MTS: Windows Media Center 2005

[Epon]

I'm assuming I can just install this on any computer or does it require specialy hardware?

[sanius]

I'm not sure, but the wikipedia for media center gives me this..

Media Center has higher hardware requirements than other versions of Windows XP. MCE 2005 requires at least a 1.6 GHz (or equivalent) processor, DirectX 9 hardware-accelerated GPU (such as a recent ATI Radeon or NVIDIA GeForce), and 256 MB of RAM. Some functionality, such as Media Center Extender support, use of multiple tuners, or HDTV playback/recording carries higher system requirements.

Unlike most other software PVR solutions, Media Center is restricted in the range of hardware that it supports. Media Center tuners must have a standardized driver interface, and they must have hardware MPEG-2 encoders, closed caption support, and a number of other features. Media Center remote controls are standardized in terms of button labels and functionality, and, to a degree, general layout.

[Kulock]

If you already use something to capture video or audio, don't mess with it. It makes things a complete PITA.

[Squiggles the Chao]

In fact, if you plan to use it as a regular computer, and not a glorified PVR, stay as far away as possible. XP Pro will do what you want much better than WMC.

[Kulock]

Yeah, Squiggles is pretty much right, you could do anything WMC can do just by choosing a decent set of programs, or even just a few good all-inclusive ones. Media Center just wraps it up in a pretty (yet intolerant) interface for daft people. (And they allow their remotes to be made missing important DVD feature buttons, like friggin' "Language" and "Subtitles".)

[Epon]

Yeah, but you have to look at it from someone who's tossing in a carputer into their Mustang. Most FrontEnds that people have made are great, but lack one or two things that I want. I've made my own primitive one in MMF, but it still lacks GPS and whatnot. Also, some don't organize my music and movies in the proper ID3 fashion. So I'm just testing out my choices here. I can always reformat.