数字家庭任重而道远

偶尔读了一个老外的blog，写了他对Digital Home的一些经验和看法，在此摘录下来，并提一些我的看法。20个月后，重温此文，看看我们现在在数字家庭上有几分进步。

My digital home just isn’t quite there yet I’ve been trying to have the whole digital home experience for a while now. I’ve reviewed Vista Media Centre, Home Server, Wireless N before, the experiences there are documented. The impossible dream I am thinking of consists of seamless integration between: Home Server Media Centre Extenders Game Consoles Digital Picture Frames Media Players Wireless Broadband VOIP vs VOIP vs VOIP Desktop PC’s Cloud Services So lets look at the current state of play for these things.

作者开宗明义，提了他对数字家庭的看法——无缝集成  家庭服务器，媒体中心，视/音频扩展机顶盒，游戏机，数码相框，媒体播放器，无线网络，宽带，VOIP，桌面电脑和云服务。总结的很好，不能说数字家庭就包括这些内容，但如果能做到这些，可谓是相当数字化了。在理想当中，最好还要包括家庭数字化控制系统，例如灯，空调和窗帘等，还包括防盗和防灾监控等。 让我们看看这位老外对这些产品目前的评价：

Home Server I reviewed home server here. It’s a great product that acts as a network store for your folders, and backs up all the PC’s in your house. It has a brilliant Disaster Recovery solution and one of the most innovative backup and storage solutions I have seen in a long time. Unfortunately that’s all it is, and that means 40watts at idle 24/7 - 88KwHrs / qtr, and more if I make it work hard.

老外的这个家庭服务器空闲时只用40w，而我的那台有60w。他觉得不值得为了这些功能7x24小时开着这台服务器。目前我的计算体系里面是不能少了这一台机器的。因为无论是NAS，备份，groove同步都要靠这台机器。

对于耗电只能说是尽量采用低功耗的配置。

UPDATE：2009年后，我已经将WHS的功耗控制在50W左右（3个西数绿盘）。这得益于西数绿盘的节能效果。WHS目前不但是提供共享存储，还做为下载机使用。

 

Media Centre This thing’s purpose in life is to record TV, and play content. In Australia it does an average job of both. It’s another 50watts 24/7. Trying to get a PC to work well in a lounge room is an exercise in frustration. Noise, power, keyboards, mice and windows hiccups are just not fun. Add in the TV compatibility problems many experience trying to get TV interfaces and resolutions correctly out of a PC. It’s great when it works, but it’s definitely high maintenance. As many people have said before me, what about storing the videos on Home Server, and getting it to do the recording too. That way they noisy PC can stay in the back room, and one PC can have an excuse for staying up chewing power 24/7, not two. I don’t really stream my video, I watch it off a remote file share. A performance comparison of Streaming vs File Serving is here.

 

Media Centre是我今年要评估的方向，关键就是要能放高清，接口广泛，能录像，静音省电。存储不是问题，可以考虑使用Home Server提供的存储空间。

作者也指出了，调试Media Center是一个困难的事情，而且传统的键盘鼠标在客厅也不受欢迎。

UPDATE：我已搭建了一套基于Windows 7的Media Center。现在要解决的是将其和WHS集成的问题。

Extenders I can’t claim to have one of these yet. The reviews are average, and every XBox 360 I hear about dies an early death. These seem to be the obvious choice for the lounge room. They are quieter, more aesthetically pleasing, have native TV interfaces (PAL, Component etc), and an interface that never needs a mouse to drive it. They also play games, so many people end up wit one anyway. The well known issues with power consumption on some of these come up, but at least it’s only when being watched, and it’s probably not more than the plasma TV anyway. A chipped XBox with XBox Media Centre was my weapon of choice for years. It’s an aging solution now, and doesn’t have HiDef, but as a media player for over the network content, it beat Vista Media Centre hands down. I can see this being the future of the lounge room. The current problem being the limited support for what can / cannot be streamed to the current extenders, and how to connect the things.

