Windows Media Center 05... need advice... about to buy - XDTalk Forums - Your HS2000/SA-XD Information Source!

Pete45 · 05-21-2006, 09:18 PM

Hi Guys,
I am about to buy a new Dell PC with Windows Media Center 2005 installed. I have heard rave reviews of this OS and horror stories as well. Some say picture quality is great... others say it's mediocre. Some say its buggy and limited, others say it is the slickest media interface thay've used and that previews of the Vista version seemingly show a step back in usability. I am about to buy and need advice... PLEASE HELP!

Here's what I want out of it... I want to be able to listen to music, record TV (while using the PC for something else at the same time), watch DVDs and back up my ripped video to DVDs. Oh yeah... I don't want TIVO. I like the Windows interface very much and don't want to have to subscribe to anything. I am about to plunk some serious cash down ($1,870) on the following system to run this OS. It will also be used for gaming and graphic design as well. Let me know if I am making a mistake. Here are the specs:

OS: Windows Media Center 2005
Desktop: Dell E510
CPU: Intel Pentium 4, 3.4GHz Hyper Threading
RAM: 2GB Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM at 533MHz
Monitor: Dell 24" Widescreen Digital Flat Panel (I had to)
Video Card: ATI Radeon X600SE Hyper Memory 256 MB PCI Express x16
Tuner(s): Dual cable TV tuners
Hard Drive(s): One 80GB for OS, one 300GB for media (I will install later)
Optical drive(s): 16x DVD ROM, DVD-RW / CD-RW combo drive
Sound: Sound Blaster Audigy HD
Speakers: Dell A525 30 Watt 2.1 (with subwoofer)
Internet Connection / ISP: Cable Modem - Optimum Online
Other: Enhanced DVD/CD burning software (DVD codecs included)

The three biggest faults I see with the OS:
(1) You can't rip directly to MP3 format from a CD (though you can add MP3 files to you media library and listen to them)
(2) you can't record TV directly to a format that will transfer to a DVD and play in a regular DVD player. You have to convert the ripped video files first. Doing without this extra step would have been nice.
(3) You need to download/purchase and install DVD codecs to play a DVD

Should I do this guys? How do Your Media Center systems run.
- Pete45

CyberOtaku · 05-21-2006, 10:34 PM

As far as the OS goes I wouldn't be too concerned with the faults you mentioned since all can be solved by third party software, possibly free (some legally, some not). I don't use media edition, but from what I heard has some nice features and is no worse than home (Not necessarily saying much). Personally, if I used Windows much I would want to get the professional edition.

As far as the hardware I will say outright that I loathe Dell. Obviously I would not buy one. If you aren't using it for gaming or something very CPU intensive I would go with a dual core processor. I'm can't tell if the processor supports 64-bit withouth the specific model, but I would find out. From what I've seen AMD's also have more bang for the buck whether its just the procssor or a whole system. For my next laptop I plan on buying from here so I would consider that if you don't want to build your own rig. The computer in the link is similar to the Dell, but with a smaller monitor and costs $1,500. Otherwise I would look at HP, Sony Vaio, or Falcon Northwest (high end). Definately not E-machines though. As I said I am biased against Dell, but I developed my bias for good reason.

I'v considered building a new box (unfortunately no funds

), but that is just my .02[/url]

Zim · 05-21-2006, 11:49 PM

I don't have any problems with media center. Any issue's you have as said above is solved with third party software.

cucamelsmd15 · 05-22-2006, 06:57 PM

One word: Apple

Pete45 · 05-22-2006, 08:56 PM

Apple... ha ha... I love those new commercials they have out now. I use a Mac G5 at work with a 23" widescreen cinema display. Nice...

I looked into Dual Core processors, and have determined that I would do better having a faster single processor (with Hyper Thread capability just i case). If you are not running processes that take advantage of the Dual Core capability, you are basically operating at the speed of one of the processor cores. Gaming and most of the other stuff I do are most likely single thread processes. As far as multi-tasking, that may be another story and there may be some benefit to a dual core CPU. Still, if I was recording video to my hard drive and not watching it, I would probably be surfing the web or listening to MP3s or streaming audio. Neither of those tasks are particularly taxing processes for a PC.

