Windows 7 Media Center

[Pob]

Anyone tried it? I got a copy of 7 on release day in the UK, and installed 64-bit version on a separate partition for dual-boot.
At first I was quite impressed with the Media Center - has come on a lot since I dabbled with the dark side before, what with it's built-in H264 decoder and Dolby digital.
On the plus side - automated setup, all I had to do was put in my postcode and it scanned for all DVB-T and DVB-S channels on my two Hauppauge tuners, including BBC HD and Luxe HD, and downloaded a full guide - I nearly fainted! Video quality good, recordings good, and best of all the very slick interface.
On the negative side - no Dolby pro-logic; surround sound only from DVD's or some HD programmes. No live preview - hard drive always churning. Recordings all in WTV format, SD recordings taking up huge amounts of space and HD recordings cobbled to not work if burnt to DVD etc. No ITV HD recording /playback (though can be watched with a registry hack). Constant churning of hard drive and slow when looking through libraries. Well publicised problems with waking from S3 sleep.
I gave it a full week to be fair, but it became more and more apparent how much better GBPVR is, and how great it is to have the ability to alter decoders and settiings easily. I found myself choosing 'old version of Windows' on the boot screen more and more frequently. I was going to install GBPVR on 7, but for the life of me I can't think of any reason to do so! So an interesting week, but made me appreciate GBPVR all the more.

[pcostanza]

I've been using Media Center with dual cable card tuners since Vista was in beta. For cable cards, I love it. My other tuners are committed to GBPVR. I personally can't knock MC because I rarely use it for my 'normal' tuners but it has worked like it was designed for me.
I think it's got a DRM anchor on it's neck.

[psycik]

I just did a couple of tests with the W7 media center the other day, an dcoming straing from my GB system (with the power dvd codecs) to the native W7 h.264 codecs, I wasn't overly impressed. Though the W7 codecs were a little soft and not nearly as sharp as the Power DVD codec.

[johnsonx42]

thanks for the report Pob... I've been contemplating giving the new W7 media center a try, but it looks like you saved me the trouble.

[whurlston]

It's slick for someone who has never used a PVR software and from a developer standpoint, the UI programming interface is kind of nice (coverflow designs, etc can be done easily). But I absolutely hate the "cloud" based menus. Everything in the libraries feels way too packed and jumbled for me. It's like trying to navigate Walmart the day before Christmas.

[psycik]

But there's no expansion (from developers) avilable though is there? i.e no API?

[systemshark]

So we were talking about Media centre in the office a couple of days ago, basically within the archtecture teams, about 5 of us have PVR's with only me running GBPVR.

It was suggested I move to MC 7 'cause its better' from the four

One chaps reason for running MC was it was from Microsoft.
Another was it was his first PVR and didn't like linux and he said he couldn't find any others.
Next was the 'my wife works for Microsoft' so I use MC cause it's free and it works well
Finally the last chap reason was the he doesn't like Linux versions

So we started to talk about features... MC7 can do it all said chap 1. Really said I how about control a STB said I ?

Build in support for EPG was another suggestion.... Yep got that from several sources said I ....

Great User Interface / WAF ... agreed as important and my wife can use GBPVR....

Twin Tuners was another reason.... Great said I, I'm running five with three different channel lineups/sources. I assume it handles all this.... I guess the slience means no.


So i think MC is a good choice but the 'professionals' choice is GBPVR...

[whurlston]

But there's no expansion (from developers) avilable though is there? i.e no API?

Very limited. Most of the "API" is center on the UI. Adding actually functionality, very limited and difficult. GBPVR's API is so simple and robust in comparison.

@ systemshark: You forgot to ask them how long it takes to get bug fixes (like the one that prevents people from recording certain shows on broadcast TV: first reported in 03/2007 by Canadian users and no fix yet). Oh, and ask how many of them are running other PCs as clients.

[psycik]

yeah thats what I figured. The main advantage of W7 is that fact it's codecs work over here for our freeview|HD. But once installed you drop gbpvr on it. And use that - much better.

[martint123]

So we started to talk about features... MC7 can do it all said chap 1.

Doesn't demo'ing EWA to them from work shut them up as well?