低功耗的媒体播放器，抛开复杂的操作。目前国内类似功能的设备就是那些几百块的网络播放器了。不过媒体文件的兼容性和网络播放能力还有待考察。

UPDATE：播放器越来越多，价格也不贵，但是已经有多个品牌的Atom离子平台的mini PC报价接近1000。PC的灵活性和可升级性毕竟比较有保障。不似播放器需厂商开发微码。

接下来，如果能将CPU的运算能力接近低端酷睿2的水平，能在window 7下流畅播放全高清视频，具备千兆以太网连接和802.11n无线网络连接，外观小巧漂亮，报价低于1000元，则这类mini-HTPC将迎来大普及的时代。

Game Consoles The Wii seems to excel here, as  a pure games console. The best comparison i reckon is here. If you want all the video streaming, it’s XBox 360 or possibly, Playstation 3.

3大家用游戏机：Wii，XBOX360和PS3。Wii机能最差，就是玩法新鲜，而且不需要高清。XBOX360可以破解，但是三红问题解决的不知道如何了，听说65nm的制程已经没有三红问题了。PS3没有破解，正版游戏就贵了。有待评估。

UPDATE：目前PS3已经有破解的趋势，XBOX360的三红问题也不突出。从省心的角度来讲，游戏主机要比PC玩游戏方便。

Digital Picture Frames Nice toy, chews power all the time, unlike an old fashioned photos. Be good if they only displayed when they sensed movement. The wireless versions I have seen seen only work off Flikr and other web services. None seem to be connecting to a local PC to show photo’s from. Great for using bandwidth.

数码相框是一个很有趣的产品。但即使是电子产品丰富的国外，能自动连接局域网内PC照片的无线产品仍然不好找。更何况由于发光原理决定了，相框的液晶用的背光在夜里是挺讨厌的。

UPDATE：有了一些比较低端的7寸低分数码相框的价位落到了500元以下，但是仍然少有合适的联网产品。只记得三星有一款能连接网络相册的（非局域网）产品。

Media Players Everyone has an iPod, even me. I dont’ use iTunes at all, so it’s solid MP3’s. Unfortunately Apple in their wisdom designed the thing on ID3 tags, not on files / folders. If your tags aren’t perfect, you’ll have all sorts of fun navigating the thing. I’m still looking for the cheap simple, web managed, wireless MP3 player I can plugin to my amp. An old laptop or Asus eePC is topping the list at the moment.

老外在寻求廉价的无线网络音乐播放器，这个的确是的，价格要低，功能要好。如果能通过网络管理，定制一些播放策略，就能作为一个家庭背景音乐播放的手段。

UPDATE：考虑下WHS+Airpot Express+喇叭的解决方案。当然，这种解决方案需要电脑作为管理终端，不能够在没电脑的情况下进行曲目控制。

Wireless I ran wireless G for ages - just plain G, none of the tricky variants as my laptops built in is only basic G. It’s fine for web browsing and acceptable for file copying, but coverage and streaming movies never really worked. I recently threw a bucket of cash a a Wireless N solution, sticking to a single vendor to keep the process smoother. Netgear is more common that Linksys in Australia. Well the coverage is mildly better, and it is a bit faster, and that’s all. The problem is that the speed is still very variable, so even though the average is OK, for playing movies over the LAN - it all falls down. Luckily my house lets me run a cable underneath to the lounge easily, so I have a solution, but it’s a disappointment. I will have no such luck with running a cable for the spare room with the kids TV and their (might get for XMAS) 360. The consoles also don’t support Wireless N, so that’s more kit to buy. So much for the wireless dream. Looks like some others agree with me here and here

有线网络的速度上到千兆已经是很容易的了，淘宝上淘一个工包8口千兆交换机不到200，速度算下来网络存储和本地硬盘的差距不大了。但是有线网络天生的弱点就是灵活性差，所有布线都是在装修时决定的，否则要么用明线，要不就用无线。802.11N的无线网络至今仍未普及，尤其是在国内，而且其仍旧没有克服无线网带宽变动大的缺点。看来，在可见的未来5-10年呢（1-2代无线标准），无线仍旧只能作为辅助，家庭的主要信息传输总线还是有线以太网。

