It's just easier and it's there at my TV, not residing elsewhere.
the Media Center Extender i am talking about is at my TV too. it's about the size of a DVD player, with A/V hookups (componenent video, optical audio, and component A/V outputs to the TV). it connects to the Media Center PC via WiFi or wireline Ethernet. i chose wireline, since it was a short and easy run, and wireline is always better quality.
the Extender is essentially a thin client connected to your TV for output, and also connected via WiFi or wireline Ethernet to your Media Center PC. if you are familiar with the Media Center Edition 2005 look and feel within Windows, the screen appearance and operation through the thin client (as seen on your TV) is exactly the same. basically you can access any media files (video, music, photos, radio, etc.) in your My Documents folder.
right now the Extender is way too expensive for mass acceptance. $260 for the Linksys model i bought on Amazon amazon.com
the bill of materials for this device can't be very high, since they are going to include it in the Xbox 360 for free. i think when the price point falls to $120 or so, it will be an attractive add-on for a lot of people, especially since MSFT is supposed to include the Media Center Edition (now an extra $40 over regular XP Home) as part of the default operating system in Longhorn.
i think it's a long-term, multiprong plan by MSFT--right now it's slightly post-bleeding edge (since MCE is in Version 3.0, when MSFT products actually start working as claimed), but not yet mainstream. think Windows 3.0, before Windows 95. (imo Xbox 360 will be the equivalent of Windows 95 in significance.)
going forward, with Longhorn MSFT will have MCE in every PC, and everybody with Xbox360 will have an Extender. if the dedicated Extenders fall to a reasonable price point, MSFT will be in a good position to be the main conduit for home entertainment.
be sure to check out the Xbox360 article in the latest issue of Wired--quite illuminating. i think their product is aimed not only at the likes of Tivo and other DVR makers, but also, basically taking over all the functions of home entertainment systems. who knows, maybe some day all high-end stereo makers will have to get some kind of MSFT license--that'd be a riot!
my experience with the Extender 1.0 as a DVR has been quite good. way better than my crap Sci Atlanta DVR, but probably a little inferior to a really good DVR such as Tivo, in terms of response (due to the fact that it's operating over an Ethernet).
qualitywise, the programming (standard definition) has been excellent output, but then, i've got a wireline connection. not sure if there'd be degradation via Wifi A/G.
another caveat is that you can't watch copy-protected programming such as HBO through the Extender. this is a legal hurdle as opposed to a technical one. not sure what the prospects are for supporting HBO, etc. long term.
keep an eye on what MSFT is doing. and read that Wired article, this seems to be one of the most interesting and audacious development by MSFT since they invented Windows. |
