Comments on: How I use Windows Media Center http://bjdraw.com/2009/02/18/how-i-use-windows-media-center/ How good can it be, if it isn't HD? Fri, 03 Feb 2012 19:34:32 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Ben Drawbaugh http://bjdraw.com/2009/02/18/how-i-use-windows-media-center/comment-page-1/#comment-2372 Ben Drawbaugh Mon, 21 Feb 2011 16:11:18 +0000 http://bjdraw.com/?p=275#comment-2372 You do realize you replied to a two year old blog post on a personal blog. I mean what were you expecting to find on a personal blog? Sorry that Google and me let you down. You do realize you replied to a two year old blog post on a personal blog. I mean what were you expecting to find on a personal blog? Sorry that Google and me let you down.

]]> By: Jim http://bjdraw.com/2009/02/18/how-i-use-windows-media-center/comment-page-1/#comment-2371 Jim Mon, 21 Feb 2011 15:43:50 +0000 http://bjdraw.com/?p=275#comment-2371 Totally useless write up. I can't even believe this came up in a google search. Understandably that these are your thoughts on your site, Ben, but seriously they help nobody. You have no historical basis in which to be writing about. My advice is to keep a pen and paper diary about such thoughts and stop wasting other people's time. Totally useless write up. I can’t even believe this came up in a google search.

Understandably that these are your thoughts on your site, Ben, but seriously they help nobody.

You have no historical basis in which to be writing about. My advice is to keep a pen and paper diary about such thoughts and stop wasting other people’s time.

]]> By: Ben Drawbaugh http://bjdraw.com/2009/02/18/how-i-use-windows-media-center/comment-page-1/#comment-1345 Ben Drawbaugh Sat, 11 Apr 2009 17:05:06 +0000 http://bjdraw.com/?p=275#comment-1345 I spent $1200 on a DVR and figured out that it was actually cheaper than I paid for TiVo once I considered the service fees.<br> <br> With no single standard video it can be impossible for just about any device to support every format. That being said when you consider how well the DVR functionality works combined with the ability to transcode MC is hard to beat for an all around living room experience. I spent $1200 on a DVR and figured out that it was actually cheaper than I paid for TiVo once I considered the service fees.

With no single standard video it can be impossible for just about any device to support every format. That being said when you consider how well the DVR functionality works combined with the ability to transcode MC is hard to beat for an all around living room experience.

]]> By: Thunderdome http://bjdraw.com/2009/02/18/how-i-use-windows-media-center/comment-page-1/#comment-1343 Thunderdome Fri, 10 Apr 2009 18:37:54 +0000 http://bjdraw.com/?p=275#comment-1343 My main use for Vista MCE is to watch videos. So I purchased a 360 for use as a media extender in the bedroom, and guess what? Not a single video will play on the 360. Sad. The 360 mce remote is also whacked. Pressing vol(-) changes the input on my TV, pressing it again changes the channel on the TV. The whole way we browse and view videos on MCE is junk. If I wanted to just browse blue folders, I'd change the colors of my desktop and go from there. My whole goal was to stay away from TV tuners and get my media elsewhere. Looks like Microsoft has gone the exact opposite direction. But who wants to spend $500+ on a DVR? Seriously? It needs to do something else. My main use for Vista MCE is to watch videos. So I purchased a 360 for use as a media extender in the bedroom, and guess what? Not a single video will play on the 360. Sad. The 360 mce remote is also whacked. Pressing vol(-) changes the input on my TV, pressing it again changes the channel on the TV. The whole way we browse and view videos on MCE is junk. If I wanted to just browse blue folders, I’d change the colors of my desktop and go from there.

My whole goal was to stay away from TV tuners and get my media elsewhere. Looks like Microsoft has gone the exact opposite direction. But who wants to spend $500+ on a DVR? Seriously? It needs to do something else.

]]> By: Chris Lanier's Blog : Short Bits: DivX, Links, News http://bjdraw.com/2009/02/18/how-i-use-windows-media-center/comment-page-1/#comment-1212 Chris Lanier's Blog : Short Bits: DivX, Links, News Wed, 04 Mar 2009 03:09:26 +0000 http://bjdraw.com/?p=275#comment-1212 [...] How Ben Drawbaugh uses Windows Media Center [Ben Drawbaugh] [...] [...] How Ben Drawbaugh uses Windows Media Center [Ben Drawbaugh] [...]

