Media Center Experiences
Discussion
catretriever said:
I can get the OS & a remote control on eBay for just under £100. If I can still load up office & outlook & messenger & stuff then I think I may go for it....
ta!
Edit: Would I still be able to run Age of Mythology on it?
>> Edited by catretriever on Thursday 27th January 09:28
Office etc will work fine. Its just an XP build with the capability of recording TV etc.
You can use the remote control etc to navigate around the pc of just use a standard keyboard and mouse.
Not sure about Age of Mythology but if it runs on a normal xp build (Standard or Pro) it will work on the Media Centre Edition.
I have it at home and it's EXCELLENT. I thought it was XP with some bells on and it is. Those bells are pretty good though!
1) You can operate it by remote control
2) You can record TV in a PVR style
3) You can record one channel while watching another (MCE 2005)
4) The interface is excellent for hi-fi style use
5) You can get extenders to play music in other rooms using Wi-Fi
6) You can show your digital photos while playing music.
If you need any further encouragement, it has a "Party" mode where you can operate it as a jukebox and party guests can browse for songs and add them to the playlist without being able to affect existing items on the playlist. Also, there's a password to prevent them removing the motherboard device in Device Manager (as my party guests did once).
Ian A.
1) You can operate it by remote control
2) You can record TV in a PVR style
3) You can record one channel while watching another (MCE 2005)
4) The interface is excellent for hi-fi style use
5) You can get extenders to play music in other rooms using Wi-Fi
6) You can show your digital photos while playing music.
If you need any further encouragement, it has a "Party" mode where you can operate it as a jukebox and party guests can browse for songs and add them to the playlist without being able to affect existing items on the playlist. Also, there's a password to prevent them removing the motherboard device in Device Manager (as my party guests did once).
Ian A.
Thanks Ian,
I've just ordered the 2005 OS and a remote from MicroDirect....£108 delivered.
Looking forward to a weekend of tinkering
With regard to recording multi-channels, you will need a separate receiever for each channel you wish to simultaneously record , i.e 1 receiver = 1 view = 1 record, 2 receivers = 2 views = 1 record & 1 view or 2 record...etc etc. This is true for both terrestrial TV and SKY.
I've just ordered the 2005 OS and a remote from MicroDirect....£108 delivered.
Looking forward to a weekend of tinkering
With regard to recording multi-channels, you will need a separate receiever for each channel you wish to simultaneously record , i.e 1 receiver = 1 view = 1 record, 2 receivers = 2 views = 1 record & 1 view or 2 record...etc etc. This is true for both terrestrial TV and SKY.
catretriever said:
Thanks Ian,
I've just ordered the 2005 OS and a remote from MicroDirect....£108 delivered.
Looking forward to a weekend of tinkering
With regard to recording multi-channels, you will need a separate receiever for each channel you wish to simultaneously record , i.e 1 receiver = 1 view = 1 record, 2 receivers = 2 views = 1 record & 1 view or 2 record...etc etc. This is true for both terrestrial TV and SKY.
I thought the "official" line was that MCE could not be sold unless it was pre-installed by an approved OEM manufacturer. The original reason was that Microsoft didn't want people claiming it was rubbish because it kept crashing with their £5 TV tuner.
MS HCL for MCE is fairly tight. Must have a certain type of TV/Radio Tuner, must have a certain type of sound card, must have a certain type of video card, MCE 2005 must have 2 TV tuners...
Are you saying you can now buy MCE without buying a whole new PC? That would be a bonus!
Ian A.
