Thread: Windows Media Center

Windows Media Center will ONLY BE DISTRIBUTED W/NEW PC's.

I have to be carefull what I say here, since I work for Microsoft and I am on the internal beta for Media Center.

For what it is intended, it rocks. Here is what you get.

Music Navigation and Playback.
DVD PlayBack
Photo Navigation and Slideshow Playback.
TV Tuner w/PVR functionanility.

and more to come in the future I am sure.

You can hook it to your TV and use a remote with a USB IR reciever to navigate the system.

I works really well, however, I don't think that Microsoft is intending for people to put it into their cars.

The interface looks awesome, however, I love the Aqua XP look, so I am biased.

I have all my WMA files on it and I love it.

Feel free to ask me questions. I cannot garantee that I can answer them, due to NDA but I will try.

JOhn

Microsoft have publicly stated that they are considering the position with regard to it being sold with new PC's only, due to a public backlash from people who dont want to buy yet another $1000 PC when they just upgraded to get XP. Im suprised that you have not been privvy to this information as you work for them.

Have you got the remote shown in the video? Looks cool, though it also seems a bit of a Tivo rip off, especially the Windows button which looks a lot like the Tivo button.

Also, can you give any insight on how the whole recording of Tv works. I mean, most desktop PCs these deays have so many fans it sounds like a hoover. MS say its aimed at people with little storage space, like apartment dwellers and students, but how are you supposed to sleep if you needs to leave your PC on 24/7 to record that late-night programme??

I don't work in that group. I work in Developer Support the remote is different in smaller but it is a beta remote. The hardware manufacturers will choose there own remote's I would expect. As for noise I would suspect that the hardware makers will address that. Heck the Apple G4 Cube didn't have a single fan in it, so we know that it is possible.

John

I saw that they were supplying PCs for betas. I assume you got one. If so, whats the quality like of the Live TV? I guess its got to be better than the average TV card if they want this to succeed.

Can "My Videos" play any type of video with a installed codec or is it limited to MS formats?

Sorry for all the questions, but I have been following this closely since its inception, seems like what I need at home.

Originally posted by phil.45
Also, can you give any insight on how the whole recording of Tv works. I mean, most desktop PCs these deays have so many fans it sounds like a hoover. MS say its aimed at people with little storage space, like apartment dwellers and students, but how are you supposed to sleep if you needs to leave your PC on 24/7 to record that late-night programme??

I run xp on my via epia.. the barebones kit would be perfect for this application really. It's small and pretty much silent.

John - what about boot times? I am guessing not much better as it is probably designed to be more like a Tivo (always on) as opposed to palm or CE device (turned on and off regularly).

Boot times are about the same as normal XP, however, I have not tried to tweak them. I was given the hardware to make the stuff work in MY PC.

John