Uncle Salty
12-20-2003, 07:49 PM
I have a Diamond-series Mitsubishi HDTV receiver that is now a year old. I'm going to discuss the aweful Graphical User Interface (GUI) that is mass marketed by Mitsubishi as an easy and simple way to integrate all the Home Theater components.
Right to the point: Net Command ranks among the worst programming I've ever seen in any system, computer or other. It is confusing to install, it doesn't know how many inputs or modes your HT receiver has, so once you've used them all you cannot add other devices and have them interact with your receiver. I've locked up the program and had to reprogram it about 5 times now. So many instances I was ready to throw the remote control through the screen! (I controlled myself). The program also sets itself to non-HD over-the-air programming, which cannot be removed because it detects these stations during "channel scan". So you have to click through these stations, and switching through them is very slow.
Don't get me wrong, the Mitsubishi T.V. has a beautiful HD picture, and is probably still among the best available. But as computer technology continues to merge with audio/video technologies, having a workable and easily programmable GUI is of paramount importance. The HT magazines haven't said much about this, unless the ratings are imbedded into the "Ergonomics" rating.
Mitsubishi programming boys need to go to school on Microsoft. As easy as it is to bash Microsoft, their software products are very intuitive and easy to start using. If Home Theater is going to continue to thrive in the home of consumers, it's going to have to be a whole lot easier to set up, and most of all, the machines in the system are going to have to have good GUIs and be built to interface with each other.
Buyer beware! Do your homework on the software-side of the HT products you're considering for purchase. You may not fully enjoy the system if you can't get the components all working together as intended.
- Uncle Salty
Right to the point: Net Command ranks among the worst programming I've ever seen in any system, computer or other. It is confusing to install, it doesn't know how many inputs or modes your HT receiver has, so once you've used them all you cannot add other devices and have them interact with your receiver. I've locked up the program and had to reprogram it about 5 times now. So many instances I was ready to throw the remote control through the screen! (I controlled myself). The program also sets itself to non-HD over-the-air programming, which cannot be removed because it detects these stations during "channel scan". So you have to click through these stations, and switching through them is very slow.
Don't get me wrong, the Mitsubishi T.V. has a beautiful HD picture, and is probably still among the best available. But as computer technology continues to merge with audio/video technologies, having a workable and easily programmable GUI is of paramount importance. The HT magazines haven't said much about this, unless the ratings are imbedded into the "Ergonomics" rating.
Mitsubishi programming boys need to go to school on Microsoft. As easy as it is to bash Microsoft, their software products are very intuitive and easy to start using. If Home Theater is going to continue to thrive in the home of consumers, it's going to have to be a whole lot easier to set up, and most of all, the machines in the system are going to have to have good GUIs and be built to interface with each other.
Buyer beware! Do your homework on the software-side of the HT products you're considering for purchase. You may not fully enjoy the system if you can't get the components all working together as intended.
- Uncle Salty