Windows 8 won't include Media Center automatically

[MotzTech]

An interesting move from Microsoft, I think they are shooting themselves in the foot here honestly. They make a new version of an OS and take things out?!?



http://news.cnet.com/8301-10805_3-57...?tag=mncol;txt

[colonydata]

How many people actually use media center to start with? i've never come across any one that does.

the people that do will probably pay for it. so i doubt its going to shake things up to much.

[MotzTech]

It's just more confusing and frustrating for the end users. I mean sure, I can download a dvd player off the internet, but a end user who does not know how to do that, it's going to be a shock for them.

Lets say Bob buys a computer at best buy, he sees it has a DVD drive, so by his logic it must be able to play DVDs. He gets home and gets all setup and tries to play a dvd, but wait he can't. Now on top of the money he just spent on the computer, he has to purchase yet another product to play the DVD. Of course he could get it for free by downloading a free product, but he may not know that.

['putertutor]

I think this is a pretty minimal impact on the average end user. I haven't seen a new computer lately that doesn't come with at least 1 non-windows dvd player.

[Craka]

Dissapointing for me, I use media centre in HTPCs.

[Jamie]

Originally Posted by Craka

Dissapointing for me, I use media centre in HTPCs.

Same here, main PC at home is media centre

[Xander]

I don't have a problem with this. I don't know that I have a single customer who uses it.
My Vista install had MC as part of it. I hated it and installed some real software.

[carrcomp]

Originally Posted by Xander

I don't have a problem with this. I don't know that I have a single customer who uses it.
My Vista install had MC as part of it. I hated it and installed some real software.

Same here.

Most people just stream from the Internet anyway.

Netflix and most broadcasters websites are marked in the favorites of many of my residentials (and some SMBs, but don't tell the boss lol)

[altrenda]

"Lets say Bob buys a computer at best buy, he sees it has a DVD drive, so by his logic it must be able to play DVDs.
More than likely if he buys a new computer from Best Buy or wherever, it will come with Power DVD or some such, like Dell's and HP's do now. no problem.

The problem comes from the custom builders or up graders that will have to include some 3rd party software.

I don't think its as big a deal as some make it out. There will be far bigger problems when Win 8 rolls out than its ability to play dvds.

[Appleby]

Originally Posted by Jamie

Same here, main PC at home is media centre

Bingo, me too. We've used Media Center as our home media center and only DVR since XP Media Center 2005 was first released. Windows 7 Media Center is by far the best one yet and works great!

I will say this, I'm more than willing to pay for Media Center as an upgrade as long as the put some effort into improving it. I think it's great now but it could always be better and I'd like to see more apps for it. If they keep producing it and making it better, I'll pay. Heck I'd give $100 for Media Center alone if I had to. I firmly believe that Media Center used as the front end for a media pc/DVR is by far THE best and most under utilized and appreciated piece of software that MS makes.