Re: Considering purcahsing a MCE 2005 PC to Replace a TiVo
From: Ted Miller (ted_at_millerzone.net)
Date: 12/09/04
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Date: Wed, 8 Dec 2004 18:17:01 -0800
"MCE_Consumer_Novice" <MCEConsumerNovice@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in
message news:23F1CBD9-043E-42E1-A36C-58E1F7AF23C5@microsoft.com...
> [snip]
> Microsoft does not make it
> clear that a dual-tuner capture card is necessary to watch live TV and
> record
> another program simultaneous, which is the minimal requirement for any
> PVR.
> I suspect that dual tuner PCs are significantly more expensive than the
> single tuner MCE PCs that I see in Bestbuy for around $500. Why spend
> $500+
> for a PC to do this when my $85 VCR can do this?
Firstly, any single-tuner PC with a space PCI slot can be turned into a
dual-tuner PC for $100 or less with the addition of a Hauppauge 250MCE, etc.
Secondly, your $85 VCR does NOT do what you say it does. It only has one
tuner in it too and cannot record one program while you watch live TV using
the tuner in the VCR. You might be able to record one program while watching
TV using the tuner on your TV, but if your setup allows that with a VCR then
it would be possible on MCE too.
What your VCR *can* do is allow you to watch a recorded program while you
watch live TV. PVRs do this too. And in this area, a PVR does so much more,
that a VCR cannot:
* You can record a program while you watch a different recorded program.
* You can watch a recorded program while it's being recorded
* You can pause and rewind live TV, etc.
This is not so much an argument for MCE in particular, but it is one for
PVRs in general.
> [snip]
> Right now, the MCE PC is no better than a PC that I can self-build for
> less
> than $250 or $450(with a high-end gamer video card). To be an ultimate
> success, the MCE PC must REPLACE the TiVO, VCR, radio, cd player, media
> server, XboX, and DVD player in the Den. Right now, a MCE PC would ADD a
> monitor, remote control, and PC case to the Den. With that said you'll
> end
> up having to add bed as well when your wife kicks you out of the bedroom
> because of the additional clutter in the Den.
In my house, MCE replaced Dish Network with its crappy PVR and all of the
other things you mentioned too (I don't have a gaming machine, but I
certainly *could* play games on it if I wanted). I removed remotes and
complexity in my den. I gained the ability to present slide shows, and to
call up my entire music collection, including cool visualizations.
In my bedroom, a Media Center Extender replaced another Dish Network PVR and
enabled something that was not possible before -- accessing all of the same
things I can get to in my family room, most importantly including recorded
TV programs and music.
> Just think, if Microsoft had successfully integrated TiVo, PC Media (jpeg,
> png, mp3, ogg, wmv, mpg, avi, svcd, dvd), PC apps, PC Games(including
> XboX),
> and DVD authoring, the MCE PCs would fly off the shelves with minimal
> marketing. Moreover, Microsoft is the only company capable of pulling it
> off. Unfortunately, the MCE PC for 2005 seems to fall short, and I want to
> buy this machine so bad because even with its problems... there nothing
> like
> it on the market. I'll wait until the next version of the MCE PC because
> I
> expect more from Microsoft and will stick with my $85 VCR in the meantime.
I can't speak for TiVo, but I can say that the Dish Network PVR was utter
CRAP. The MCE box is at least as stable with FAR, FAR more functionality,
and cheaper to run as well, on a month to month basis.
If you think that a VCR can compare to a PVR then all I can say is that you
have probably never used a PVR.
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