Software Review: Windows XP Media Center 2005 Edition! - Page 4

hihidamon · 11-02-2004, 07:39 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by NightFireTuning

I have a 1.56ghz cpu and 512mb of memory, and it took like 30 minuts to add all 2500 mp3's.

I was just talking to shuttle about my XPC cause I'm having trouble with gettin suround sound to work. And once I said MCE2005, they stoped helping me, They asked where I got it and I told them Newegg. And they pretty much stoped helping me from there.

Anyone with TV Tuner and FM Tuner's with MCE2005? I need to know what TV Tuners and Radio Tuners work with it.

Please see this page for some compatible tuners.
http://www.auspcmarket.com.au/show_p...category_id=99

nFiniteTuning · 11-02-2004, 09:55 PM

ohh, to get the DVD function, you need to install an external DVD codec...like PowerDVD.

nFiniteTuning · 11-03-2004, 01:19 AM

from what I hear, the Nvidia DVD Codec is the best to use, which is why I'm downloading it right now.

I found a way to change things but so far its not working....I need a good resource editor, I have one called Resource Tuner, someone else used it.....and I can't get it to work like he did.

PaCMaYNE · 11-03-2004, 03:46 AM

damnit,, i was just about to install MCE05

whats the final verdict....worth it or not

drib · 11-03-2004, 06:08 AM

I have MCE 2005 on my home PVR PC, and I really don't see the extra value of using it in a car. MCE is only interesting irf you are using the PC as a PVR, and how many channels can you receive wireless??? Here in Belgium only 4 channels.

MCE 2005 is only Windows XP SP2 with an extra software package. If you want MCE for picture viewing and MP3's, then look further becaus there are tons of other similar programs.

hihidamon · 11-03-2004, 06:30 AM

I read the review on MCE2005 that you can view photo albums while playing music on background. My question is, can it be set to play music on background while using "other" programs such as Navigation software, provided someone can easily manage to add to the 3rd party program list? (also muting when voice command is given)?

Maybe I am asking too much from it...

drib · 11-03-2004, 06:43 AM

Yes, you can.
But why would you?? There are better programs to do the same thing. MCE 2005 is just a program running in a window in Windows XP SP2

hihidamon · 11-03-2004, 06:48 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by drib

Yes, you can.
But why would you?? There are better programs to do the same thing. MCE 2005 is just a program running in a window in Windows XP SP2

Ok, that means this MSC2005 is a competitor frontend to frodo's FP? Umm.. interesting...

nFiniteTuning · 11-03-2004, 01:08 PM

MCE2005 isn't exactly Windows XP Pro! You guys need to run it to understand. The shell was totaly redesigned, and it was made strictly for people like us, I'm talking about the operating system, not the program. All of you running home or pro, crtl+alt+del and look at all the **** loads of things you have no clue what they are, running in the background taking your system resources. MCE2005 doesn't have that crap running, it has only the bare essentials running needed to run the operating system and what you want to run, like games. ITs made for games, and media.

Also, the actual program Media center is well worth having for in car. its not just for MP3 or viewing pictures. You can watch DVD, TV, OTA HDTV, FM, XM, Serius.....whatever you desire, And you CAN skin it by editing the DLL file...I read a review last night and that guy did it quite easily, I was unable to do it, but I emailed him about it to find out what I'm doing wrong. You can also add external applications, just gotta figure out how....its no biggie, just do research.

Anything can be programmed to voice commands, its just a matter if you want to take the time to do it.

Yes, you can listen to music and do anything else! I do it all the time, hell I'm listning to music via media center right now and typeing this up. No Problem, if I wanna mute it, I just press the Mute button...its quite simple.

It also looks kick *** if you start to skin it...by changing buttons, wall papers, and crap like that...it looks great. You just have to edit the ehres.dll file. The program I have seems to not work like I wanted it to.

PaCMaYNE · 11-03-2004, 01:15 PM

who else besides NightFireTuning has used it and likes it more than any other freestanding app... im running win2k no SP's ... i found installing them on WIN2k can supress performance

drib · 11-03-2004, 01:24 PM

I am using MCE since MCE2002, and I like it more than any other 3rd party. But it is not usefull at all in a car!
And XP SP2 is really fast, my Epia M1000 with SP2 boots in 30seconds. Same with MCE2005.

