Windows Media Center Edition

[NickFRP]

Has any one used it?
Was looking to build a Media PC for the lounge and wanted to know if Windows Media Edition was installed you could still use internet explorer or any other software like google earth for example?
Or could i borrow a copy to test it if any one has one available

Thanks

Nick

[xjsjohn]

its a "normal XP build" with an extra application that runs in the foreground ....

SO you can have all the features of a normal XP build from web browser to IM and email, office etc, just minimise Mediacenter when yuou want to access.

Sometimes its great, sometimes its apain in the arse.

[NickFRP]

so i could just stop it from starting or minamize it

sounds quite smart

[Zod]

I've been running it in the sitting room as a PVR for 18 months. At first it was ropey, but it is now 100% reliable and I'm very happy with it.

[Don]

Its really good.

Very happy with it. Just not happy with the crappy, noisy fan in the PC! If you build a MCPC make sure its quiet else it will drive you mad.

[xjsjohn]

NickFRP said:

so i could just stop it from starting or minamize it

sounds quite smart

yup you can minimise or just take it out of startup ...

TBH i am running it as a lazy option as i put some funky graphics and sound card's into the PC and it was just too much hassle to sort drivers under linux, but for microsoft its actually not a bad effort and well wortha try if you have much video content.

If you want to get very geeky about this stuff, have a look at MythTV too ...

[Podie]

NickFRP said:

Has any one used it?
Was looking to build a Media PC for the lounge and wanted to know if Windows Media Edition was installed you could still use internet explorer or any other software like google earth for example?
Or could i borrow a copy to test it if any one has one available

Thanks

Nick

Yep, use it all the time.

You don't have to launch the MCE front end, so you can just use it like a normal PC if you wish.