I was wondering if anyone might be able to enlighten me as to what Windows XP media center is, and how it differs from home and pro.
Posted by DarkKnight (Member # 7536) on :
Well yeah, I had read that, but it just didn't seem to be very informative. Is it just software for an entertainment system? Or is it an actual OS for a PC? is there no traditional windows start menu?
Posted by fugu13 (Member # 2859) on :
quote:Media Center Edition retains most of the features included Windows XP Professional
Posted by MattP (Member # 10495) on :
MCE is basically just Windows XP with a Media Center application/suite of applications bundled with it.
The Media Center software allows you to watch/record/playback live tv, navigate a media library, and do other such stuff. You'll need a TV tuner card, of course, if you want to watch TV with it. There are also plugins for doing other stuff like displaying weather information, listening to internet radio, or playing podcasts.
Some people hook up a PC with MCE directly to their TV - that was sort of the original intent of MCE. Another option is to get a Media Center Extender - a lightweight hardware device that hooks to your TV and communicates with your MCE PC over your home network. It gives you the same Media Center experience while leaving all of the storage, tuner hardware, and some of the processing on the PC that's running MCE. The XBox 360 can act as a Media Center Extender.
I used to use the XBox 360 as a MCE extender, but now just use media sharing with Vista to get the functionality I really care about - streaming DivX videos and mp3s.
Posted by MEC (Member # 2968) on :
Does one have to have MCE to use a MCE extender with their PC?
For example, could I use my 360 to stream stuff from my computer to my TV?
Posted by MattP (Member # 10495) on :
You do have to have MCE installed somewhere to be able to use MCE Extender functionality with the whole MCE UI, which is designed to be friendly to use like a satellite tuner program guide interface.
However, you do not need to use MCE if you just want to stream video or audio content from your Windows PC to your XBox 360. There is a Windows Media sharing feature built into Vista (and part of Windows Media Player 11, I think, for XP) which will allow you to share media files with your 360.
Posted by scifibum (Member # 7625) on :
MattP, this is probably a bonehead question, and i haven't bothered to research it at all, but in case you have the answer at your fingertips...
Do the media center / media server features in Vista run as services outside of a user session or does someone have to be logged in? And is there a straightforward way to tell the PC "don't go to sleep, because I need you awake for TV recording / media serving / etc."?
If it's involved just let me know and I'll do some googling. Just hoping there's a simple answer.
Posted by MattP (Member # 10495) on :
I'm not sure if someone needs to be logged in as I'm always logged into mine though my recollection is that there was a service associated with the Media Center stuff so a login may not have been necessary with that.
I let mine turn off the display and spin down the drives, but I've disabled "standby" mode. You can do that through "Power Options" in the control panel.
Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
Ditto (except not the screen -- I use that). And one of my purchases during the recent Woot Off was a couple of these. (For about half the price.)