and I was interested when Raymond suggested that MCE would be installable on
any machine, because I'd never heard that before. But then the guys across
the aisle that I work with were discussing the MCE and thais exact topic
came up. I basically repeated what they said and what I've learned from
having to support MCE - meaning that we don't support MCE, only OEMs do. I
think whatever information you have is probably right, though. I don't see
why MS would not want the general public to have an MCE OS if they want one.
- Matt Small
_____
From: Tyler Silcox [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Sent: Thursday, October 07, 2004 7:23 PM
To: CF-Community
Subject: RE: XP Media Center news
> It's intended to be a complete system that works out of
> the box, not something that Joe Bag-O-Donuts down the street puts
> together using a 486 and an old TV remote
Matt, I think you might have a much better source of information directly
from Microsoft. But everything I've read and seen on MCE2K5 is that MS is
pulling away from the idea of having predefined components and system
configurations. (There are certain TV cards you "should" use, but that's
just because they are better than the rest.) I haven't messed with 2K5, but
the prior MCE was extremely easy to install on any WinXP-capable system.
I've installed it on systems with and without TV Tuners, and with different
tuner cards. It's basically just a supped-up Media Player...there doesn't
seem to be that much to it.
Actually, I signed up to be an OEM builder just so I could get some inside
information and they are pushing it to ALL levels of system builders pretty
hard. I know that doesn't count as a normal Joey B, but they do want to get
the MCE OS on as many boxes as they can...and what better way than to sell
it as an upgrade ;-)
Yes, it does suck that you can't buy it as a standalone upgrade, but you can
definitely buy from OEM resellers with the necessary remote and receiver for
under $150:
HYPERLINK
"http://www.google.com/froogle?q=media+center+2005&btnG=Search+Froogle"http:
//www.google.com/froogle?q=media+center+2005&btnG=Search+Froogle
I'm trying to build a new computer sometime soon, and the going price is
comparable with WinXP home even though, I believe, it has the networking
extras of Pro.
MS might get some more money outta me yet->
Tyler
_____
From: Matthew Small [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subject: RE: XP Media Center news
There's a reason for that - the XPMCE product is not intended as a complete
OS add-on - there is a MCE SDK that OEMs use to write their own version that
is customized for the hardware. That way it is a OEM fully-developed, fully
supported product. It's intended to be a complete system that works out of
the box, not something that Joe Bag-O-Donuts down the street puts together
using a 486 and an old TV remote. Microsoft does not even support it for
customers, we support only the SDK.
There's a 2005 XPMCE sitting over here in the cube next to me, we've been
using it for months. Nice.
- Matt Small
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