Windows XP Media Center Edition

[Alex]

Anyone got it? Is it any good?

[Plotloss]

I am desperately trying to secure an OEM deal for MCE but its a bloody closed shop the swines.

[stuh]

Yes, i have it. Very good. Currently using it for music in the kitchen via my wireless LAN

[FourWheelDrift]

What's different to a normal XP?

[Alex]

Just ordered a new PC and I simply couldn't find enough info to decide whether Media Center was worth having yet, so stuck with XP.

Ignoring the media stuff, does it do everything regular XP does? Limitations? What exactly are the special hardware requirements (besides a TV tuner)?

[keppy]

MCE is basically XP with an application that runs full screen. The app (which is engineered to be used on a TV with big buttons) allows you to view, record and timeshift TV, and it acts as a front end to any music, videos and pictures you have on your PC.

The drawback is you must buy from a small group of vendors, you can't buy the software separately, it needs an MCE remote control (and you can't get spares unless you have bought a package already), and hardware support is limited. Some people with Universal MSN access (like me!) have downloaded and tried it out, but the restrictions of no remote and hardware support make it impossible to use.

However, there are other options:

http://myhtpc.net
www.mediajukebox.com/mediacenter

The first is an MCE clone. Actually quite good, a lot lighter than MCE and does most of what MCE does. The second one is a little different, but has wider support for wireless control via PocketPC and for generic IR controllers. I'm trying them both out now for my HA install and they are both far better for those of us not wanting to line M$'s pockets any more than we already do!