Windows XP Media Center Edition Review

Harpreet writes "It took 2 months but someone finally published an informative review of the new Windows XP Media Center Edition operating system. AnandTech's review has got everything you could want, including pictures galore. It looks like the folks who make the Linux based Video Disk Recorder have a new standard to live up to." Update: 01/08 21:06 GMT by T : Read on below for a different (Free software, CD-based) approach to computer-A/V integration.

Trunkboy writes "There are a lot of PVR projects out there (Freevo, TiVo, Dave&Dina, etc... but MoviX is a little different. MoviX is an entire distribution (linux of course) that is designed to play avi/mpg/mp3/etc files from a computer. Upgrading is easy, because it boots from a CD! Videos/music can be stored on a local hard drive, or on a network share. This project is incredible, but needs more developers. Stop in and give Roberto a hand -- MoviX shows some great potential!"

Comments

Of course

[nrvous6]

Expect Service Pack 1 sometime in 2006...

Re:Of course

[ThrasherTT]

Don't you mean Service Pack 42? I mean, damn... three years and only one SP?

Standards?

[grub]

It looks like the folks who make the Linux based Video Disk Recorder have a new standard to live up to.

Yes, the Linux VDR people will have to figure out how to hide spyware in their (open) source code.

Want to know why it took that long?

[Chris_Stankowitz]

"It took 2 months but someone finally published an informative review of the new Windows XP Media Center Edition operating system."

I took me that long to get it installed.

An unstoppable marketing blitz....

[mao che minh]

Microsoft should get Ellen Fiess and Steve the "Dude" guy of Dell fame to market this 'innovative' (heh) new technology. Could you imagine how amazing that marketing campaign would be?

Re:An unstoppable marketing blitz....

[stratjakt]

I wanna be a Dell intern.

*... taking notes ...*
*... taking notes ...*
*... taking notes ...*
Dude, how do you spell 'PC'?

Re:your sig.

[iuyterw]

Your mom?

ha, ha..

just kidding

Bring your Lawyers!

[Angry White Guy]

From the article:
Before you can proceed in the program guide setup you have to scroll through the 44 pages of the Terms of Service and select agree. Once again, this is done fairly quickly using the remote just by holding the down-arrow and then hitting ok.

That's good, sound advice there. Don't bother reading it.

Re:No so fast there

[frankthechicken]

I don't have the time to read the article but I'm guessing it has several flaws

Ah yes, the typical consulting way of doing things, making a decision before knowing any facts.

44 Page EULA

[Milo Fungus]

From the article:

Before you can proceed in the program guide setup you have to scroll through the 44 pages of the Terms of Service and select agree. Once again, this is done fairly quickly using the remote just by holding the down-arrow and then hitting ok. (Emphasis added)

Reading 44 pages is hardly a quick task, no matter if you have a remote control, scrolling mouse, or whatever. Unless it reads like 44 pages from a Dr. Seuss book. Then I wouldn't mind so much.

You may not reverse engineer on a train, you may not reverse engineer in the rain. You may not share files with a fox, you may not let files leave this box...

Re:44 Page EULA

[shyster]

You may not reverse engineer on a train, you may not reverse engineer in the rain. You may not share files with a fox, you may not let files leave this box...

It's not exactly Seussian, but it does rhyme =) (taken from the actual Win2K Pro EULA on my system):

Don't use on multiple PC's, we'll call the software Nazi's.
If this is an upgrade, you better have paid.
This covers an update, it's not up to fate.
You can sell your CD, if they agree to me.
Don't reverse engineer, or live in fear.
If we cancel at will, you throw it in a landfill.
We collect your details, and we read your emails.
Sun says don't trust java, because it will harm ya'.
There are no warranties, we will not hear your pleas.
It's protected by copyright, so don't try to fight.
You will be tried in Redmond, we will have a big lawyer fund.
You must be crazy, to read to the end of me.

Re:No so fast there

[Petronius]

I don't have time to read your post but I'm guessing it has the following flaws:
- bla bla bla
- bla bla bla
- I have an iPod
- bla bla bla
- Microsoft sucks!
- bla bla bla
Suckers!

Ummm... But...

[xanadu-xtroot.com]

FTA:
"ATI's latest All-in-Wonder line comes extremely close; closer than any previous attempt, but ATI is still bound by the tragic flaw of a PC based PVR - the Windows interface."

This doesn't take a rocket scientist to add 2 and 2 in this case, does it?

Yeah. Right.

[Anonymous Coward]

>operating system. AnandTech's review has got everything you could
want, including pictures galore. It looks like the folks who make the
Linux based Video Disk Recorder have a new standard to live up to."
>
>
Only if you want a DRM-encumbered system, that is.....

Re:Well

[haeger]

...and that's why You'll always put a "personal firewall" on Your windows-machines and never let them out unless You specifically tell it to.

I don't trust my win-box farther than I can throw it (which happens to be approximatly 7,5 meters if detached from all cables.)

.haeger

Re:Check out MythTV!!!

[trix_e]

From the MythTV website:

What it does:
*Basic 'live-tv' functionality. Pause/Fast Forward/Rewind "live" TV.
*[lots of other really cool stuff]

hmmm... that IS a cool feature...Fast Forward live TV.

I'd think the box would pay for itself in a matter of days, I'll just watch CNBC and keep my Ameritrade account open and ready to go.

GC

[Fadekun]

What's the deal with recording shows? Don't people just...remember anymore?

Re:Well

[Bisifiniti]

Negative, the script is written in VB.