i happen to be coming across this product come monday. does anyone here know anything about it? reason why i need it is because i wanna build a pvr on my computer and the capture card i want requires Winmce. or do any of you guys know anything about turning your machine into a pvr as well? if i can do this we can have some really good fights on dvd.

Its basically Windows XP with a add-on called Media Center Edition that helps u watch/record tv and organize your videos, music, and pictures. It provides a DVD like menu, and it can be controlled with a MCE remote.

Its basically Windows XP with a add-on called Media Center Edition that helps u watch/record tv and organize your videos, music, and pictures. It provides a DVD like menu, and it can be controlled with a MCE remote.


i kinda figured that much. do you know if it is built on xp pro or home? thats more what i really need to know.

When Microsoft first introduced the Windows XP Media Center Edition (MCE) two years ago, the biggest complaint we had about the operating system was that it held recorded TV captive and produced poor-quality video playback. Last year's MCE 2004 OS improved on both fronts: video, while not perfect, looked watchable, and the OS gave you a sensible method for burning DVDs in a format that played on consumer DVD players. Now in its third iteration, Microsoft's remote-controllable, multimedia OS, Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005, continues to provide more freedom with your PC's digital-media content. With support for new set-top Media Center Extender network devices, you can now use MCE 2005 to access files on your PC from displays in the other rooms in your home--the TV in your bedroom, for example; each MCE 2005 PC can support up to five Extenders, over wired or wireless networks. Plus MCE 2005 also now supports dual TV tuners, which means you can watch one channel while recording another. MCE 2005 is the most polished and tightly integrated desktop DVR we've seen, but we'll have to test the image quality on more Media Center PCs and Extenders as they are released before we give it the thumbs-up for broad use throughout your home.

Next: Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 Setup and interface
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At a glance
Editors' rating: 7.6 Good
User rating: 91% 9% from 11 users

The good: Attractive, easy-to-navigate interface; HDTV and dual-tuner support; works with set-top and mobile devices.
The bad: TV still looks second-rate on large screens; operating system is not sold separately.
What's it for: Watching and recording TV on your PC and sharing its digital media files--photos, music, and video--with the other screens and TVs in your home.
Who's it for: Those with large digital libraries and a home network.
The bottom line: Media Center Edition 2005 is the best desktop DVR app out there, but it's not yet ready to play hub for your digital home.

User opinions for Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005
"The best convergence product on the market!"
Dixon on 12-Oct-2004 12:00:44 PM
Pros: I've had the 2003 & 2004 versions, and have become addicted to Media Center...as have my roommate and anyone who visits. DVR, music jukebox, photo library, DVD player, online movies, & a full blown XP operatins system as well. The 2005 version finalizes the scenarios users wants and makes this a great value. It's also rock stable.
Cons: Media center PCs can be expensive due to extra video hardware (TV card, DVR encoder, high end graphics card). Also, media center extenders are expensive ($300 on dell.com now).


"Fantastic Duo of TV and PC"
Mishkin Faustini on 12-Oct-2004 01:30:45 PM
Pros: I do not know what the raters of this product were thinking at CNET. This is Basically Win XP pro with more features. How can this be rated LESS than Windows XP Professional when Windows Media Center IS THE SAME THING AND MORE?! It just does not make sense to me. I have used both operating systems HEAVILY. My media center makes it really easy to record a ton of content off the tv. I also have a tivo box but it constantly fills up. I think Windows Media Center 2005 is the way to go personally. Some may disagree. My arguement to that is clear and simple. While tivo users are stuck at home with their little box recording shows I can be downloading dvd-quality movies any time I want. I can listen to music and watch music videos any time that I want thanks to the integration of broadband and television on my Media Center PC. I disagree with how this product is rated and I believe Cnet.com reviewers should double back and think about what they are doing before posting a review like this. It doesnt take a genius to realize this.
Cons: Theres always more room for improvement. Some of the searching features are not as easy as they should be when u dont have a wireless keyboard.

kb8mvp VIDA Rocks....