Altech node

Chevron said:
Yes you are missing something. The content isn't streamed. It get sent via satellite. The data is just an added bonus for the wifi in your house.
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Neo_X said:
if i understand the functionality correctly, the Node needs the Wifi to enable two way communication to the Altech servers. eg - if you purchase rental on a movie, confirmation is sent to their servers, and the movie is delivered via satellite...

probably also used to very that your user login/ subscription is up to date?
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Ah right, thanks.
 
Went to ellies yesterday. Turned out that they have only sold 2 units (to staff members) but what's even worse. They send everything back because of some issue with the software
 
mrob said:
Went to ellies yesterday. Turned out that they have only sold 2 units (to staff members) but what's even worse. They send everything back because of some issue with the software
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this... i would really like to get this, but, why cant we get this for say R299 a month, with either buying the decoder at 1500? I can then buy a small data bundle to get things up and running etc.

also, like i and many others have said, that R3500 price tag is insane. Even the fact that you can get it contract, is still crazy, esp since you can do the DSL lines etc for close on that, and uncapped and so forth. i think Altech has blundered here a bit with the price of the decoder.

Can somebody perhaps indicate the cheapest smart TV out at the moment? because the way i look at it, at 3500, if i add a few thousand more, i can rather buy a smart tv, keep my media player, and just get me an ADSL line with uncapped data.
 
What are the hardware specs on the Node regarding running the Android part, if its allows you to install apps from Google Play etc which means you should be able to install XBMC.

Hoping the device has Quad Core up etc might then compete with DroidTV functions?
 
Hemps said:
What are the hardware specs on the Node regarding running the Android part, if its allows you to install apps from Google Play etc which means you should be able to install XBMC.

Hoping the device has Quad Core up etc might then compete with DroidTV functions?
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no idea. There is no lineup in terms of content, they dont indicate the hardware specs etc, so most of this is a mystery at this point in time.
 
They need to publish a comprehensive list of available content, otherwise people are just going to stick with monochoice and utorrent.
 
Guys, dont say i dont do anything for you guys.. lol but content as requested follow the below

-----Original Message-----
From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]]
Sent: Thursday, 02 October 2014 14:15
To: Isgak Abrahams
Subject: Node Content

Good day

To find out about content on the Node please visit www.node.co.za >> click on the green bars on the right hand side>>click home entertainment>>click on available content.
 
So has ANY MyBB user bought a Node? If yes, your views?

Everywhere I have read, the comments have been negative. Tried to ask these guys what the sales have been like, and they wouldnt say. I take it not great?
 
so they are advertising R100 less than the actual price? Not going to make much of a difference, as imo Altech management has F%$%$ it up with that once off price.
 
Until it gets to the same price as the Xplora, it won't really sell well unfortunately.
 
i just dont get it... nothing about it stands out, or to a point, it doesnt have any wow factor about it. I see they showing Jurassic Park and District 9. Its things like that which really feels like ETV with their Chuck Norris movies or Anaconda lol
 
Icemanbrfc said:
i just dont get it... nothing about it stands out, or to a point, it doesnt have any wow factor about it. I see they showing Jurassic Park and District 9. Its things like that which really feels like ETV with their Chuck Norris movies or Anaconda lol
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eTV & Anaconda FTMFW!
 
Btw spoke today to the guys at the Altech stand, at AfricaCom about the Node. They admitted that the pricing was or is all wrong. They did mention that they are looking at a possible Node mini for under 1000 rand.

When I questioned them about sales and how it has gone, they indicated not great. They also said that the marketing was not great either, and one of their videos made no sense at all. When questioned about a possible price drop, they said it's likely but couldn't confirm for sure.
 
Watched the add for it on TV, friend wanted to buy the actor and not the device. I had no clue what the device was actually for till I just read this thread, seems it is for video on demand? Bit pricey.
 
Johnatan56 said:
Watched the add for it on TV, friend wanted to buy the actor and not the device. I had no clue what the device was actually for till I just read this thread, seems it is for video on demand? Bit pricey.
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VOD without an internet connection. So no ADSL necessary.

Does a few home automation things too.
 
To be honest this product has a lot of potential but I don't think they've given enough thought into who exactly they're trying to cater for with the current offering.

As some have already alluded to, R3500 once off for most folks isn't cheap but then throw in R299 p/m on top of that and a lot of possible customers are going to wonder why they don't just keep the DSTV.

At that price point they're clearly not targeting low income individuals/families but only have the middle-class segment of the population in mind.

The problem with this though is a most of the middle-class citizens who spend a lot of time watching TV shows and movies either already have DSTV premium (which is now airing just about all the most popular TV series that are currently available in the US and also includes all the live sport one could wish for) or have a semi-decent broadband connection with which to download or stream the latest content...and content is where Altech is failing.

I've had the chance to play around on the Node and one can see Altech spent a lot of money on R&D especially on the OS/software side of things. The interface is very functional and sleek and the qwerty keyboard on the rear of the remote is a nice touch as well but I think the R&D budget should have been reduced with more emphasis (and money spent) on securing better and newer content.

When I demo'd the unit the lack of current and popular TV shows was very evident. I was going through the series list and the only two shows I recognized was Breaking Bad (and only season 1 & 2 I might add) and Las Vegas (how old is that 5h1t?). I kept thinking, where's Game of Thrones, Suits, The Blacklist, House of Cards, Homeland, The Mentalist, Once upon a time, Walking Dead, Sons of Anarchy etc etc. This is the same question a lot of consumers will also have and is the reason why the uptake has been so poor.
 
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HiToKiRi said:
To be honest this product has a lot of potential but I don't think they've given enough thought into who exactly they're trying to cater for with the current offering.

As some have already alluded to, R3500 once off for most folks isn't cheap but then throw in R299 p/m on top of that and a lot of possible customers are going to wonder why they don't just keep the DSTV.

At that price point they're clearly not targeting low income individuals/families but only have the middle-class segment of the population in mind.

The problem with this though is a lot of middle-class citizens who spend a lot of time watching TV shows and movies either already have DSTV premium (which is now airing just about all the most popular TV series that are currently available in the US and also includes all the live sport one could wish for) or have a semi-decent broadband connection with which to download or stream the latest content...and content is where Altech is failing.

I've had the chance to play around on the Node and one can see Altech spent a lot of money on R&D especially on the OS/software side of things. The interface is very functional and sleek and the qwerty keyboard on the rear of the remote is a nice touch as well but I think the R&D budget should have been reduced with more emphasis (and money spent) on securing better and newer content.

When I demo'd the unit the lack of current and popular TV shows was very evident. I was going through the series list and the only two shows I recognized was Breaking Bad (and only season 1 & 2 I might add) and Las Vegas (how old is that 5h1t?). I kept thinking, where's Game of Thrones, Suits, The Blacklist, House of Cards, Homeland, The Mentalist, Once upon a time, Walking Dead, Sons of Anarchy etc etc.
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Pretty much summed up the whole Node thread there. As i said, when i was AfricaCom yesterday, i spoke to the Altech guys at their booth. Not sure who they were in terms of whether they were upper management, or just there to represent. They did admit that the pricing has hurt them, and that they will need to reduce that price as sales have been poor. They alluded to bring out a Node Mini(Not sure what the limitations will be like), and that it could be under the R1000 price point.

from the body language, i could tell that they were not particularly excited about showing me much of the product, even after i had told them the situation, which they were well aware of. I would have expected alot better response, like maybe trying to show me exactly why the Node costs R3500. I walked in, chatted for a bit, and left with really no excitement except for a few lovely ladies at a few of the other booths lol :D
 
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