Built myself a Windows Media Center (Vista)
In case some of you aren't aware, Microsoft has a version of Windows XP called Media Center Edition. It's basically a version that's somewhere between XP Pro and XP Home that has this extra functionality called "Media Center". This program allows your computer to record and play TV shows, pause live TV, play DVDs, CDs, and MP3s, show slideshows of pictures, play other videos you have on your PC and more. It's kind of like a Tivo except on steroids because it can do so much.
Well, this weekend, I decided to build myself a machine with one of the Windows Vista Beta Release Candidates (RC2 to be precise). Despite still being "beta", I must say I'm very impressed. I took some old hardware (an AthlonXP 2500+, a 300GB hard drive, and two TV tuner cards) and installed Vista RC2 (Home Premium) which has the newest version of Media Center on it.
Wow!
I have to admit, I was amazed at how easy it was. Granted, it took me 6 or so hours to put it all together and work out some bugs and set it up, but it really works well. It's easily just as good as a Tivo. Possibly better. I haven't explored all the options. But I'm pleased to say that there is no monthly fee like there is for the Tivo. (MS provides the program guide for free, apparently...) The next step is to hook my Media Center up to my projector so that I can have big-screen high-res playback. That'll make for some nice DVD viewing, I'm sure.
My only concern about having something like this is that I'll end up watching more TV (or that my roommates will want to start using it all the time...)
Well, this weekend, I decided to build myself a machine with one of the Windows Vista Beta Release Candidates (RC2 to be precise). Despite still being "beta", I must say I'm very impressed. I took some old hardware (an AthlonXP 2500+, a 300GB hard drive, and two TV tuner cards) and installed Vista RC2 (Home Premium) which has the newest version of Media Center on it.
Wow!
I have to admit, I was amazed at how easy it was. Granted, it took me 6 or so hours to put it all together and work out some bugs and set it up, but it really works well. It's easily just as good as a Tivo. Possibly better. I haven't explored all the options. But I'm pleased to say that there is no monthly fee like there is for the Tivo. (MS provides the program guide for free, apparently...) The next step is to hook my Media Center up to my projector so that I can have big-screen high-res playback. That'll make for some nice DVD viewing, I'm sure.
My only concern about having something like this is that I'll end up watching more TV (or that my roommates will want to start using it all the time...)