Win XP Media Center Edition, Can I buy and build a machine ?

[Dave]

Hey all,

Question here. What kind of requirements make a machine to work with WinXP
media Center Edition ? Does anyone have experience with building a machine ?

I looked over the Demo on Microsoft's site and I like it. I would like to be
able to do everything it shows, including pausing live TV, recording shows
to the harddrive. Also it would be nice to access other media over my
network shares. It would be inportant that it would be able to handle Dolby
Digital and DTS sources (bring them in and send them out). I have a DSS
system that I would like it to control and give menus though that. It would
make it even better if it had 1 or 2 inputs for S-Video connections for
sources. What about HDTV ?

This PC would only be used for TV, No computer monitor hooked up to it.

I had a Ultimate TV DSS system but, it died about 2 weeks ago. I miss being
able to pause tv and the such.

I have a spare P3 1ghz with 1gb of ram and 60gb HD with all the extra
trimmings. What is needed to do this ? What costs are the hardware? Can I
buy WinXP Media Center Edition OS at retail ?

I can see just buying $200 worth of hardware and use a PC that I have
(besides the OS). I could get this up and running for less than 1/2 of what
it costs to buy a complete machine and I would prefer to build my own
machine.

 

[Mike Kolitz]

Currently, Windows XP Media Center Edition is only available to large OEMs
like Gateway or HP.

Microsoft knows that smaller OEMs (and customers) want to build them, too,
but they've made no promises as to making it available.

The next move is theirs... we'll just have to wait and see.

--
Mike Kolitz MCSE 2000
MS-MVP - Windows Setup and Deployment

PATCH YOUR WINDOWS NT/2000/XP/2003 COMPUTERS!
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/MS03-026.asp

 

[Bruce Chambers]

Greetings --

WinXP MCE is available only as a pre-installed OEM installation on
specifically designed PCs, you really don't need to worry about the
system requirements. Just buy the Media Center PC with the
features/components you want.

Windows XP Media Center Edition Home
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/mediacenter/


Bruce Chambers

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