Supposedly Intel Pentium D processors run hot and routinely reduce their clock speeds automatically to cope. The only decent Dual Cores seem to come from AMD and are rediculously expensive. I can't afford them.

I may be falling victim to the "cool factor" of Windows Media Center, but I intend to make good use of it. I am going with Dell because they are offering 22% off the system I am buying (anniversary promo). Also, I can get their 24" widescreen monitor for $600 rather than $1000 because I am buying it with a Dell computer system. Combined, that's big savings over a typically configured setup with a much smaller monitor.

I may just go for it and hope that my level of computer literacy will help me solve any issues I may have (crosses fingers). Poor customer service, rigged boxes to only accept Dell replacement part... weee!

Feel free to offer more opinions or set me straight.
- Pete45

cucamelsmd15 · 05-22-2006, 09:01 PM

Yeah, unless youre doing a serious amount of multitasking, multi core wont do you any good. For media centre though, I dont know what I would choose. Ive really grown accustomed to Apple's Front Row. So, to each their own, I guess

CyberOtaku · 05-22-2006, 10:00 PM

I agree if you are gaming I would definately stick with single core processors, but I still think Intel is overpriced for a processor that is no better. Apparently you already have an idea of what you are potentially getting into with Dell (I tried to use a Dell USB mouse on my PC once and, I **** you not, the thing didn't work. It's USB, WTF?). Anyway, good luck with your purchase.

Of course, if I could convince you to drop WinDos (or atleast relegate it to a Wintendo)...

jkswiss · 05-22-2006, 10:41 PM

Look at ebay for coupons for dell. They always have $35 off of $300 or something like that. Its stackable on top of whatever discount you get. They go for 99cents or so on ebay. A site you might want to check out is www.slickdeals.com. The guys there really do find some slick deals from time to time. Right now, theres a dell xps laptop going for around $500 shipped. The best deal I've taken advantage of there is 35% off of Radioshack, in which I bought one of those $500 clock radios for $350 or so.
As far as dual core goes, if I was buying a new desktop, I wouldn't buy single processor anymore. We've pretty much hit the 4ghz wall on processor speed due to heat limitations, the only way to remain competative will be to make dual/quad core chips. I believe Vista will support 64bit multiprocessors and the new Mac Leopard is suppose to also. More and more programs and games will be written to take advantage of multi cores. I believe that Quake has a patch out already to use both cores. If this is just going to be an entertainment center computer, you can't go wrong with a single core.

P.S. I really want one of them Pentium imacs, they look gorgeous irl, specially the 20" one. Too bad it carries the Steve Jobs reality distortion field price tag on it.

**wfrazee** · 05-23-2006, 11:37 AM

Buy now. Dell is doing thier 22nd anniversary sale.
They really are a good deal right now, unlike some dell "sales" where they jack up the MSRP to tell you they are giving you money off. I just bought a low end dell for my grandfather. I have an MSDN subscription so I will be rebuilding the machine to make it nice and easy for him to use and require no configuration when he gets it up and running.

boricua9mm · 05-24-2006, 08:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cucamelsmd15

One word: Apple

Truer words have never been spoken on this forum.

