Once you own and use a BeoSound 5, you'll understand why an actual computer is essential. Music that is ripped from a CD requires quite a bit of tag editing. Even the online tagging services that we have make quite a lot of mistakes that must be cleaned up. Also, the current tagging services do not fit the need of providing high resolution cover art for the vast majority of a music collection. Before I owned a BS5, I never noticed the errors and shortcoming in my music tagging. With the BS5, those errors and low-res cover art look horrible. Sure, we could use the BS5 in "service mode" as a windows computer to do this editing and organizing, but that's just not practical to do that standing up in a living room as opposed to sitting at a desk with your computer in your den.

beojeff wrote:

 Music that is ripped from a CD requires quite a bit of tag editing. Even the online tagging services that we have make quite a lot of mistakes that must be cleaned up. Also, the current tagging services do not fit the need of providing high resolution cover art for the vast majority of a music collection. Before I owned a BS5, I never noticed the errors and shortcoming in my music tagging. 

I agree on that. I regularly check the tagging of ripped CD's in iTunes and there is a software called TuneUp which optimizes the quality of metadata. That's why I wouldn't want to miss the computer.

My point about the additional CD slot for the BeoSound 5 was that this would make it a complete integrated system. There already are some disc players with integrated audio ripping and tagging. Now, this concept would have been realizable by an integration of Beomedia 5 and Beocenter 2, using the nice design of BeoSound 5. Technically there is no limit for the Beomaster 5 to allow plugging in external harddrives and CD/DVD/BD drives.

I know this is a tad late for this reply, but the thread has lingered in the back of my mind for a while. If you are looking for a media player, how about the hp touchsmart computer, you all may not agree but to me it seems like a perfect candidate. Its elegant, has 1TB hard drive, plays cds dvds and all digital formats and on and on. The idea that really got me going is the fact that one could download music right to what would be your all-media player. This computer is not on the same level as the BS5, but should be considered for an all-media player.

evman140 wrote:

I know this is a tad late for this reply, but the thread has lingered in the back of my mind for a while. If you are looking for a media player, how about the hp touchsmart computer, you all may not agree but to me it seems like a perfect candidate. Its elegant, has 1TB hard drive, plays cds dvds and all digital formats and on and on. The idea that really got me going is the fact that one could download music right to what would be your all-media player. This computer is not on the same level as the BS5, but should be considered for an all-media player.

Hi evman140,

You'll get a painful shoulder impingement by working with this touch screen. Believe me - I'm an Orthopedic Surgeon. Not to mention the smudgy screen. The design of the Beosound 5 seems to be unbeatable. But, it's functionality outperformed by many simple HD media players. 

I do agree with you concerning the smudgy screen issue, unbeatable. However there is a solution to your concern, a mouse and keyboard for extended/frequent use. I picture the massive touchscreen feature most useful during parties for minimal intermittent use and adjustment.

The Beomaster5 was also constructed to be built into a television as the Vision9 e.g., therefore the heat generation had also be focused on by the B&O engineers. Video playback is very processor intensive and would generate to much heat.

Matt

Matt35 wrote:

The Beomaster5 was also constructed to be built into a television as the Vision9 e.g., therefore the heat generation had also be focused on by the B&O engineers. Video playback is very processor intensive and would generate to much heat.

Matt

I think that could be a valid concern. However, my Thinkpad X200s plays video just fine, and doesn't become too hot.

I think the size-concern is a valid one. It definately could have been smaller, and the idea that it is big because they want to build it into a telly, doesn't excuse the size. On the contrary, I would think that it would be better for such a purpose if it was smaller. Especially considering that many people request thin tellies these days.

With that said, I do realise that plugs and connectors take up a fair bit of space, but it's not like it has connections ad libitum. To me, it seems like a concept-thing, before they got to work and starting looking for better space management and smaller components. Only they skipped that part and shipped it directly.

In any case, I'm personally not too much concerned with the size. It's the three cables to the BS5 I find a tad excessive. All in all, it _could_ have been done a little bit more elegant(ly), if they had had the time and the money and weren't screwed financially, IMHO.