what's that media program that's installed on the gateway computer in the bookstore (i dont know if it's still there or not)? the program that basically turns the computer into an entertainment center.
I don't see how that OS makes your computer an entertainment center any more than Windows XP can be. The FM, TV, and PVR functions are readily available with almost every TV card on the market. The menus are nice, but I'd prefer to use the traditional windows system anyway.
IMO, what you need to make a computer an entertainment center is:
A) a big-screen TV
B) a decent 3D card to play games with s-video capabilities in order to display them on the TV.
C) a wireless keyboard and mouse so you can use the computer from your comfy couch or armchair.
D) necessary cables to connect the computer audio to your TV, or have your computer speakers positioned around the TV area.
Voila, your TV and computer have just become a pretty damned good entertainment center. You can watch movies off of seek42 on your TV, play games from the comfort of your couch or bed, and browse the internet on a larger screen (albeit lower resolution, since it is a TV). And you didn't need a different OS to do it. The only down side is the TV's low resolution. However, for gaming or movie purposes, this is fine with me. Your monitor is still plugged in, and you can walk across the room and use that if you ever need to. I plan on using this setup in my dorm room next year with a 32" TV.
i have xp mce on my laptop, and honestly, i never use it. it's basically just a tv/cable/satellite controller & recorder. that's it. if you own a tv, don't bother. it's more crap to make it sound cool. note that it's a controller, not a tuner. all it does is runs an ir to your cable/satellite box.
but...
if you live in a dorm, and your computer is the only thing you have, it would be ok for you.
if i was to do it again, mce certainly would not be a selling point. but, if you want to try it on yours anyway... let me know.
_________________ i post my computer specs here so people will know i'm cool
True, but the only thing of yours I'm borrowing is the couch. You can use your projector, and I'll use the 32" TV and everyone will be happy until we both die from the first recorded cases of EMP poisoning when it's discovered after we both spontaneously combust.
you can get Intervideo home theater. It is a program that will make your computer like media center edition.
Patrick: It makes controlling the computer with the TV and the Remote possible, and categorizes stuff for you. So you don’t have to try and read little file names and stuff.
That’s the media center Idea, sit on the sofa use the computer with a tv remote.
That's true. But at 1024x768, which is what I plan on running it at for better or worse, I don't think text size will too much of an issue. Besides, I plan on using my bitch box for browsing websites anyway.
I'd rather have a wireless keyboard and mouse than a remote. Those remotes seem incredibly useless. So many buttons, but only the play/pause/fastforward/rewind and volume control buttons do anything. And while it sounds like that program makes it possible to use the remote more, I'm too set in my ways to adapt to a new system... I'm going to be a very stubborn old man, if I'm like this now.
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