05-21-2006, 09:18 PM	#1
Pete45 XDTalk Newbie Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Long Island, NY Posts: 29	Windows Media Center 05... need advice... about to buy Hi Guys, I am about to buy a new Dell PC with Windows Media Center 2005 installed. I have heard rave reviews of this OS and horror stories as well. Some say picture quality is great... others say it's mediocre. Some say its buggy and limited, others say it is the slickest media interface thay've used and that previews of the Vista version seemingly show a step back in usability. I am about to buy and need advice... PLEASE HELP! Here's what I want out of it... I want to be able to listen to music, record TV (while using the PC for something else at the same time), watch DVDs and back up my ripped video to DVDs. Oh yeah... I don't want TIVO. I like the Windows interface very much and don't want to have to subscribe to anything. I am about to plunk some serious cash down ($1,870) on the following system to run this OS. It will also be used for gaming and graphic design as well. Let me know if I am making a mistake. Here are the specs: OS: Windows Media Center 2005 Desktop: Dell E510 CPU: Intel Pentium 4, 3.4GHz Hyper Threading RAM: 2GB Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM at 533MHz Monitor: Dell 24" Widescreen Digital Flat Panel (I had to) Video Card: ATI Radeon X600SE Hyper Memory 256 MB PCI Express x16 Tuner(s): Dual cable TV tuners Hard Drive(s): One 80GB for OS, one 300GB for media (I will install later) Optical drive(s): 16x DVD ROM, DVD-RW / CD-RW combo drive Sound: Sound Blaster Audigy HD Speakers: Dell A525 30 Watt 2.1 (with subwoofer) Internet Connection / ISP: Cable Modem - Optimum Online Other: Enhanced DVD/CD burning software (DVD codecs included) The three biggest faults I see with the OS: (1) You can't rip directly to MP3 format from a CD (though you can add MP3 files to you media library and listen to them) (2) you can't record TV directly to a format that will transfer to a DVD and play in a regular DVD player. You have to convert the ripped video files first. Doing without this extra step would have been nice. (3) You need to download/purchase and install DVD codecs to play a DVD Should I do this guys? How do Your Media Center systems run. - Pete45

05-21-2006, 10:34 PM	#2
CyberOtaku XDTalk 100 Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Lancaster, PA Posts: 441	As far as the OS goes I wouldn't be too concerned with the faults you mentioned since all can be solved by third party software, possibly free (some legally, some not). I don't use media edition, but from what I heard has some nice features and is no worse than home (Not necessarily saying much). Personally, if I used Windows much I would want to get the professional edition. As far as the hardware I will say outright that I loathe Dell. Obviously I would not buy one. If you aren't using it for gaming or something very CPU intensive I would go with a dual core processor. I'm can't tell if the processor supports 64-bit withouth the specific model, but I would find out. From what I've seen AMD's also have more bang for the buck whether its just the procssor or a whole system. For my next laptop I plan on buying from here so I would consider that if you don't want to build your own rig. The computer in the link is similar to the Dell, but with a smaller monitor and costs $1,500. Otherwise I would look at HP, Sony Vaio, or Falcon Northwest (high end). Definately not E-machines though. As I said I am biased against Dell, but I developed my bias for good reason. I'v considered building a new box (unfortunately no funds ), but that is just my .02[/url] __________________ Never attribute to malice that which can be adequately explained by stupidity. - Hanlon's Razor Insofar as we believe in morality we pass sentence on existence. - Friedrich Nietzsche

05-21-2006, 11:49 PM	#3
Zim XDTalk 500 Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Reno,NV Posts: 543	I don't have any problems with media center. Any issue's you have as said above is solved with third party software. __________________ My pistols XD 45 tactical XD 45 service compact XD 9 service XD 40 sub-compact Springfield 1911-A1 G.I. Beretta 92fs Sig SP2022 Walther P22 Ruger MKII S&W 640 NAA .22 magnum Vengence isn't a valid motive. Revenge is a emotional response. No, not vengence. Punishment. Sic vis pacem Parabellum.

