Media Center PCs
If you like the idea of recording television shows quickly and easily but are put off by the idea of paying a monthly service charge for TIVO or the cable company's DVR, you may want to consider making your next computer a Media Center PC.
A Media Center PC runs on Windows XP Media Center Edition operating system and functions like any other Windows XP computer, so you can check your email, surf the Web, create documents, and install programs. Any software that works on Windows XP will also work on a Media Center PC.
But they also come with mid- to high-end processors, high-capacity hard drives, a remote control, advanced graphics and audio capabilities, and networking connectivity. Most Media Center PCs also have a built-in television tuner, CDs and DVDs, and slots for media cards. They can easily handle large audio, video, and photo files. The additional Media Center functionalities are accessed via an icon or using the supplied remote control. With these functions you can view songs by artist or genre and create play lists, create musical photo slideshows, view and record live television, edit and organize photographs, and burn directly onto CDs or DVDs from the Media Center screen. There is even an area where you can easily listen to Internet radio.
I decided to take a look at two Media Center PCs - Gateway's 840GM desktop and Dell's XPS M140 laptop. The Gateway 840GM, which has since been replaced by a similar Gateway DX300S, is a speedy little machine with an Intel Pentium D dual core processor and 1GB memory. The monitor is an optional purchase. The Dell XPS M140 has a Pentium M Processor and 1GB of memory and is one of Dell's first laptops with a 14.1-inch wide screen. The screen has wonderful display clarity and the multimedia navigation keys located on the front of the laptop are quite useful.
To me, the best aspect of Media Center PCs is the capability to watch and record live television shows. Using a Media Center PC is much easier than using a VCR or some DVRs. You can schedule a program for recording by entering the program's name or selecting it from the viewing guide. The guides were very well done, allowing you to go forward and back in 12-hour increments. If the program is part of a series, one click will let you record that program every time it airs. You can even record every show that features your favorite actor or director. But if you plan to use the remote to control television functions you better get your glasses out! The buttons and labels on both the Gateway and Dell remotes were very small.
Although both computers were fairly similar and easy to use, one challenge with all Media Center PCs is deciding where to place it in the room so you can use it to watch television and also work with it as a computer. This is where your decision to purchase a desktop like the Gateway or a laptop like the Dell might come into play (both companies make both laptop and desktop Media Center PCs).
These two machines had a few other pluses and minuses. A plus for the Dell is its MediaDirect technology which provides instant-on access to multimedia content without having to boot up the entire operating system. The minus for the Dell was that the television tuner was external. This made no difference in functionality but added another component and more wires. Although the Gateway had a few less wires, it came with a wired keyboard and mouse. And neither Gateway nor Dell included easy-to-understand instructions for the television hook-up. After attaching the television cable and an infrared receiver for the cable or satellite box, I had to wade through choices for my television program schedule (although I still found the Media Center PCs easier to set up than a TIVO).
The Windows Media Center operating system is quite good and I wouldn't hesitate to buy a Media Center PC right now. However, this operating system, as well as the hardware that runs it, will continue to improve. Some major changes will be coming when Vista, the next upgrade for Microsoft's operating system, appears sometime in late 2006 or early 2007.
Specifications
Product: Dell XPS M140
Manufacturer: Dell
Price:$1089 with TV tuner and remote
URL: http://www.dell.com/
Product: Gateway DX300S
Manufacturer: Gateway
Price: $749 without monitor
URL: http://www.gateway.com/
AARP does not recommend or endorse any of these products or web sites. Please be advised that there are other similar products and web sites available which were not reviewed and are not listed here.
About the Author
Sandy Berger is a nationally-known author and has written several books on computers.
