Why does Microsoft insist on us buying a Media Center PC?

[shipwreck]

I'd really like to take advatage of the media features on the X360 by streaming music, movies, and photos from my PC, but like the overwhelming majority of people out there, I do not own a Media Center PC. From everything that I've read, you must have a Media Center PC in order to stream media to your X360. I don't quite understand Microsoft's strategy with this one. If they opened it up to where everyone with a Windows XP computer could stream media, then a huge amount of people would use the media features. As it is now, only a handful of people will truly take advatage of the X360 capabilities.

It looks like I'll have to continue using Xbox Media Center on my modded Xbox to get the media features that should have been built in to the X360. Maybe Microsoft will eventually see the light and update the software to support XP as well.

[Kayden]

Its Microsoft. They must justify nothing.

[shipwreck]

Its Microsoft. They must justify nothing.

Well, I know why they want to do it. But damn them for doing it. There's no reason a normal XP computer couldn't stream to the X360.

[Kayden]

Well, I know why they want to do it. But damn them for doing it. There's no reason a normal XP computer couldn't stream to the X360.


I'm sure you can find a registy crack or something to that effect after the 360 comes out. Maybe they'll notice no one wants they're shitty rebundle of XP and make it available to all XP users.

[mietha]

Actually, you just need media center edition to stream movies. Music and photos can be accessed with just normal xp.

[shipwreck]

Actually, you just need media center edition to stream movies. Music and photos can be accessed with just normal xp.

Well, that's good to know. I must have read that wrong. But still, why block the movies?

[Morrigan Lover]

I'm sure someone will write a daemon for Unix/Linux that can do the streaming.

[PittsburghAfterDark]

When Longhorn/Vista launches I wouldn't be surprised if it did it all.

Of course, you're a moron if you use Windows. You think you have compatibility issues? You ever see how compatible Tiger is with the 360? SHEEESH!

[Ruined]

Well, that's good to know. I must have read that wrong. But still, why block the movies?

My guess is because XP doesn't have as robust video copy protection schemes built directly into the OS as MCE does.

[Zoglog]

Hmmm, I was going to say this was the push I needed to install MCE on my pc since ATI's HDTV software sucks the butt, but then again my pc is connected to my tv anyway 0_o

[H-Town Info]

Actually, you just need media center edition to stream movies. Music and photos can be accessed with just normal xp.

so u can stream music and photos from xp home or pro to 360?

[VanillaGorilla]

Meh. I'll be buying my 360 to play videogames, not to watch movies or play music.

[h2dk]

so u can stream music and photos from xp home or pro to 360?

yes...from xbox.com

"For the ultimate home entertainment experience, Xbox 360 also streams music or movies, records television shows, and more from your PC running Windows® XP Media Center Edition 2005. Alternatively, connect to a PC with Windows XP Home if you only want access to your music and photos. Watch what you want, when you want, all in the comfort of your living room."

[Apossum]

it is kinda lame.....but I don't really care because nothing will top Xbox Media Center when it comes to playing movie files without a computer. I don't think there's a filetype it doesn't play, except for these new HD-quality movies. Even if the 360 could stream movies from XP, I'd still use XBMC. I hope they don't stop development for it any time soon.

[Ultimate Matt X]

What will be the standard way to connect Media Center to the 360? Through USB or some type of wifi output or PC? I don't know if the Xbox 360 can accept wireless signals for things like that the same as it does a controller or if you need the adapter the same as you would for wireless gaming. My PC is media center and comes with a receiver or the remote, but I don't know if it can send a signal out or not.

[Gojtron]

I own 2 copies of XP Pro, legit, I feel it's extremely lame that they want me to buy again for MCE. All I want to do is watch my TV shows on my TV. Right now I've been catching up on House and I've got My Name Is Earl waiting to be watched, thanks to XBMC.

[$hady]

Dear mod who deleted my post,

I'm sorry I forgot what site I was on, how dare someone mention the word modchip! You should delete this entire thread if you are going to single out posts mentioning a modchip. At the very least delete the other 4-5 replies that mention the devils toy.

LIGHTEN UP FRANCIS,
$hady

[shrike4242]

Dear mod who deleted my post,

I'm sorry I forgot what site I was on, how dare someone mention the word modchip! You should delete this entire thread if you are going to single out posts mentioning a modchip. At the very least delete the other 4-5 replies that mention the devils toy.

LIGHTEN UP FRANCIS,
$hady
If you have issues with the mods, please direct them to CheapyD.

I deleted the posts in question, and don't see any issues with other posts. If you have issues with that, feel free to speak to me directly.

[dafoomie]

I have a softmodded Xbox exclusively for Xbox Media Center on my HDTV. I can also easily disable it and play on XBL without risking a ban (note that you can't cheat this way or play burned discs on XBL). I'm probably going to end up installing XP Media Center 2005 on my computer just for the video streaming ability. I would expect some kind of program down the road that will either give regular XP the functionality required, or fool the 360 into thinking you have MCE 2005. But simply installing MCE 2005 on my computer is trivial, anyway. What I fear is that the 360 won't support all file formats (DIVX, XVID, etc) and force you to use something like WMV.

[PyroGamer]

You can use an XP computer.

What you can't do is use mac and linux.

I have all my music on our Mac! I guess I'll have to transfer it all, or just forget about it.