Home Forums Gamescan Chat42 About
* Login   * Register * FAQ    * Search
It is currently Fri 03-29-2024 9:01AM

All times are UTC - 6 hours




Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 8 posts ] 
Author Message
 Post subject: that media program...
PostPosted: Tue 06-29-2004 2:26PM 


Source: Somewhere
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.


Top
  
    
 Post subject:
PostPosted: Tue 06-29-2004 2:57PM 
Offline
Lieutenant
User avatar

Joined: Wed 03-03-2004 11:59AM
Posts: 85

Source: VPN
Winbdows XP media center edition?
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/medi ... fault.mspx


Top
 Profile  
    
 Post subject:
PostPosted: Tue 06-29-2004 3:27PM 
Offline
Colonel
User avatar

Joined: Mon 08-18-2003 9:25AM
Posts: 530
Location: 37°57'47.14"N, 91°44'51.65"W

Source: Off Campus
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.


Top
 Profile  
    
 Post subject:
PostPosted: Tue 06-29-2004 3:41PM 
Offline
Major
User avatar

Joined: Fri 04-23-2004 7:01PM
Posts: 486
Location: rolla

Source: Off Campus
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


Top
 Profile  
    
 Post subject:
PostPosted: Tue 06-29-2004 3:42PM 
Offline
General
User avatar

Joined: Mon 09-22-2003 3:29PM
Posts: 4317
Location: Find out on irc

Source: Off Campus
our dorm room you liar.... sure youve got the tv, but what about the rest of it.... yea its mostly mine... so i win

but yea i agree with mr pat there

errr no you need a digital projector and a nice big sound system... oh yea weve got that too woot for me and pat

_________________
_______Notebook_________Gaming - Circa 2008ish
proc___T8300____________Q6600
clock-----------2.4GHz-----------
ram--------------4GB------------
vid__GF8600M GT 256MB__2xGF8800GTS 512MB sli
hdd____160GB_______3.5TBw/parity on a 3ware card


Top
 Profile E-mail  
    
 Post subject:
PostPosted: Tue 06-29-2004 3:52PM 
Offline
Colonel
User avatar

Joined: Mon 08-18-2003 9:25AM
Posts: 530
Location: 37°57'47.14"N, 91°44'51.65"W

Source: Off Campus
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.


Top
 Profile  
    
 Post subject:
PostPosted: Wed 06-30-2004 11:18PM 


Source: Somewhere
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.


Top
  
    
 Post subject:
PostPosted: Thu 07-01-2004 3:26PM 
Offline
Colonel
User avatar

Joined: Mon 08-18-2003 9:25AM
Posts: 530
Location: 37°57'47.14"N, 91°44'51.65"W

Source: Off Campus
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.


Top
 Profile  
    
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 8 posts ] 

All times are UTC - 6 hours


Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 14 guests


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum

Search for:
Jump to:  
Powered by phpBB © 2000, 2002, 2005, 2007 phpBB Group