05-22-2006, 10:00 PM	#7
CyberOtaku XDTalk 100 Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Lancaster, PA Posts: 441	I agree if you are gaming I would definately stick with single core processors, but I still think Intel is overpriced for a processor that is no better. Apparently you already have an idea of what you are potentially getting into with Dell (I tried to use a Dell USB mouse on my PC once and, I **** you not, the thing didn't work. It's USB, WTF?). Anyway, good luck with your purchase. Of course, if I could convince you to drop WinDos (or atleast relegate it to a Wintendo)... __________________ Never attribute to malice that which can be adequately explained by stupidity. - Hanlon's Razor Insofar as we believe in morality we pass sentence on existence. - Friedrich Nietzsche

05-23-2006, 11:37 AM	#9
wfrazee XDTalk 500 Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Brighton, CO Posts: 572	Buy now. Dell is doing thier 22nd anniversary sale. They really are a good deal right now, unlike some dell "sales" where they jack up the MSRP to tell you they are giving you money off. I just bought a low end dell for my grandfather. I have an MSDN subscription so I will be rebuilding the machine to make it nice and easy for him to use and require no configuration when he gets it up and running. __________________ WFRAZEE "When you take your gun with you, leave your middle finger home." - Unattributed

05-22-2006, 06:57 PM	#4
cucamelsmd15 XDTalk 3K Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Wake Forest, NC Posts: 3,462	One word: Apple

05-22-2006, 08:56 PM	#5
Pete45 XDTalk Newbie Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Long Island, NY Posts: 29	Apple... ha ha... I love those new commercials they have out now. I use a Mac G5 at work with a 23" widescreen cinema display. Nice... I looked into Dual Core processors, and have determined that I would do better having a faster single processor (with Hyper Thread capability just i case). If you are not running processes that take advantage of the Dual Core capability, you are basically operating at the speed of one of the processor cores. Gaming and most of the other stuff I do are most likely single thread processes. As far as multi-tasking, that may be another story and there may be some benefit to a dual core CPU. Still, if I was recording video to my hard drive and not watching it, I would probably be surfing the web or listening to MP3s or streaming audio. Neither of those tasks are particularly taxing processes for a PC. Supposedly Intel Pentium D processors run hot and routinely reduce their clock speeds automatically to cope. The only decent Dual Cores seem to come from AMD and are rediculously expensive. I can't afford them. I may be falling victim to the "cool factor" of Windows Media Center, but I intend to make good use of it. I am going with Dell because they are offering 22% off the system I am buying (anniversary promo). Also, I can get their 24" widescreen monitor for $600 rather than $1000 because I am buying it with a Dell computer system. Combined, that's big savings over a typically configured setup with a much smaller monitor. I may just go for it and hope that my level of computer literacy will help me solve any issues I may have (crosses fingers). Poor customer service, rigged boxes to only accept Dell replacement part... weee! Feel free to offer more opinions or set me straight. - Pete45

05-22-2006, 09:01 PM	#6
cucamelsmd15 XDTalk 3K Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Wake Forest, NC Posts: 3,462	Yeah, unless youre doing a serious amount of multitasking, multi core wont do you any good. For media centre though, I dont know what I would choose. Ive really grown accustomed to Apple's Front Row. So, to each their own, I guess

05-22-2006, 10:41 PM	#8
jkswiss XDTalk 1K Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 1,085	Look at ebay for coupons for dell. They always have $35 off of $300 or something like that. Its stackable on top of whatever discount you get. They go for 99cents or so on ebay. A site you might want to check out is www.slickdeals.com. The guys there really do find some slick deals from time to time. Right now, theres a dell xps laptop going for around $500 shipped. The best deal I've taken advantage of there is 35% off of Radioshack, in which I bought one of those $500 clock radios for $350 or so. As far as dual core goes, if I was buying a new desktop, I wouldn't buy single processor anymore. We've pretty much hit the 4ghz wall on processor speed due to heat limitations, the only way to remain competative will be to make dual/quad core chips. I believe Vista will support 64bit multiprocessors and the new Mac Leopard is suppose to also. More and more programs and games will be written to take advantage of multi cores. I believe that Quake has a patch out already to use both cores. If this is just going to be an entertainment center computer, you can't go wrong with a single core. P.S. I really want one of them Pentium imacs, they look gorgeous irl, specially the 20" one. Too bad it carries the Steve Jobs reality distortion field price tag on it.

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