Windows Media Center for $549.99

TigerDirect has one of the lowest prices I've seen for a Windows XP Media Center PC with a tuner card: $549. It has the ability to record television shows like a TiVo, and it can also function as a normal Windows XP computer. This is not the most powerful Media Center available (2.20GHz), but it does include a dual-layer DVD burner, 200GB hard drive, memory card reader, and 512MB of RAM.

I love the recent price drops on TiVo's and Media Center PC's. I bought a Windows XP Media Center computer because I needed a new computer anyway, and the cost of a TiVo subscription and hardware (at the time) was much higher than it is now.

The Microsoft Web site has more information on the Media Center.

Comments

[PlungeBob]

I think that an elaboration on the degree to which a
customer is buying into the New-DRM-world when he/she buys
this thing would be useful data.

I think plunge bob doesnt know a single thing about Mike's post.

What you record on these machines, including everythign on HBO, Showtime, etc has no DRM whatsoever.

Netflix = 100% DRM
Media PC to recrod antyhging off of cable to whatch whenever you want = 0% DRM

When you record something off of HBO, Showtime, Cinemax with a Media Center PC there is DRM and Limitations. Do your homework

Netflix 100% DRM?? Ever heard of DVD Shrink

[PlungeBob]

"Do your homework"

Yeah, it was the homework that I was talking about.

Here's a question that might make the point.

Q: Can I use this platform to make movies that
include clips from DVDs that I own, and with soundtracks
that use music from cdroms that I own?

The answer must be No, if DRM is in place.

But you see, I am knowledgeable enough to know
that there are issues, but not enough to elaborate
precisely how they will affect the end user.

Remember the iPod situation. iTunes makes it totally
simple to upload music to your iPod....but it specifically
does not support moving music from an iPod
*to* a computer. (a la using the iPod to
keep two systems in synch musically)

This is the sort of "gotcha" that I hope to see illuminated.

[SteveT]

There is NO DRM on material off HBO, Showtime, Cinemax with a Media Center PC.

Whomever said this has never ever had one.

As far as the guy talking about iTunes, I doubt he does not have iTunes or an iPod. You can move the stuff all you want.

EG:
"Q: Can I use this platform to make movies that
include clips from DVDs that I own, and with soundtracks
that use music from cdroms that I own?

The answer must be No, if DRM is in place"

LOL. the answer is YES. Everyone does it.

[PlungeBob]

SteveT wrote:

"As far as the guy talking about iTunes, I doubt
he does not have iTunes or an iPod"

I may be an iPod newbie, but I am not a liar.

Consider this quote: "note that the ability to copy
songs from your iPod back on to your Mac or
PC is not supported in iTunes."

From this page:
http://macs.about.com/od/ipod/a/copy_from_ipod.htm

The page goes on to describe a collection of
cheap apps that handle the copying I desired.

I have downloaded a few of these to test, and they
worked fine, but without them I would not have
been able to add the music from my iPod to my local
Library, with all data intact.

SteveT went on to say:
"LOL. the answer is YES. Everyone does it."

The reference to the ripped DVD was illegal all by itself.

I am just interested in finding out the things that
the MS media center actually stops a person from doing?

For what actions does it require that you allow
it to check the validity of DRM info found (or not found)
in media given to it. That sort of thing...

...but if instead this leaves you LOL, then no problemo.
I am glad to have been of service!

Consider this quote: "note that the ability to copy
songs from your iPod back on to your Mac or
PC is not supported in iTunes."
From this page:
http://macs.about.com/od/ipod/a/copy_from_ipod.htm

bob,

you are qouiting a pro forma statemant that does not reflect reality. every ipod and itunes forum or any person between 10 and 30 can tell you wo to transfer. the drm is meaningeless.

and

"The reference to the ripped DVD was illegal all by itself."

plase cite some case law. the same people who say it is illigal claimed that you could not record a broadcast television show to your vcr. there is NO case law

[PlungeBob]

Whew!

"plase cite some case law": I cannot!

I just know that the industries are working together
to control our activities, and am not sure how in this instance.

(read about the proposed schemes for securing
the next generation blu-ray disks)

I usually lag behind "the bleeding edge" and so can
find out these limitations before I purchase hardware,
but I thought that it might make a useful topic
for discussion (emphasis on "useful").

Time will tell.

Late!

I love the idea of a PVR, but isn't there something that gives the best of both worlds? A media PC is okay, but it's a big clunky box to put in your living room - even a shuttle form factor is clunky. And a media PC is pricey.

The $400 price difference buys a lot of months of Tivo service, but I really don't like a company that decides to be that much in control (must be plugged in to use, mandatory OS updates, protean terms of service enforced via an OS update, the bug-a-boo of invasion of privacy (even if they don't today, they can)).

Why isn't there a PVR set-top box for $250 or so that does much of what Tivo does without the draconian service model? Where's the competition?

[Rockdrala]

And you call this cheap? are you smoking crack?

[potto]

I purchased a HP media center and by some reason I can't view or record from HBO,CINEMAX and Showtime channels.