Yes you can absolutely buy the OEM software, although you will usually be required to buy some random hardware at the same time.(Scan have it in one of their offers today actually bundled with a remote control)
I think you are right though about the hardware compatibility.......it's going to be an interesting few days I think
I think you are right though about the hardware compatibility.......it's going to be an interesting few days I think
Well, I've finally got XP MCE up and running (kind of) and have to say that I am feeling rather pleased with myself. The current configuration is pretty much limited to playing music & viewing pics since I haven't yet installed a TV-tuner, and MCE doesn't like my old video card so won't play any vids yet through the Media Center interface.But despite the limitations I am mightily pleased with my new set-up & it looks great on the LCD telly. The best thing so far is being able to access all these files using a remote control....it just fits in sooooo easily. A new video card and TV tuner should arrive in the post today so it should all be fully functional by the w/e.
I would advise anyone else thinking of setting this up to do some good research into hardware compatibilty. This is not as easy as it sounds since Microsoft currently don't publicise any compatibilty lists. Also, be advised that if you buy the OEM system software you will need to get hold of Service Pack 2 for XP in order to complete the install.
Finally, it's worth noting that while I was waiting for the software to arrive I had a bit of a fiddle with installing Linux (Libranet to be percise) and was very impressed with both the ease of the install and the plethora of software included in the package. While dipping my toe in the world of Linux I discovered that it includes a couple of rivals to the MS Media Center software. If I hadn't already shelled out for the MS software I think I would have investigated these free versions first!
I would advise anyone else thinking of setting this up to do some good research into hardware compatibilty. This is not as easy as it sounds since Microsoft currently don't publicise any compatibilty lists. Also, be advised that if you buy the OEM system software you will need to get hold of Service Pack 2 for XP in order to complete the install.
Finally, it's worth noting that while I was waiting for the software to arrive I had a bit of a fiddle with installing Linux (Libranet to be percise) and was very impressed with both the ease of the install and the plethora of software included in the package. While dipping my toe in the world of Linux I discovered that it includes a couple of rivals to the MS Media Center software. If I hadn't already shelled out for the MS software I think I would have investigated these free versions first!
I must admit that I went through the whole MCE decision. I looked at alternatives like ShowShifter or even Linux versions. The computer was also to double up as a learning machine for educational games for my kids, so had to be Windows in the end.
Looked at MCE and Sony's own brand stuff and I must admit that the Sony stuff is VERY good. Its not as sophisticated and doesnt offer some of the features that a decent MCE does (like a digital tuner or even a twin tuner). But it is slick, doesnt look like XP and has no Microsoft logos anywhere. That coupled with the fact that you get a Sony x-Black screen with the Vaio that I bought and its a no-brainer....
Really chuffed with my Vaio and pleased that I didnt go MCE. But I probably had different requirements. Either way, I can comfortably say that Bill Gates is right - a computer in the centre of the home which controls digital entertainment is the way forward. It just might not be Microsoft Windows XP based thats all.....
Looked at MCE and Sony's own brand stuff and I must admit that the Sony stuff is VERY good. Its not as sophisticated and doesnt offer some of the features that a decent MCE does (like a digital tuner or even a twin tuner). But it is slick, doesnt look like XP and has no Microsoft logos anywhere. That coupled with the fact that you get a Sony x-Black screen with the Vaio that I bought and its a no-brainer....
Really chuffed with my Vaio and pleased that I didnt go MCE. But I probably had different requirements. Either way, I can comfortably say that Bill Gates is right - a computer in the centre of the home which controls digital entertainment is the way forward. It just might not be Microsoft Windows XP based thats all.....
off_again said:
Bill Gates is right - a computer in the centre of the home which controls digital entertainment is the way forward. It just might not be Microsoft Windows XP based thats all.....
Absolutely.
I think one of the most interesting things about the whole media hub-ub is the idea of breathing new life into ever so slightly obsolete machines. Instead of throwing out older machines just use them to give your telly a brain....
Like I said, I haven't actually tried any of the Linux media offerings....but MythTV is the one that seemed to pop up most often when I was looking around.
I think it is still going to need a reasonably good video card and a wodge of decent memory, but those bits shouldn't set you back more than £100 IMO.
I think it is still going to need a reasonably good video card and a wodge of decent memory, but those bits shouldn't set you back more than £100 IMO.
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