Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005: Feature and Performance Investigation
by Anand Lal Shimpi on October 12, 2004 12:19 PM EST- Posted in
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Getting Ready to Watch TV
The majority of the MCE 2005 setup process remains unchanged from previous versions, with minor tweaks here and there.
One of the most important features of the Media Center interface continues to be the ability to setup all of the Media Center options using nothing more than the remote control, which is obviously true for configuring your TV settings.
First you must confirm your region, which Media Center reads from the region your copy of Windows is set to.
Media Center 2005 has an automatic TV signal configuration wizard which works very well. It seems to have no problem detecting whether you have a cable box, direct cable or antenna. The automatic setup can even configure multiple tuners, which we will discuss shortly.
If there is any discrepancy between the automatic configuration and what you've got, you can manually configure your configuration, although we required no such intervention during our testing.
Next up after you've configured your TV signal is to setup the program guide. The Media Center program guide is one of the strongest points of MCE, considering it is the fastest and one of the most sleek interfaces available on a PVR/DVR platform. For anyone who has ever used a Tivo or ReplayTV, the speed and aesthetics of the Media Center guide itself is worth taking a look at.
The setup is pretty simple, first you've got to agree to the 58 page Terms of Service agreement. Just pressing down on the remote will scroll through each one of the 58 pages, so you'll want to hit up instead to jump directly to the I do not agree/I agree options. Don't tell us you actually read those things.
Media Center will decide what guide data to download for you based on two pieces of information: your zip code, and then by selecting your cable provider.
Once you've selected your provider, Media Center will download up to 14 days of TV listings and you'll be done with the program guide setup process. By default, Media Center will use your internet connection to keep its guide data up to date automatically, and it does a fine job of doing so.
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jamawass - Wednesday, October 13, 2004 - link
First post, longtime anandtech reader. MCE 2k5 looks good from all the reviews I've read but at around $170 (with essential remote)is just too expensive as the reviewer pointed out. With the type of hardware you need to run it, you're looking at $1000 at least. With networked DVD recorders with tivo capabilities ( which are much more stable) getting better in the $400 range why would I put mce in my living room?glennpratt - Wednesday, October 13, 2004 - link
Best solution for mom is to have TV and Computer connected and running at the same time. And yes, if mum can use windows and operate a TiVo, she can use MCE. Just make sure you get nice and stable components.GodsMadClown - Wednesday, October 13, 2004 - link
You know what? I look at this and see a market for dual-core.tantryl - Wednesday, October 13, 2004 - link
I'm trying to figure out whether this is something that you could, well, give to mum for example. Or mom as you crazy americans call them.Presume a nice setup, 3+GHz or equivalent, Hauppage TV Tuner, 80GB system drive and 200GB storage/video drive, 512MB or 1024MB RAM (not info given by Anand as to what difference this might make?), all MCE approved components, with the necessary remote all set up in a quiet case...
Would Ma be able to use it? Would she be able to handle swapping between the monitor and a regular TV? Would she be better off having a physical switch that changes the signal from into the PC to into the TV?
So Anand - you think this is something mum could use?
glennpratt - Tuesday, October 12, 2004 - link
9 & 10 - I have not seen one copy protected file yet and I use both analog antenna and digital cable for over a year. It is up to the station to set the flag to lock the file, which IMO is fair. Also, you can convert the file after the fact to WMV using DVR2WMV. I like the low CPU usage that hardware MPEG2 brings, and if i decide I like the program I can convert it and archive it.Reflex - Tuesday, October 12, 2004 - link
#10: Part of the 2005 release is that its available to system builders or sites like Newegg for do it yourselfers. I do agree about codecs, but its not a *huge* deal to me.segagenesis - Tuesday, October 12, 2004 - link
#9 - I would prefer BeyondTV solely for the fact I can do whatever I want with recorded shows. And I dont have to buy a new computer just to get the *software*.PrinceGaz - Tuesday, October 12, 2004 - link
Windows MCE will never be any use for people serious about video until it allows you to select what codecs you want to use for encoding from all the DirectShow codecs installed on your system. Having to use the proprietary MS stuff with all their DRM garbage is unsuitable.rbV5 - Tuesday, October 12, 2004 - link
Nice Review Anand. I'll be building one of these shortly using dual eHome Wonder cards and HDTV Wonder (hopefully MS will release the patch soon.) I ordered MCE + the remote from Newegg earlier today, so i should be on it by the end of the week.kurisu - Tuesday, October 12, 2004 - link
I still think the interface is pretty attractive. I see this doing well in the market..