Hard to find Windows XP Media Center 2005.

[uwannawhat]

http://Windows XP Media Edtition 2005Windows XP Media Edition 2005

edit: Don't forget the 'Free' Ball Cap

 

[HeroOfPellinor]

Or $134 and no tax in CA at Directron.

 

[uwannawhat]

Comes to the same for me with the shipping + no 'free' cap!

 

[Zim]

Windows MCE is basically Windows XP Home with the MediaCenter application. In the arena of available MediaCenter type applications, the Microsoft one is the weakest. Beyond TV ($40 on Amazon) or Sage TV ($70) are better choices, especially if you already have a copy of Windows XP.

 

[hytek369]

it states, must purchase with hardware, is that true?

 

[chinkgai]

Originally posted by: hytek369
it states, must purchase with hardware, is that true?

probably means you gotta buy the hardware mpeg-2 card

 

[uwannawhat]

Originally posted by: Zim
Windows MCE is basically Windows XP Home with the MediaCenter application. In the arena of available MediaCenter type applications, the Microsoft one is the weakest. Beyond TV ($40 on Amazon) or Sage TV ($70) are better choices, especially if you already have a copy of Windows XP.

While this is true. Beyond TV will work with XP PRO but it is buggy as hell. I've got it up & running but am always tweaking it.

This should solve any issues plus allows me to have a 'fully functional; & dedicated HTPC/PVR out of my 400SC setup.

 

[Zim]

HERE is a free media center application.

 

[GRIFFIN1]

Originally posted by: chinkgai

Originally posted by: hytek369
it states, must purchase with hardware, is that true?

probably means you gotta buy the hardware mpeg-2 card

It's an OEM product, so it's supposed to be sold with some piece of hardware. Something like a SATA cable will probably take care of the hardware requirement.

After looking at directron, they require you to purchase....

Major hardware includes Motherboards, Video Cards and Hard Drives.

 

[dkman]

Originally posted by: Zim
Windows MCE is basically Windows XP Home with the MediaCenter application. In the arena of available MediaCenter type applications, the Microsoft one is the weakest. Beyond TV ($40 on Amazon) or Sage TV ($70) are better choices, especially if you already have a copy of Windows XP.

That is not true. Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 is based on XP Pro SP2, except MS needed a way to reduce the cost to OEMs, so they took out the ability to use Domains (except during install you can set one), and some of the other group policy things that businesses would want. It still has Remote Desktop, the ability to use IIS 5.1 if ones so desires, and the other things that Pro has vs Home.

Before MCE 2005, the cost to OEMs of MCE was higher than XP Pro. Because they reduced the cost, they did not want businesses to buy the MCE version because it was cheaper than Pro.

Media Center 2005 is a very good product. There are other options that can be equally good but especially for the normal consumer, MCE is better in my opinion.

 

[Justus]

I ordered the OS from directron and my major piece of hardware was a power supply. This worked. I had earlier built a HTPC, so this should be the final touch on a very useful system. I had also asked them to take5off, which they did.

 

[Goosemaster]

Originally posted by: dkman

Originally posted by: Zim
Windows MCE is basically Windows XP Home with the MediaCenter application. In the arena of available MediaCenter type applications, the Microsoft one is the weakest. Beyond TV ($40 on Amazon) or Sage TV ($70) are better choices, especially if you already have a copy of Windows XP.

That is not true. Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 is based on XP Pro SP2, except MS needed a way to reduce the cost to OEMs, so they took out the ability to use Domains (except during install you can set one), and some of the other group policy things that businesses would want. It still has Remote Desktop, the ability to use IIS 5.1 if ones so desires, and the other things that Pro has vs Home.

Before MCE 2005, the cost to OEMs of MCE was higher than XP Pro. Because they reduced the cost, they did not want businesses to buy the MCE version because it was cheaper than Pro.

Media Center 2005 is a very good product. There are other options that can be equally good but especially for the normal consumer, MCE is better in my opinion.

I agree. I have BTV and accept it for what it is ..a TV app. MCE 2005 is a multimedia app. I would jump on it but I use Itunes and BTV as it is

The BTV's atuomatic transcoding is what keeps me hooked..hell it is converting my 3GB mpeg2's to 300-500MB wma's as I type this..if only they had kept Divix support

 

[chuckyH]

zim your page has no links to download where is the free proggy?

 

[chachster]

Does anyone know of a list of supported hardware for the MCE 2005?