]]> By: Mark http://bjdraw.com/2009/02/18/how-i-use-windows-media-center/comment-page-1/#comment-1179 Mark Tue, 24 Feb 2009 07:26:34 +0000 http://bjdraw.com/?p=275#comment-1179 Hey Ben I've heard you talk about not being able to record the TV buffer a few times. Try this: http://www.xpmediacentre.com.au/community/windows-tv-files-conversion-archiving/14698-timeshift-buffer-backup-app-record-live-tv-buffer.html Mark Hey Ben

I’ve heard you talk about not being able to record the TV buffer a few times. Try this:

http://www.xpmediacentre.com.au/community/windows-tv-files-conversion-archiving/14698-timeshift-buffer-backup-app-record-live-tv-buffer.html

Mark

]]> By: Josh S http://bjdraw.com/2009/02/18/how-i-use-windows-media-center/comment-page-1/#comment-1156 Josh S Wed, 18 Feb 2009 23:33:47 +0000 http://bjdraw.com/?p=275#comment-1156 Ben, I am the same way as you, VMC is primarily my DVR first and for most. But I do run a few plugins OML, Heatwave, VMCnetflix, and now Secondrun.tv for plugins. We all know you're an HD "snob" ;) so we can't put it past you for not using plugins like VMCnetflix or Secondrun.tv for hulu. -Josh Ben,
I am the same way as you, VMC is primarily my DVR first and for most. But I do run a few plugins OML, Heatwave, VMCnetflix, and now Secondrun.tv for plugins.

We all know you’re an HD “snob” ;) so we can’t put it past you for not using plugins like VMCnetflix or Secondrun.tv for hulu.

-Josh

]]> By: Ben Drawbaugh http://bjdraw.com/2009/02/18/how-i-use-windows-media-center/comment-page-1/#comment-1154 Ben Drawbaugh Wed, 18 Feb 2009 21:25:07 +0000 http://bjdraw.com/?p=275#comment-1154 Andres, Can't believe I've never ran into that before, it looks great! I'll try it when I get home, thanks. Andres,
Can’t believe I’ve never ran into that before, it looks great! I’ll try it when I get home, thanks.

]]> By: Ben Drawbaugh http://bjdraw.com/2009/02/18/how-i-use-windows-media-center/comment-page-1/#comment-1153 Ben Drawbaugh Wed, 18 Feb 2009 21:22:24 +0000 http://bjdraw.com/?p=275#comment-1153 Jonathan, Yes it will control the 360, but I don't use it to. It controls my HA controller which controls the 360 via either TCP or IR. <br> The reason for this extra step is to avoid needing a programmable remote. So when I'm watching a Blu-ray then the play button sends a play IR command to my BD300, but when using the Media Center it issues a play command via VMCcontroller. <br> I've tried a bunch of programmable remotes and think they are too complicated for normal people to use. The last one I had was the Harmony One, which is great hardware, but I couldn't program the power button to turn the system On, and on top of that the touch screen intimidates people. Jonathan,
Yes it will control the 360, but I don’t use it to. It controls my HA controller which controls the 360 via either TCP or IR.

The reason for this extra step is to avoid needing a programmable remote. So when I’m watching a Blu-ray then the play button sends a play IR command to my BD300, but when using the Media Center it issues a play command via VMCcontroller.

I’ve tried a bunch of programmable remotes and think they are too complicated for normal people to use. The last one I had was the Harmony One, which is great hardware, but I couldn’t program the power button to turn the system On, and on top of that the touch screen intimidates people.

]]> By: Jonathan http://bjdraw.com/2009/02/18/how-i-use-windows-media-center/comment-page-1/#comment-1152 Jonathan Wed, 18 Feb 2009 20:42:43 +0000 http://bjdraw.com/?p=275#comment-1152 Clifton- If i'm not mistaken, to rip CDs to MP3s in Media Center, change the settings (encoding type, bit rate, format...) in Media Player and Media Center should use those settings. Ben- That remote you linked to in this article, do you use that with your 360 or do you use a Harmony remote? Can you use that remote with the 360? I find the 360 Harmony remote sluggish and it doesn't have all the media center buttons on it!! Clifton- If i’m not mistaken, to rip CDs to MP3s in Media Center, change the settings (encoding type, bit rate, format…) in Media Player and Media Center should use those settings.

Ben- That remote you linked to in this article, do you use that with your 360 or do you use a Harmony remote? Can you use that remote with the 360? I find the 360 Harmony remote sluggish and it doesn’t have all the media center buttons on it!!

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