Microsoft Monitor, Windows Media Center Rolls Up:

Generally, I was dissatisfied with how Media Center PCs were sold during my mock shopping expeditions.

I completely agree and I know from talking and meeting with our retail team that this is a hard problem to solve involving OEMs, retailers and other parnters. The good news is that we are engaged and are working at improving our retail prescence.

Paul Thurrott's review:

For now, existing XP Media Center Edition 2005 users have a wonderful and free update that gives them new capabilities and better stability and performance. And potential Media Center PC buyers no longer have any reason to hold out. Either way, UR2 will give you the best possible PC-based DVR and digital media experience available today. Highly recommended.

Charlie corrects a few inaccuraries from Paul's review.

Ian Dixon, Media Center Show #28. I'm on and chat about Update Rollup 2.

Thomas Hawk is a hard customer to please:

It looks like we are going to have to wait until Vista to get the really good stuff.

:)

2:03:53 PM   []

Niveus Media, Inc., manufacturer of media entertainment devices for the high-end audio/video market, is excited to announce its newest digital home solution, the Niveus Disc Changer. With support for over a thousand DVD discs, the Niveus Disc Changer paired with an award-winning Niveus Media Center running Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 with Update Rollup 2, enables the “My DVDs” feature within the Windows Media Center interface.

Looks like it's called The Ice Vault 200:

1:29:07 PM   []