I'm not entirely sure who this is aimed at: the setup process looked pretty long-winded for most people who sit infront of a TV, being spoonfed content while drooling. I mean, seriously, a question whether you want the thing to boot slowly or quickly? It should make the best guess for defaults in the majority of cases, and give you the option to fuck with it later: look at how the Windows installation process has been streamlined over the years.
Then the tech savvy guys? They already have an htpc and are more than willing to play around to get it right, using xbmc or some such...
Sony consistently makes the worst remote controls of any major consumer electronics manufacturer. It's likey they don't employ even a single user interface person to help design these devices, they just either rely on out-of-touch engineers or dumb marketing people to design their remotes.
The ultimate example was the Playstation 2 remote. It was a grid of buttons with the DVD controls (ffwd, play, rewind, etc) placed fairly randomly and with no tactile distinction whatsoever between the keys. So totally lame.
Ever since the Playstation 2 remote I've been paying attention to Sony's designs and every time I see a Sony remote I am reminded that they still have the suckiest remote designers.
That's a great point; I've never seen a media centric review of the PS3. As hard as it gets pushed as the ultimate BD player, it would be really interesting to actually test that.
while I found your review well-written and informative, I can't help but feel that you were a little too lenient with it in your final thoughts.
A google device that has no universal search? Fail. A media streamer that has no worthwhile codec and container support? Fail. A remote that is unusable by anyone without an IT degree? Fail. A consumer device that you have to press Ctrl-Alt-Del to reboot when it hangs? WTF?
At the $300 asking price with the level of functionality and robustness out-of-the-box, the NSZGT1 deserves to be publicly lambasted, if not downright ridiculed.
Even Apple's RDF wouldn't be able to disguise this Thanksgiving turkey.
Also, any chance AT will revisit the Boxee Box with the revised firmware?
GTV is a CE device targeted at mainstream users, so the abysmal container support is forgivable; otherwise, those are all valid points. That said, I think the platform's potential outweighs the teething issues; so while the current implementation is clearly unfinished, and I worry that Google doesn't understand the difference b/w the TV and mobile user experience, it is still too early to get out the pitchforks and torches. Six months from now will be another story.
IMO the current MSRP for this player is too high (Sony even dropped the price $100 a few days ago, so they must also recognize this); it's crazy that we can buy a better BD player (faster, quieter, more power efficient and has 3D) from Sony for $140 less. Between us, unless the apps platform gets exponentially better real soon I think they will need to knock another $100 off the top to be competitive in the mainstream. I could have made that clearer in the FT.
Grrr, lost my comment with FireFox crashing, so my reply in brief...
Re: $300 - This is a BluRay player too, let's not forget.
Then the rest of my rambling comment was mostly a complaint about Sony controllers, when they will invest in people to sort out this problem? They haven't produced a good controller/remote since the original PS controller, and that was a less than subtle copy of the SNES controller (and they are just copying Nintendo again with Move) which was OK at the time, but now is very old and tired but still they persist with it with the PS3?!?! Sort it out Sony! It's not like you are a corner/cost cutting budget brand for Jebus' sake!
OH, i keep forgetting (as i'm in the UK) that these US prices often don't include taxes, as well as how much PS3s are these days :)
You gotta really want to use Google TV to bother with one of these things/
Are those sorts of services used much in the US? Can't see these things catching on in the UK without being freeview/digital TV PVRs as well, such is the importance of the BBC, and cost of broadband with the traffic limits that have crept in over the last few years.
Welps, looks like another Google product with Serious Potential™.
What happened to the tech reviewer that they are always talking about "future updates" with some products/companies. The piece is in stores _now_ and it's making its first impression on the consumers _now_. And God forbid those are people who have a mobile phone running Android 1.x still, because the "future update" never materialized.
Google doesn't just _not_ get certain aspect of a non-geek's life, they also don't understand that they're only going to get a certain amount of shots at the consumers before they earn a "Always Alpha, not worth the money" badge.
So if this goes like Android phones have, in a few years it will really be something to see. That said, early adopters will either have to do things on their own (like rooting old phones) or accept that as early adopters they don't always get a finished product. As always, people should see enough to buy a product based on what it is now and what they know they can do with it, not future hopes.
That said, as-is does this do ANYTHING as well or better than other CE devices? at least until its rooted it seems like it might be a tough sell even to tech-geeks.
Sony has a good history of updating their BD players, so I'm not too worried that the player will be stuck in the current state forever. For e.g. the BDP-S570 (the better player referenced in the last section) shipped without 3D and Netflix; both were added via firmware updates.
There should be an update to both the NSZ-GT1 and Revue coming very soon. Should bring a better Netflix app and DD pass through along with many other updated for the Sony.
Limited file recognition/playability, a remote that looks like a netbook (without the screen), and the typically atrocious Sony price? Really??