UPDATE：时过境迁，802.11n的路由器已经进入普及阶段，首先150元已经可以有多种选择，其次笔记本上也都普及了802.11n无线网卡，零卖的802.11n USB网卡也已经很便宜了，从整个系统来看，价格已经可以接受。但是，绝大部分350元以下的路由器缺乏足够强劲的信号，穿墙和抗干扰能力有限使得无线网络仍然只能勉强达到百兆以太网的性能（比较下还稍弱）。所以还是建议对大数据量或者有条件的设备采用千兆有线网。

使用的路由器必须是WPA2-PSK（AES）加密，并配上足够复杂的不规则密码，方能在如今蹭网卡横行的时候保护家庭网络安全。

还有4个趋势也值得注意：

1.路由器支持VPN。这是一些高端家用路由器的功能，值得再有机会的时候进行评估。

2.单路由器多SSID。可以创建多个WLAN，现今无线设备如手机，MID（ipad之类）逐渐增多，创建一个专门为这些设备上网服务的单独WLAN很有必要。

3.QOS设置。如果家里有下载机之类的高带宽占用设备，QoS的支持还是很重要的。

4.ADSL Modem和Router合一。现在我还是同时使用2个设备，淘宝上有的工包华为ADSL路由器功能强劲，但发热量也强劲。可能还是要等待新一代产品问世。毕竟很多人都像我一样把Modem放在密闭的弱电箱中，我可不想夏天还要拿个电风扇对着弱电箱吹。

 

Broadband I’m got lucky here, with my house being able to get Naked (Unbundled Local Loop) ADSL2+. I get about 7 Mbit download speeds. Being ULL means I don’t have to pay Telstra any money, and that makes me happy. I don’t quite understand why a GB is cheaper on ADSL2+ than the same GB on ADSL, but I won’t complain seeing as I get the service. This is one part of the equation that works well for me. I do however have to run THREE devices pulling another 40Watts 24/7. A Wireless/Firewall/Router, an ADSL Modem and a VOIP adapter, all pulling their own power, each with their own old fashioned power brick radiating heat. Where oh were is the all in one Modem/Router/Wireless N/VOIP adapter that only pulls 5 watts.

老外的宽带接入方式和我一样ADSL2+，然是人家有7Mb的带宽，而我目前只能接受2Mb的带宽价格。而且ADSL的缺陷是上载速率不如下载，如果进行双向数据传输（如网站或者文件传输），则512kb的带宽真的很不足。况且很多网络数据存储服务（用于异地数据备份之类应用）的网速远远达不到2Mb的带宽。我觉得理想的介入方式至少应该有50Mb以上的下载速度+10Mb的上传速度。现在的差距是1/20。

老外同时提到这些网络设备（Modem，Router等）各自供电，用电功耗达到40W而且24小时开机。我也面临同样的问题，我的Modem+Router+Switch的功耗达22瓦，7x24小时开机。一年的电费要有70块钱。

UPDATE：我家现在带宽以及升级到了4MB，但ADSL可怜的上行带宽仍然是很严重的瓶颈。期待着光纤到户的时代早点到来。不过到时候进户的形式如何我查不到任何相关资料。

VOIP vs VOIP vs VOIP “Skype” vs “VOIP from my ISP” vs “Messenger” And never shall any of the above meet. Good luck all ye who enter here. Then we move onto Bluetooth headsets, Wireless Handsets, GSM Picocells, and Cordless phones just for laughs.

