Used a Windows Media Center PC last weekend

[alywa]

Hey all. I was visiting out of town friends last weekend and got to play with a windows media center pc. It was an HP tower with a pentium D processor. Overall, I was pretty impressed.

Navigation / access of files was fast and efficient. Layout was not great (folders), but since he didn't have a bunch of media stored on it it wasn't too bad.

The nicest feature, by far, was the DVR functionality. Fast menus, quick channel changing, and best of all no monthly fees for the guide and DVR service.

We transfered some digital photos from a CF card; this was a little kludgy and not particuarly obvious, plus it was very slow.

All in all, much better than I thought it would be, but still a long way from making me want to replace my HD Tivo (DirecTV). Plus, it is still windows, and I'd have to be hard pressed to ever consider switching back. However, one has to imagine that Front Row, once (or if ever) it has DVR functionality, will be a sweet product.

-alywa

 

[Will Cheyney]

I have to agree... the Media Centre app (not Windows ) is overall quite well compiled and presented.
Don't forget that Front Row is still only in it's infancy (version 1) and has a little way to go yet. Just think of the differences between iTunes 1 and 6! In a year or so Front Row will be absolutely killer.
Infact, other than the fact that it is 'iMac only' at the moment, and that it doesn't support dual screen selection - it's pretty much 'there' already.

 

[runplaysleeprun]

I have to agree... the Media Centre app (not Windows ) is overall quite well compiled and presented.
Don't forget that Front Row is still only in it's infancy (version 1) and has a little way to go yet. Just think of the differences between iTunes 1 and 6! In a year or so Front Row will be absolutely killer.
Infact, other than the fact that it is 'iMac only' at the moment, and that it doesn't support dual screen selection - it's pretty much 'there' already.

i've used front row on a dual screen using my powerbook. it'll play whatever media you have going... video or pictures... in one screen and the menu will remain in the other.

 

[Mord]

i much much much preferred itunes 1, mainly for he visualizer and the fact that it ran silky smooth on my cubes, also it does not have all the crap i dont use, like pod-casts and the itms, it just did what i wanted it to, play mp3's have a pretty visualizer and have a good UI.

 

[Will Cheyney]

i've used front row on a dual screen using my powerbook. it'll play whatever media you have going... video or pictures... in one screen and the menu will remain in the other.

Really...!? Ah, well scratch that complaint then!

 

[Lord Blackadder]

i much much much preferred itunes 1, mainly for he visualizer and the fact that it ran silky smooth on my cubes, also it does not have all the crap i dont use, like pod-casts and the itms, it just did what i wanted it to, play mp3's have a pretty visualizer and have a good UI.

That's why it took me awhile to switch to OS X; I was happy with SoundJam MP under OS 9. Still, once I switched to iTunes I never looked back.

I've played with the Media Center a little, and I can see why people like it. I haven't tried Front Row yet - I can only hope that it shows up retail soon.