Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 Rocks!
Okay...I have a confession to make. To-date, I've purchased four TiVo units, and I'm currently running the DirectTV DVR that includes the TiVo service. My wife and I are both TiVo addicts, our friends are sick and tired of us talking about it, and I firmly believe that it's the only way to watch TV. Yes, I realize that it runs Linux, but you know what? It's an excellent product, and they've nailed the user interface. However, although the standalone edition allows you to browse digital media, the DirectTV version does not, so we're left with only a partial solution.
As you can imagine, I've followed our Ultimate TV and Windows Media Center releases quite closely. Believe me when I tell you that I'd love nothing more than to purchase our own stuff. However, I refuse to spend my money on something that I don't believe will offer me a real benefit, and until the recent release of Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005, I didn't believe that we were there yet.
I had heard so many good things about the 2005 edition (for example, see Paul Thurrott's review) that I decided to try it myself. The software and hardware are now available for OEM sale which makes it much easier to evaluate (as a matter of fact, the software is also available to MSDN subscribers). I've always had a problem with the thought of buying a whole computer just to play back my media. Part of the reason I really like TiVo is because it's an appliance that requires no maintenance on my part. I already have a few computers to maintain...I don't need another one. And I didn't look forward to having a computer with all of its associated cables in my home theater. I want something that looks more like A/V equipment (frankly, like TiVo).
Because of a recent computer purchase, I now have an extra P4 1.8GHz machine in need of a job. Although the video card doesn't have a built-in tuner, it does have S-VIDEO out, making it a perfect test machine. So tonight, I installed MCE 2005 and connected it to our home theater. The installation was a breeze, the configuration took only a few minutes, and the interface is easy to use from a distance. And even though it isn't an "appliance," Windows XP Service Pack 2 now allows me to configure the system for automatic updates which makes maintenance simple.
So you can appreciate our situation, my wife and I have ripped over 1,600 CDs to a media server (WMA 192Kbps), we have about 9,000 digital photos, and around six hours of digital video. I'd really like to be able to browse all of our media on our 64" HDTV. We've tried a number of solutions in the past (like the Turtle Beach AudioTron, a good device, but not for that many songs), but we always gravitate back to the Media Center interface. It's clean, logical, and intuitive.
Well, after playing with the interface and working with media over our 802.11g wireless network, I can tell you that we've finally nailed it with the 2005 edition. It's trivial to find music, even among 1,600+ CDs. We're both visual people, so we enjoy the ability to select CDs using the album covers. But, it's also easy to use the remote to search by artist. Response is snappy, and I'm pleased to find that my MSN Radio subscription works just fine. I'm not sure if I'd ever use it, but I am pleasantly surprised to find that my favorite blog reader, NewsGator, is one of the online services. It's also a straightforward exercise to configure network shares, so I can distribute media across more than one device. Slick.
I'm sure that I'll eventually purchase something like the HP Digital Entertainment Center z500 series, because it looks and feels more like the appliance that I'm after. Couple that with a few of our new Media Center Extenders, and we can proliferate media throughout the entire house. Tell me...is there anything better than a gadget addiction!?
Comments
Anonymous
November 16, 2004
Did you get it to record TV from Comcast yet? I dunno we had this discussion I am still sceptical. Comcast has those encrypted channels like HBO and so on I would still like to record and watch them.Anonymous
November 16, 2004
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November 16, 2004
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November 17, 2004
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November 22, 2004
I like everything Media Center 2005 promises, but until it works natively with Directv they way a TiVo does, I'm staying away from it. Although it would be realy nice if they get out some hardware with Directv/Dish support.Anonymous
November 30, 2004
I have been researching XP MCE for the past month now, and was thinking about putting it on my x-mas list, but i have a question. I have another computer with all my videos on it, am i going to be able to have those video files shared and be able to watch them on my media center, or shoud i just copy the files over?Anonymous
November 30, 2004
Kevin...that was one of my questions too. Fortunately, you can add both local and network folders to your media list. So you can leave the media where it already is. Just remember that video uses more bandwidth than audio alone, so you'll want to make sure your home network is up to the task.Anonymous
November 30, 2004
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November 30, 2004
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December 01, 2004
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December 02, 2004
Anyone know the proper sequence if you want to whipe out the machine and reinstall?
Do you use the original Media Center install first, followed by SP2, and then 2005?Anonymous
December 06, 2004
Anyone know how import media center files into a video editor?Anonymous
December 10, 2004
can you set windows mce 2005 to record live tv without commercials?Anonymous
December 11, 2004
I'd like to know that also. That's why I'm trying to import the media center files into a video editor, so I can edit out the commercials.Anonymous
February 08, 2006
Won't change channels I spent hours upon ours with HP tech support redoing some big shister called me and said dirrectv is not compatible give me a break you mean to say I got ripped off again by HP and microsoft??? there must be a way for the media center to change the channel on my dirrectv 10 reciever anyone please help HP can't the have not the knowledge in there support.Anonymous
March 04, 2006
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March 05, 2006
Maak: sorry you're running into issues. You'll note that in my post, I mentioned that I'm not using a video card with a tuner, and in-fact, I don't use it for video at all. I use it for the massive number of audio CDs I have ripped in WMA format. For video, a 1.8GHz machine probably won't cut it (although I don't know for sure, because I haven't tried this). All that said, I still love the solution. It's been working great for me since I originally made this post.Anonymous
March 05, 2006
so why doesnt WMP cut the mustard for that?..doesnt it handle large libraries.
I run a music server with about 10,000 songs on it.[via embedded thin client, its a little slow]] and control it with playerpal across the networkAnonymous
March 05, 2006
Maak: if you mean, "why doesn't WMP cut the mustard for just playing back audio files," I'd chalk it up to user interface and user experience. We don't want a PC with a keyboard and mouse in our main room. We want the ability to control everything easily via a simple remote control. Media Center does that for us. Otherwise, we use WMP quite successfully on the other PCs around the house (where we do use a mouse and keyboard).Anonymous
March 08, 2006
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June 30, 2006
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November 25, 2006
Do any of you have any suggestions on how I can get my direcway DVR15+ to play back enough recorded shows to fill a 8 hr vcr tape overnight?Anonymous
May 03, 2007
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November 28, 2009
OK, so it took me a few years to get around to trying to play a DVD in my HD Media Center PC. Tell me why the system does not recognize any DVDs I have tried to play? Is there a basic setup I have missed?