Page 1 of Windows XP Media Centre edition

Has anyone got a PC running XP Media Centre edition?
Is it just XP with a bit more functionality? Or a stripped down version of XP?

Anyone using one as a video recorder etc? If so, would appreciate some opinions of it

Cheers
Miles

Miles

from what i`ve read about it, it`s actually a stripped down version of
XP Pro rather than Home....but obviously has a more media intensive
approach. there`s also an official M$ remote handset available for about £20
on ebuyer.

the OS is apparently, quite easy to hack so it could be joined to a domain
should the need to arise....


Ste.

........is that gasoline i smell?

Thanks Ste.

Thinking about building a PC for replacing the VHS recorder. Some low power (therefore low noise - hopefully!) box, with a large HD, DVD-writer, digital tuner etc. and I`d heard that WinXP MCE was quite good as a recording tool.

Now got to look into the hardware side. Anyone seen any decent looking cases?

Miles

Quote:


from what i`ve read about it, it`s actually a stripped down version of
XP Pro rather than Home....but obviously has a more media intensive
approach. there`s also an official M$ remote handset available for about £20
on ebuyer.

the OS is apparently, quite easy to hack so it could be joined to a domain
should the need to arise....

Miles, I don`t know what your source is, but that is complete nonsense. XP Media Centre is a full superset of XP Professional.

As for the OS being easy to hack, what are you talking about? And "joining to a domain"? Are you talking about joining to a domain in networking terms? If so, you need (obviously) a domain controller, and should be thinking about Active Directory policies (assuming it`s a Windows DC)... All of which, of course, has nothing to do with hackability, hence my confusion as to what you are talking about in your last statement. You`re not jumping on the "Windows is insecure" bandwagon, are you?

This item was edited on Saturday, 6th August 2005, 17:18

Hi

I use windows xp pro with a Digi Vox digital tuner which is windows media compatable and is suppose to be high definition compatable as well [ 1080i ] made by MSI and about the size of a very small mouse control and has remote control.But no teletex in the UK with its multi region tuner but you can find out whats on next for a few days ahead.
The software is a bit odd sometimes but most tv tuners on computers are abit like that so nothing new.But unlike MSI old analogue usb tuner it does not sometimes swop from pal to the american standard which is good.
The picture is as good as my set top box made by Goodmans and around the same on reception of signal.Does come with a small indoor antenna which is no good here.
You can do 1 speed [ 2 hours ] direct burn too dvd disc but you cant use the benq direct burn as the tuner is not found [not on mine anyway.]
The sound is via the usb2 as well as picture and was easy to load [ 1st go ]
You are suppose to have a pentuim 111 or 4 depending on the sd or hd picture but i use a semptron 2600 which works at the full frame rate and no lip sink delays.
To view either visit MSI website or morgan computers in the tv tuner section.[ £65ish ]

Rate it as good but could be easier to use and more stable when channel jumping alot.

bye

R.B

MilesR :)

TBH not having used XP/MCE I am far from an expert but consider simply buying a TV tuner card to add to your existing PC/Win ME/98/XP set up.
Some of them are DVB-T internal/external and as such will allow you to receive/record anything broadcast, terrestrail and digital terrestrial .
Not only that but excellent utilities such as Showshifter have timer functions which will allow you to set timers etc.

Just a thought :)

Choagy FFCUK The SPL :)

This item was edited on Sunday, 7th August 2005, 15:10

Hey there,

Just thought I`d give my thoughts on this, a few months back decided to build a HTPC to connect to my projector. I didn`t wasn`t to spend a lot, but having done some reading decided that the PC would have to be quite quick to be able to do all I wanted. Ended up with a Sempron 2600+, 512mb RAM, 160Gb HDD, an ASUS mAtx Mobo a Radeon 9700 Pro and a Hauppauge PVR-150 MCE TV card. The case I decided on was this one, I`ll be honest its quite a nice looking case but not the best. The cooling is quite poor and there isn`t a lot of space in there. For a good choice of cases have a look at www.xcase.co.uk, they even have a section dedicated to HTPC cases, I`m currently saving for either the Coolermaster ATC-620 or the Hiper Media Case.

Then came the decision about software, so I got XP MCE. Bought the remote from ebuyer and I love it, great functionality and really nice to use. Wasn`t as impressed with MCE tho. Was really easy to set up, but didn`t give you much control over things. Very few options and not a lot you could change, great if you just want something to set up and work but not much fun if you want to play about and configure it to exactly how you want them to work. Plus of course there is the format problem, MCE records everything to its own format DVR-MS, which is not very compressed and takes up loads of room, plus then you have to convert it if you want to be able to use it on other computers.

Am now using a free application called MediaPortal, more info here. This is a great application, does everything MCE does only better. It also has built in support for the MCE remote and the Hauppauge remote that comes with some of their TV cards. The application is being developed continually and there is a great support forum should you need it.

Well hope that helps a little bit, and if you want more info there is a great website at www.htpcnews.com which has got a great in depth review of MCE 2005, other PVR software, loads of hardware, and a large forum dedicated to all things HTPC like.

WelshTom

WelshTom - many thanks for the input...
I`ll be sure to try MediaPortal out with the new TV Tuner I bought.

Thanks
Miles

I can`t believe how similar Media Portal looks to the screenshots of WinXP MCE I`ve seen! Haven`t got the TV Tuner as yet, but this looks just the ticket!

Cheers WelshTom!!
Miles

Well done Welsh Tom. That is excellent!