Windows XP Media Center Edition (NSR)

**The AD** · 01-13-2004, 03:59 PM

Just bought a new computer with this loaded on it. Some of the features sound really cool. Anyone else using it? Wanna comment on if the features are as good as Microsoft hypes them to be?

**Cubano** · 01-13-2004, 04:13 PM

Yeh I have it. Pretty cool especially with the ability to Watch and Record TV. Problem is that they save in a funny format and you cannot burn them to DVDs. Thats mostly what I use mine for. Also it looks like a pretty solid jukebox setup if you have a good speaker setup.

Cubano

**The AD** · 01-13-2004, 04:31 PM

Microsoft claims you can save recorded TV shows to DVD:http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/m...uation/faq.asp

Q. Can I record DVDs to watch using a dedicated DVD player?

A. Yes. The current version of Sonic MyDVD Plus (v. 4.04) supports the recording of Media Center's recorded TV content onto DVDs that can be watched on standard DVD players. For more information about Sonic MyDVD Plus, visit the Sonic eStore.

Microsoft expects other third-party software manufacturers to add support for DVR-MS files to their products. Some third-party software manufacturers are also working with these manufacturers to offer upgrades to the existing version of the DVD-authoring software shipped on their Media Center PCs. Please contact individual Media Center PC manufacturers for more details.

So I guess they're saying you can do it IF you buy a third-party software package, correct? I was hoping you could do this out-of-the-box. Boy am I a sucker. Nothing new about Microsoft trying to push their own proprietary file format, is there?

**fez** · 01-13-2004, 04:36 PM

just microsoft covering their ass.

No reason why you cant do this right from the ms stuff, for example, why cant you rip cd's to mp3 from media player but you can rip to wav? you have to buy a plugin from a 3rd party.
ms just lets someone else expose themselves to any potential litigation.

I've been busy with GRip lately though!