Microsoft Media Center going awry, say critics
Media Center in Windows Vista
The idea that the Media Center PC is off track is gaining ground among some industry observers. Why link everything to a computer, they say, when it’s clearly not the best way of operating many devices? Could it be that Microsoft is seeking world domination by making almost everything dependent on a Media Center PC?
If that’s the strategy, it’s getting a few belly laughs from commentators and competitors. Take Steve Jobs of Apple. He famously wrote off Media Center PCs in a conference call with financial analysts last year. “We might as well make it a toaster too,” he said. “I want it to brown my bagels when I’m listening to my music. And we’re toying with refrigeration, too.”
Can the Media Center survive such scathing criticism? Well, according to APC Magazine, it’s up for grabs.
Dan Warne of APC speculates : “… what if the industry’s presumptions about the future of ’converged’ computing is fundamentally wrong? It’s not certain people really want to record and watch TV on a boxy home computer… even if it can connect to a loungeroom A/V setup.”
Now imagine: a tiny, silent Mac Mini with an inbuilt iPod dock connector, an inbuilt DVD recorder, and a video iPod which could automatically synchronise with the TV programs automatically recorded on your Mac Mini the night before. … It’s about the perfect media centre concept … exactly what Microsoft promised and hasn’t delivered at all.
Windows Media Centre is typical of a technology company’s solution, Warne believes, while Apple is now securely positioning itself as a content company which just happens to have cool technology to go with it.
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POSTED IN: Corporate News, New Products, Speculation
4 opinions for Microsoft Media Center going awry, say critics
Mac beach
Oct 24, 2005 at 9:27 pm
More like they are trying to hold their ground by throwing everything at the wall to see what sticks. Apple can’t afford to do this, almost no company can afford to do this. In another year or two Microsoft may find that it can no longer afford to do this either.
Maybe it’s time they “re-innovate” themselves.
Duncan Riley
Oct 25, 2005 at 1:24 am
I’ve got to say that I don’t agree with the so-called “experts” because once you’ve used MCE you wouldn’t want to give it up. Sure, we need more interactive services out of the box but there are already quite a few plugins available that allow things like Web TV and Radio in MCE, and once you rip your CDs onto the box and your movie collection it really is an all in one solution.
John
Oct 25, 2005 at 8:16 am
You’ve got it, Mac :-)
John
Oct 25, 2005 at 8:22 am
Good to have a response from someone who’s actually used the thing, Duncan. In the end the market will decide. Gotta say I think Apple may well inch ahead on this ;-)
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