I am looking at building one and want to make sure I get supported hardware.

Glad to see that I can now build my own MCE 2005 now that they are releasing the OEM!

Thanks!

 

[WebDude]

Just in case anyone missed it, here's the Anandtech review: Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005: Feature and Performance Investigation

 

[Diz2K2]

Originally posted by: Zim
HERE is a free media center application.

Thanks, will check this out

Chucky - There is a yellow site navigation menu on the top left hand side. Put your mouse over that and the menu will expand.

 

[vailr]

This bundle looks interesting:

Save $34 if purchased separately by buying the Windows XP MCE 2005 / PVR-250MCE / MCE Remote / nVIDIA DVD Decoder Startup Kit*. Includes all the MCE specific components required to build a state-of-the-art media center PC.

http://www.pcalchemy.com/index.php/cPath/54?osC

 

[RossMAN]

Is this worth purchasing?

 

[rbV5]

Originally posted by: RossMAN
Is this worth purchasing?

I've been running it for a couple weeks now and I like it quite a bit. I saw a post refering to MCE as the weakest of the bunch, and I'd have to disagree. Its the best I've tried from a stability and ease of use standpoint and it supports HD as well, it does lack some of the more advanced configration of SageTV (which I came from) but find it a superior, more polished product overall, and the PQ is very good using both the ATI and NV decoders I've tried. Its especially a good deal if you don't have an OS, less so if you do.

I bought mine with the MCE remote and no other hardware btw.

 

[RossMAN]

rbV5,

I'm mostly interested in PVR functionality, so MCE 2005 is probably overkill for my needs.

Do you use this as a PVR?
Which TV tuner card?
Assuming you have broadband at home, can you login online and change your PVR scheduled records?

 

[Fritzo]

Got mine in my Action Pack subscription this month. Just bought an Aver 1500 tuner for it and I have to say it's pretty cool. Not as good an interface or features as Tivo, but cool none-the-less. Anyone know where to buy a remote with serial passthroughs for cable boxes for this? I've seen the MCE remotes, but it doesn't look like the ones I've seen have the pass through cables.

 

[DarphB]

Originally posted by: Zim
Windows MCE is basically Windows XP Home with the MediaCenter application. In the arena of available MediaCenter type applications, the Microsoft one is the weakest. Beyond TV ($40 on Amazon) or Sage TV ($70) are better choices, especially if you already have a copy of Windows XP.

No, you are incorrect on this. Windows MCE 2005 is not built on Windowx XP home. It is built on Windows XP Pro.

The only thing MCE 2005 cannot do, is login to a domain.

 

[Granorense]

I have been running mine for a week now and I am very happy with it.

 

[rbV5]

Originally posted by: RossMAN
rbV5,

I'm mostly interested in PVR functionality, so MCE 2005 is probably overkill for my needs.

Do you use this as a PVR?
Which TV tuner card?
Assuming you have broadband at home, can you login online and change your PVR scheduled records?

Yes, I use it as a PVR. I use an HDTV Wonder + 2 eHome Wonder analog tuner cards (1 w/FM tuner). I do have broadband, but don't know about remote scheduling, I don't recall seeing any option like that. The EPG is excellent though and fast, and a big plus for me is the seemless integration of SD and HD listings.

Anyone know where to buy a remote with serial passthroughs for cable boxes for this? I've seen the MCE remotes, but it doesn't look like the ones I've seen have the pass through cables.

I'm not sure if this is exacly what you're refering to, but the MCE remote I got from Newegg came with 2 IR blasters that plug into the Remotes IR unit.

EDIT: apparently it supports remote desktop, so maybe there is a way using that to login to your rig, I dunno..never used remote desktop either, but sounds cool if it would work.

 

[junthin]

MCE 2005 is a nice polished product, and a good overall solution for non-tweakers. Only downside is it's not as customizable as some of the other PVR offerings like SageTV or BTV, and it records the TV in an MS proprietory mpeg format (which can be converted by some programs out there to regular MPEG1/2 formats).

If you live in CA, get it from Directron. (tax reasons)

If you live in Texas, get it from Newegg. (tax reasons)

If you want a remote and MCE get it from Directron (I think it's cheaper overall).

If you want MCE and other hardware, get it from Newegg (it's usually cheaper overall ).

Hardware requirements from Directron are pretty lax. Especially if you do a walk-in purchase . Buy a cable or something.