哪一天网络电话能像手机一样方便。并且能和手机一同结算就好了。何时才能有这样的产品呢。

UPDATE：还是在搜寻一款VOIP的产品。家里移动信号很不好是原因之一，老旧的模拟无绳电话几乎无法使用时其原因之二，VOIP解决方案如能带来电管理/记录，自动应答/转接等功能，则再好不过了。我就可以把它集成在家里的基础构架中。在这个领域，目前可以说是毫无进展。由于电信是国家垄断的，既得利益很多，要推广VOIP很困难。

Desktop PC’s These integrate acceptably into the home network. My biggest hurdles here are What version of Vista Remote Desktop Local User logons Authentication and Passwords for file / printer sharing I’m used to domain authentication, and sharing stuff around a home network isn’t quite as simple as I would have thought. More work to be done in this space. It is still common to email a file via their internet email address, that is in the same house as you! That tells me point to point file transfer is still way too hard. Hmm - maybe device authentication is a better idea in this space than traditional user authentication.

老外在家里用域来管理和授权。有打算做一个域的测试环境考察一下。目前使用WHS提供的共享服务，附之以groove的文件夹同步，进一步考虑数据的集中化管理。但是应用程序的配置无法通过WHS来做，听说还是要靠域。况且WHS不能做域控制器。

UPDATE：理想中，家人使用的电脑，最好是虚拟化的，也就是说只是虚拟机。而虚拟机对付上网和玩小游戏来说性能足够。但是如何访问这个虚拟机就有问题。如果从远程桌面访问，则无法通过远程桌面观看视频。

Wireless Printers I have a HP wireless (802.11g) All In One unit. It works well enough except for one critical problem. It gets it’s IP Address via DHCP from the Router. If I don’t set a reservation, this changes sometimes due to the alignment of Venus and Mars. The software fails badly at finding it when it’s IP address changes. Tip for Wireless device designers, home IP addresses are very dynamic, plan on your drivers having to work with that. A reservation fixes the problem - until the next firmware upgrade.

网络打印机是趋势。国内也有卖802.11g标准的hp多功能一体机，900多元。而且即使不买这个，仍旧可以考虑购买能够支持server操作系统（windows server2003/2008）的一体机，因为家庭服务器基server版操作系统，而且24小时开机。当然，无论哪一种解决方案，功耗仍旧是重要考量因素。打印机的待机功耗应该尽量的低。

UPDATE：使用windows home server做打印服务器或者使用苹果的Airport Express或者路由器的打印共享功能都面临着同一个问题，打印机没地方地方。此外，网络扫描目前也无法实现。

Cloud Services And finally we have the latest set of toys, the one’s the world’s been saying will happen for years. Well it’s not there yet, even with ADSL2+, but I agree, it’s coming. I do like some of the services and I’m using more and more over time. Google Docs is interesting for sharing stuff with my wife. Windows Live Mesh is a new toy - no comment yet Newsgator / FeedDemon GMail w/ Outlook IMAP (testing - it’s a hassle) Domain hosted with Bluehost Wordpress for this I tried online backup of 20Gb of data, and it does work, but it’s nowhere near as practical as Home Server for me. For small quantities of data it would be very good. The whole area is changing, and local sync options are making it more interesting. Google gears enables some of this functionality and is worth looking for. Security and privacy are significant concerns. Google can inform you about google here. A single authentication solution like OpenID starts to make all of this much easier.

使用的2个所谓的云服务。Wordpress做的blog，就是这个站点本身。还试图使用在线备份/存储服务，未发现任何好用的速度又合理的服务。

UPDATE：网速！网速！！网速！！！

            安全！安全！！安全！！！

安全被新提上日程是由于太多的官方窥探/监视私人数据的事情发生。

 

Summary Well the seamless integration of all this stuff is still a long way off. The problems are solvable, but the maintenance is high. All I want is devices that chew no power, work together seamlessly, is available anywhere in the world and takes no effort from me. It’s not too much to ask for is it?

我们需要的是一套低耗电（环保，绿色），无缝集成，随时可访问的解决方案，目前看来，路还很漫长。

UPDATE：我们在进步，但是路程还很漫长，尤其是在大陆。