top of managing a library of ripped DVDs is great.

Don't be put off by the alpha designation. It's base is the mature XBMC project. I haven't encountered any major bugs. I'm beginning to build my media center around it. Can't wait to cancel cable.

[#2 posted by zuzu , January 15, 2009 7:20 AM]

A better comparison would be with Miro (formerly Democracy), LiveStation, Joost, OpenSesame, and maybe AppleTV.

[#3 posted by Anonymous , January 15, 2009 7:57 AM]

ONLY LINUX AND MAC. NO WINDOWS.
SOLO LINUX Y MAC. A 15/1/2009 NO HAY VERSION PARA WINDOWS.

[#4 posted by Mojave , January 15, 2009 8:21 AM]

How is this any different than just running an HDMI cable from my computer to my TV?

[#5 posted by Agies , January 15, 2009 8:38 AM]

@3 The Windows version is in an invite-only alpha.

@4 It's the same as running an HDMI cable to your PC except that it provides a much nicer and streamlined interface instead of using a browser. It's the difference between using a remote and hunching over a keyboard.

[#6 posted by btb , January 15, 2009 8:46 AM]

For a second I thought you were referring to Boxxy. Thank god!

[#7 posted by mattohara , January 15, 2009 8:51 AM]

I recently cancelled cable, bought a Mac Mini and a 1TB drive, installed Boxee, and am now ripping DVDs and pulling all my 10-year old media off of old CDs.

My girlfriend was a little irked at the amount of time that I spent doing all this. Then I mentioned how much she likes/needs to keep the apartment clean. I said, "Imagine if you weren't able to clean up for 10 years and your house burnt down a couple of times as well." (A couple of drives failed). Well, getting boxee and all my media together in one place, accessing it from the couch or work and backing everything up feels like a huge housecleaning + fire insurance.

[#8 posted by vetlemakt , January 15, 2009 9:18 AM]

No Windows, doh! Had to register before being told. Silly silly, but hopefully they'll get around to it soon.

[#9 posted by geekpdx , January 15, 2009 9:31 AM]

So, who's got a boxee windows alpha invite they can toss my way?

In exchange, I offer to email you a poor simulacrum of haiku.

[#10 posted by Ben , January 15, 2009 9:48 AM]

I was really excited about DLing Boxee when I got my alpha invite -- but unfortunately they're not making a 64-bit version for Ubuntu yet. Phooey.

[#11 posted by Agies , January 15, 2009 11:40 AM]

@6 BTB: Jesus Christ, I hate you. I mean what the fuck was that?

@8 I did some poking around and saw that they are in closed-alpha with the Windows version. There should be a thread with info to sign up for invites somewhere in their forum.

[#12 posted by Anonymous , January 15, 2009 4:05 PM]

Just a note about how all Mac users can't afford to go out and buy a Intel machine. So many services that I can't use although I have a perfectly functioning laptop. Oy.

[#13 posted by Mojave , January 16, 2009 12:04 PM]

Is this thing free?