And MCE is exactly the same as Windows XP edition, with an extra layer on top. The first CD is EXACTLY the same except it tells you to use the second CD. If you install MCE 2005 with the first CD only, you will have a full working Windows XP SP2. The second CD has the programs for MCE and Tablet PC on it.

PaCMaYNE · 11-03-2004, 01:28 PM

damn...
1 pos
1 neg

Don 944 LA · 11-03-2004, 01:58 PM

Right now, I'm using XP Pro (SP2) with Tablet PC on top of it.

Can I do a fresh install of MCE2005 ?? with XP, then MCE, then Tablet PC on top of everything ????

I like the voice and onscreen keyboard of Tablet PC, but also want the Media features of MCE..

Don

drib · 11-03-2004, 04:06 PM

I know there are some 8-in-1 solutions going around via bittorrent. Those versions can install what you want, but they are illegal. I don't think it is possible with a legal version although both MCE and Tablet PC edition files are on Disk 2 of MCE 2005.

nFiniteTuning · 11-03-2004, 09:26 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by drib

I am using MCE since MCE2002, and I like it more than any other 3rd party. But it is not usefull at all in a car!
And XP SP2 is really fast, my Epia M1000 with SP2 boots in 30seconds. Same with MCE2005.

And MCE is exactly the same as Windows XP edition, with an extra layer on top. The first CD is EXACTLY the same except it tells you to use the second CD. If you install MCE 2005 with the first CD only, you will have a full working Windows XP SP2. The second CD has the programs for MCE and Tablet PC on it.

Wrong, Wrong, Wrong, and uhm..Wrong! 1st..You cannot use the MCE2005 single cd to install regular windows XP...it wont happen. IT requires disc 2 because its a new operating system. IT does NOT run the same as regular XP with SP2...in fact it runs a crap load better. read this entire forum, and there is alot of people saying its well worth it.

And for the car, It is probably best for car use. Drib doesn't know what he's talking about, no offence. 6 hours after I installed MCE2005 onto my Shuttle XPC, I hooked it up to my friends lexus's drop down 10" touchscreen...And it worked like a charm, everyone else who actualy used it in a car says the same thing. For TV or HDTV use, its perfect for car use also, cause it doesn't support cable HDTV, it supports Over The Air (OTA) HDTV...meaning you can hook up a regular antena onto it. IF you have touch screen, great! Thats good...it will work like a charm, trust me! As long as your touch screen is installed properly. IF you aren't a cheap tight *** and you pay 33 bucks plus shipping for the MCE2005 Remote from NewEgg.com...your gonna absolutely flip out on how kick *** this system is for car use.

I will guarentee my findings and sayings! IF you dont want to pay for it, I'll make you a copy just to try it out for 30 days and let you decide! If you do it right, install the operating system which is a suped up version of Windows XP Professional (runs a crap load better then regular XP with SP2), Get the single update they have...install a good DVD Decoder like the Nvidia DVD Decoder or hell, even PowerDVD works as a great decoder. Use the right TVTuner which from what I See, everyone who allready has TV in thier car, is usin the right tuners...same with the radio tuners...you'll have it made. and you CAN skin it, and you CAN add external apps. Microsoft didn't finish the operating system so right now you can't add the external apps without editing the ehres.dll....but its possible.

Just take my word for it, buy the remote, even if you have touch screen or not. You want more convincing? Read this ENTIRE review located here http://www.htpcnews.com/main.php?id=mce2k5_1 and I trust you will decide to use it. My friend dislikes MCE2005....only because he hasn't used it....he's just using the operating system portion of it cause it runs better then regular XP.

Read the other posts on this tread from people who are using it right now...there are alot of people falling in love with it like I have...

And I mean hell, how on earth can you say MCE2005 is not good for car use, when Mercedes, Cadilac..and I think even BMW are starting to install MCE2005 on thier cars? I think I'll trust that since it runs flawlessly with me..I'm even rigging it up up and down testing diff decoders and stuff like that with it.

So instead of listning to these people who dont know what they are talking about because they aren't computer friendly people, and just test it out for yourself, Grab a spare hard drive, something tiny and just install it, install a good DVD Decoder, and all your XP drivers for things like sound card and stuff like that....and try it out, you wont regret it, especialy if you own the remote. Its only 33 bucks.