GamePC have thrown up their review of Microsoft's Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005! Here's a snip.
Windows XP Media Center Edition was originally launched roughly two years ago, and was the first variant of XP designed to be run on home theater systems and to be controlled via remote. The OS itself was based upon Windows XP core, but ran Microsoft's Media Center application on top of the operating system, which was custom built to playback and record TV, movies, music, and videos. Since Microsoft was in complete control of the OS, the application, and the remote control hardware which was used, XP Media Center Edition had a higher level of integration and smoothness compared to other media center type applications. Unfortunately, Microsoft's demanding control is what has held back this operating system for so long. XP Media Center Edition was never available as a retail product, nor was it available for end users to purchase directly from OEM's. The only way you could get XP Media Center Edition was to purchase a full PC with the operating system pre-loaded. Given the enthusiast-nature of the HTPC community, many balked at the thought of having to purchase an entire new PC just to get a copy of this operating system. Thus, an entire crop of home-brewed media center applications has sprung up with excellent products such as SageTV and Meedio, which can perform many of Media Center Edition's core functions on any PC. Even more threatening to Microsoft is that many HTPC users are switching over to Linux to meet their needs, as superb free software products like Freevo and MythTV have gained quite a following.
While these applications have worked quite well thus far, if given the choice, many would simply go with an easier to use Microsoft solution. Fortunately, Microsoft finally listened, and are opening up Windows XP Media Center Edition for everyone. Their latest version, Media Center Edition 2005, is now selling on the open markets, and is available to all. While the OS itself is not officially launching for another week, we were able to get our hands on this final product to give everyone a first hand glimpse of how Media Center Edition 2005 (Codenamed Symphony) works in an uncontrolled environment.
Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005
Windows XP Media Center Edition was originally launched roughly two years ago, and was the first variant of XP designed to be run on home theater systems and to be controlled via remote. The OS itself was based upon Windows XP core, but ran Microsoft's Media Center application on top of the operating system, which was custom built to playback and record TV, movies, music, and videos. Since Microsoft was in complete control of the OS, the application, and the remote control hardware which was used, XP Media Center Edition had a higher level of integration and smoothness compared to other media center type applications. Unfortunately, Microsoft's demanding control is what has held back this operating system for so long. XP Media Center Edition was never available as a retail product, nor was it available for end users to purchase directly from OEM's. The only way you could get XP Media Center Edition was to purchase a full PC with the operating system pre-loaded. Given the enthusiast-nature of the HTPC community, many balked at the thought of having to purchase an entire new PC just to get a copy of this operating system. Thus, an entire crop of home-brewed media center applications has sprung up with excellent products such as SageTV and Meedio, which can perform many of Media Center Edition's core functions on any PC. Even more threatening to Microsoft is that many HTPC users are switching over to Linux to meet their needs, as superb free software products like Freevo and MythTV have gained quite a following.
While these applications have worked quite well thus far, if given the choice, many would simply go with an easier to use Microsoft solution. Fortunately, Microsoft finally listened, and are opening up Windows XP Media Center Edition for everyone. Their latest version, Media Center Edition 2005, is now selling on the open markets, and is available to all. While the OS itself is not officially launching for another week, we were able to get our hands on this final product to give everyone a first hand glimpse of how Media Center Edition 2005 (Codenamed Symphony) works in an uncontrolled environment.
Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005