Personally, I can think of a half dozen other players/systems that I'd rather hook up to my home entertainment system, that won't cost any more, but have much greater capacity/ability.
I just returned a Jan'2011 purchased Sony NSZ-GT1 to my local Best Buy store. I had uit for about 10days. Here are some comments and reasons for the return......:
PROS: - Nice design of box - Easy set up
CONS: - Remote does not control the channel up/down on my Sony Bravia TV (huh?) - Remote mouse does not work very well....very slow to move cursor at times. - On screen display is very confusing to navigate. - Netflix was a key reason for me to buy this, but I could only get in about 50% of the time. - USB ports on back of box are not general purpose (is this for "Sony only products"?) - Frankly, not very good content. No ABC, CBS, NBC online. - No PDF reader on Google TV s/w
There are many more to list. I thought about keeping the unit until the next s/w upgrade comes out because I expect Sony/Google will fix some of these things, but I did not want to risk it. Besides, there are surely better & cheaper units coming out from different manufacturers within the next 6months and I am content to wait. Until then, I am still packing my note pc from my home office to my Bravia in the living room and watching Netflix and web surfing the easy way.
Good try Sony, but you fell flat on your face (from a dedicated Sony fan, by the way).
My major beef regards dropped frames. Specifically, when watching sporting events in high def, the screen frequently looks jittery, as if it is dropping frames. Also, when playing back home movies in 1080p, the screen frequently pauses, thereby making the movie virtually unwatchable. This box has no problem with with 720p home movies. Blu ray discs present no problem.
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20 Comments
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vshah - Monday, November 29, 2010 - link
is it nsx-gt1, or nsz-gt1? it varies in the title/article.ganeshts - Monday, November 29, 2010 - link
Editorial mistake :) Fixed, thanks!piroroadkill - Monday, November 29, 2010 - link
I'm not entirely sure who this is aimed at: the setup process looked pretty long-winded for most people who sit infront of a TV, being spoonfed content while drooling. I mean, seriously, a question whether you want the thing to boot slowly or quickly? It should make the best guess for defaults in the majority of cases, and give you the option to fuck with it later: look at how the Windows installation process has been streamlined over the years.Then the tech savvy guys? They already have an htpc and are more than willing to play around to get it right, using xbmc or some such...
bji - Monday, November 29, 2010 - link
Sony consistently makes the worst remote controls of any major consumer electronics manufacturer. It's likey they don't employ even a single user interface person to help design these devices, they just either rely on out-of-touch engineers or dumb marketing people to design their remotes.The ultimate example was the Playstation 2 remote. It was a grid of buttons with the DVD controls (ffwd, play, rewind, etc) placed fairly randomly and with no tactile distinction whatsoever between the keys. So totally lame.
Ever since the Playstation 2 remote I've been paying attention to Sony's designs and every time I see a Sony remote I am reminded that they still have the suckiest remote designers.
nutmac - Monday, November 29, 2010 - link
I would love expand HQV 2.0 benchmark comparison against popular players, such as PS3.babgvant - Monday, November 29, 2010 - link
That's a great point; I've never seen a media centric review of the PS3. As hard as it gets pushed as the ultimate BD player, it would be really interesting to actually test that.Voldenuit - Tuesday, November 30, 2010 - link
Andrew,while I found your review well-written and informative, I can't help but feel that you were a little too lenient with it in your final thoughts.
A google device that has no universal search? Fail.
A media streamer that has no worthwhile codec and container support? Fail.
A remote that is unusable by anyone without an IT degree? Fail.
A consumer device that you have to press Ctrl-Alt-Del to reboot when it hangs? WTF?
At the $300 asking price with the level of functionality and robustness out-of-the-box, the NSZGT1 deserves to be publicly lambasted, if not downright ridiculed.
Even Apple's RDF wouldn't be able to disguise this Thanksgiving turkey.
Also, any chance AT will revisit the Boxee Box with the revised firmware?
ganeshts - Tuesday, November 30, 2010 - link
Andy will respond to your comments on his leniency towards the NSZ-GT1 :)We will take a look at Boxee Box again as soon as TrueHD bitstreaming is enabled or December 15th, whichever is earlier.
babgvant - Tuesday, November 30, 2010 - link
GTV is a CE device targeted at mainstream users, so the abysmal container support is forgivable; otherwise, those are all valid points. That said, I think the platform's potential outweighs the teething issues; so while the current implementation is clearly unfinished, and I worry that Google doesn't understand the difference b/w the TV and mobile user experience, it is still too early to get out the pitchforks and torches. Six months from now will be another story.IMO the current MSRP for this player is too high (Sony even dropped the price $100 a few days ago, so they must also recognize this); it's crazy that we can buy a better BD player (faster, quieter, more power efficient and has 3D) from Sony for $140 less. Between us, unless the apps platform gets exponentially better real soon I think they will need to knock another $100 off the top to be competitive in the mainstream. I could have made that clearer in the FT.
