Microsoft Media Center Gets A Tune-Up

This caught my eye because I’m considering acquiring a Microsoft Media Center.(Feel free to talk me into it/out of it in the comments.) Microsoft is adding a new feature set to the Windows XP Media Center Edition OS via a free major update that could be unveiled as early as Friday — along with a new batch of partners including Akimbo, AOL, AOL, Comedy Central and MTV Networks. EWeek reports that the new features will shift the Media Center’s focus “from showing photos and videos to on-demand online entertainment and content services, provided by big-name outlets such as MTV.” It also will include include support for the Media Center Extender technologies being built the Xbox 360. Other new features include management for 200-disc DVD changers, the ability to add a second HD-tuner card, and “instant on” capability.

A drive to get some Media Center PCs priced under $1,000 — a stripped-down version can be had for $600 or so — is having a positive effect on sales as is the extension to notebooks. This could be the holiday season breakout for the Media Center.

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