For those of you with a computrainer: when you are using the 3D version and are on the load or build a course section, there is an option next to signs that says music? I have checked this option and rode and heard no music? And I looked in the instructions manual and it says nothing about music? What gives?
What I usually do is just make a playlist on MusicMatch or Windows Media Player then just start the CT program so the music just plays in the background.
I do the same thing that you do. Supposedly you can set the 3D Pro software to automatically start playing the CD when the ride starts, but I haven’t tried to do that. The only gripe I have with the CT is that it can’t be run windowed, but I recognize that it would be harder to write the app that way than to just write directly to the screen(or maybe not harder, but it would require a rewrite of the software, which would require a lot of effort.)
I would hope the CT folks are busily tapping away at some new code. The current CT stuff is. . .well. . .so early 90s in functionality. It wouldn’t take even a third-rate PC gamer programmer any time at all to make the CT software into a full-functioned Windows app. Even the 3d stuff is relatively amateur-hour at this point. The gamer folks are light-years ahead of this stuff. . .and let’s face it. . .the functionality of the CT is no different from the gamer stuff from a systems point of view. . .
Harsh. The gaming industry marketplace is Millions more in revenue than our little niche of users. Even if every registered triathlete and cyclist purchased a unit, we still couldn’t touch the openning day sales for half of the new games out there. Are you on there for a workout or to play with a joystick?
I see both sides of the issue. cmetri is right in that the market for Computrainers is very limited. However, spending $1300+ on what is effectively a $400 trainer running software that hasn’t been updated since 1996 is kind of lame. My Game Boy Advance contains better technology and has better graphics, but then Nintendo has sold a few million of them. (We need more people to ride their bikes!)
I love my CT, and am glad to have it, but in today’s market(where you have the TacX and other computer-based trainers), I would expect RacerMate to try being a little more competitive.
If RacerMate open-sourced the CT API’s and I/O signals for the system, you’d probably see a pretty good beta of new software in a few months. If I weren’t so a) lazy, and b) busy training, I’d write it this afternoon. ;p
I haven’t checked out the Netathlon software, but I’ve heard good things about it.
I’d be happy with some software to translate my CT saved race or spinscan files to Polar hrm files.
You have to turn off the auto read/play feature of the cd/dvd drive before the CT software will play the music.
For $1300, you shouldn’t have to pay another $150 to view your own performance files. Come to think of it, what is the point of letting you save your performance files if you can’t view them later?
If both the Polar and the CT files weren’t encrypted, writing a piece of code to translate them would be a breeze.
Although I hit on the graphics, I’m really focusing on the functionality in my comments. Really, it wouldn’t take huge amounts of cash to get one of these game programmers on the staff long enough to produce a really polished product that had full windows functionality and full compatibility with the growing power training software field. Yes, the current model gets the job done. . .but, like much of the high tech stuff these days. . .its usefulness is severly hampered by the interface. All these electronic training gadget companies should be putting out something with at least the functionality of CyclingPeaks software. . .
So it sounds like you have to have a CD in the drive and CT will automatically play it? I would rather just keep doing what I’m doing.
Also, having cooler looking riders would be nice. Maybe some triathlettes on aero bikes. Even better, hot chicks wearing thongs!!!
I have suggested a metal woman to them several times. When my motivation lags I tend to let the metal guy go, but unless it’s Jeannie Longo (she’s 45 now!!) no metal chick is going to drop me.
Well, I haven’t done it, but the manual says it will. I put the CD on repeat, and have an external volume control, So I don’t see the point.
As for the other riders, if it was exposed, like the signs, you could just drop your own graphics into a directory and ride as whoever you wanted to. (For some reason, I am thinking of Father Guido Sarducci, and I don’t know why.)