Aloonatic - Wednesday, December 1, 2010 - link
Grrr, lost my comment with FireFox crashing, so my reply in brief...Re: $300 - This is a BluRay player too, let's not forget.
Then the rest of my rambling comment was mostly a complaint about Sony controllers, when they will invest in people to sort out this problem? They haven't produced a good controller/remote since the original PS controller, and that was a less than subtle copy of the SNES controller (and they are just copying Nintendo again with Move) which was OK at the time, but now is very old and tired but still they persist with it with the PS3?!?! Sort it out Sony! It's not like you are a corner/cost cutting budget brand for Jebus' sake!
Aloonatic - Wednesday, December 1, 2010 - link
OH, i keep forgetting (as i'm in the UK) that these US prices often don't include taxes, as well as how much PS3s are these days :)You gotta really want to use Google TV to bother with one of these things/
Are those sorts of services used much in the US? Can't see these things catching on in the UK without being freeview/digital TV PVRs as well, such is the importance of the BBC, and cost of broadband with the traffic limits that have crept in over the last few years.
xype - Tuesday, November 30, 2010 - link
Welps, looks like another Google product with Serious Potential™.What happened to the tech reviewer that they are always talking about "future updates" with some products/companies. The piece is in stores _now_ and it's making its first impression on the consumers _now_. And God forbid those are people who have a mobile phone running Android 1.x still, because the "future update" never materialized.
Google doesn't just _not_ get certain aspect of a non-geek's life, they also don't understand that they're only going to get a certain amount of shots at the consumers before they earn a "Always Alpha, not worth the money" badge.
xype - Tuesday, November 30, 2010 - link
Spellink mistake, should be "...to the tech reviewers that..", as I'm not singling out Andrew here. :Pstrikeback03 - Tuesday, November 30, 2010 - link
So if this goes like Android phones have, in a few years it will really be something to see. That said, early adopters will either have to do things on their own (like rooting old phones) or accept that as early adopters they don't always get a finished product. As always, people should see enough to buy a product based on what it is now and what they know they can do with it, not future hopes.That said, as-is does this do ANYTHING as well or better than other CE devices? at least until its rooted it seems like it might be a tough sell even to tech-geeks.
babgvant - Tuesday, November 30, 2010 - link
LOL :)Sony has a good history of updating their BD players, so I'm not too worried that the player will be stuck in the current state forever. For e.g. the BDP-S570 (the better player referenced in the last section) shipped without 3D and Netflix; both were added via firmware updates.
babgvant - Thursday, December 16, 2010 - link
There should be an update to both the NSZ-GT1 and Revue coming very soon. Should bring a better Netflix app and DD pass through along with many other updated for the Sony.marvdmartian - Tuesday, November 30, 2010 - link
Limited file recognition/playability, a remote that looks like a netbook (without the screen), and the typically atrocious Sony price? Really??Personally, I can think of a half dozen other players/systems that I'd rather hook up to my home entertainment system, that won't cost any more, but have much greater capacity/ability.
cyberpdx - Friday, January 14, 2011 - link
I just returned a Jan'2011 purchased Sony NSZ-GT1 to my local Best Buy store. I had uit for about 10days. Here are some comments and reasons for the return......:PROS:
- Nice design of box
- Easy set up
CONS:
- Remote does not control the channel up/down on my Sony Bravia TV (huh?)
- Remote mouse does not work very well....very slow to move cursor at times.
- On screen display is very confusing to navigate.
- Netflix was a key reason for me to buy this, but I could only get in about 50% of the time.
- USB ports on back of box are not general purpose (is this for "Sony only products"?)
- Frankly, not very good content. No ABC, CBS, NBC online.
- No PDF reader on Google TV s/w
There are many more to list. I thought about keeping the unit until the next s/w upgrade comes out because I expect Sony/Google will fix some of these things, but I did not want to risk it. Besides, there are surely better & cheaper units coming out from different manufacturers within the next 6months and I am content to wait. Until then, I am still packing my note pc from my home office to my Bravia in the living room and watching Netflix and web surfing the easy way.
Good try Sony, but you fell flat on your face (from a dedicated Sony fan, by the way).
GRADE: C-
CraigHerberg - Sunday, January 16, 2011 - link
My major beef regards dropped frames. Specifically, when watching sporting events in high def, the screen frequently looks jittery, as if it is dropping frames. Also, when playing back home movies in 1080p, the screen frequently pauses, thereby making the movie virtually unwatchable.This box has no problem with with 720p home movies. Blu ray discs present no problem.
Craig Herberg
tletourneau - Wednesday, June 13, 2012 - link
Perhaps an updated review my be in order seeing that HonyComb has been released for these devices and has made some mojor changes.