Windows Media Center OS

Just wondering if anyone has this and what they think of it. Is it the same as XP? Will games that require XP run on WMC? Thanks for any help.

I thought it was a collection of programs or something like that. I guess Im wrong.

WMC is just a subset that runs on top of XP. No underlying difference whatsoever.

I have WMC and I think its pretty good. A hell of a lot better with an HD tuner.

whic is better, buy a PC with windows media center and connect it to your plasma screen or buy a tivo ???

I have it. It's good for what it does. Somethings I really hate and somethings it does really well.

It is almost XP Professional, but they did take out stuff (I think domain support was one). Also, if you want to use an HD Tuner you have to also have an SD Tuner (at least temporarily; hate this).

I also records in a special MSFT format and supports copy protection.

It is slick though and the remote works real nice.

MythTV is another option to consider if you a familiar with Linux.

Well I like WMC because I can stream my media into every room of my house with the extenders or 360's.

[quote name='Darwin23']whic is better, buy a PC with windows media center and connect it to your plasma screen or buy a tivo ???[/QUOTE]

Tivo pretty much requires no fiddling with and configuring.

MCE will require you to do some work. MCE will also play DVD and CD if your computer has a drive and you have a codec.

It's up to you.

Do I have to buy a MCE PC or can I buy an MCE upgrade or something?

I have a PC in my living room that is running WinXP Vanilla. I see no reason to use WMC over a regular version of XP. For audio, I have Winamp. For Video, I have MPC, WMP10 and WMP6.4. For recording, I have intervideo WinDVR. Plus, i have my PS->USB converter and controller, plus an assortment of simple old-school games. The computer was a cinch to build and cost very little. It did take a little bit to setup. I reinstalled windows today (because I put a new HD in) and it must have taken me about 5 hours total. Of course, 4 of those hours are waiting for XP to download updates and running the installationg part at the beginning. The rest is just installing all the rest of the programs, drivers, moving the icons around and making it look pretty.

I'm not sure if that helps or not.

I am not sure exactly you are asking in the second part of that.

If you want MCE, you can get it 2 ways as far as I know:

1. Buy an MCE PC (Dell, ...)
2. Goto someplace like New Egg and buy it (you have to purchase it with hardware I believe)

Of course it is assumed that this PC will be used as the HTPC and not much else if at all.

[quote name='capitalist_mao']I have a PC in my living room that is running WinXP Vanilla. I see no reason to use WMC over a regular version of XP. For audio, I have Winamp. For Video, I have MPC, WMP10 and WMP6.4. For recording, I have intervideo WinDVR. Plus, i have my PS->USB converter and controller, plus an assortment of simple old-school games. The computer was a cinch to build and cost very little. It did take a little bit to setup. I reinstalled windows today (because I put a new HD in) and it must have taken me about 5 hours total. Of course, 4 of those hours are waiting for XP to download updates and running the installationg part at the beginning. The rest is just installing all the rest of the programs, drivers, moving the icons around and making it look pretty.

I'm not sure if that helps or not.[/QUOTE]

This is an option, but some people want a seemless easy to use setup. This is what MCE provides. It works just like a set-top-box with remote. No mice, no keyboard, you almost can't tell it is a normal PC.

thanks for the info guys. I'm just getting it so I can watch vids through my 360. As long as it runs all the same basic applications as XP, i'm set.

edit: shit, didn't realize you need special hardware for it. oh well, i'm gonna be in a dorm anyway...