Do you use Windows media center in your desktop/laptop pc?

[hhhd1]

I am only interested in how is it used on desktop and laptops,
I am not interested in knowing whether it is good in dedicated media center pcs (HTPC),

just want to know how people are comfortable using big buttons with limited functionality .. aka metro style


First impression of windows media center - years ago - was that it is pretty good, and that it could be used to open media files ..etc, but then, it has limited functionality with big buttons, so not really as useful as VLC, Media player classic, or Windows media player.

Answers:
- Use if all the time / have it on auto start-up with the computer.
- Use it for most of media viewing.
- Rarely used.
- Never use it / forgot it even existed.

 

[Anubis]

never used it, i didnt forget about it i just never used it

 

[darkewaffle]

Never used it, but your premise is bollocks.

 

[lxskllr]

I never used it when I used Windows. I could do everything I wanted with Foobar2000 and VLC.

 

[Gonad the Barbarian]

I only use it on my desktop on the rare occasion I have live TV running in a window. On my HTPC it's my most used program. I think your premise is spot on.

 

[jhansman]

I rarely use it, and sometimes forget it's even available. Apparently, so do most other users, as it's being eliminated from Win8.

 

[pauldun170]

I'll sometimes use it during parties.
Run a slideshow+playlist on the TV in the living room.
I used to use it all the time as my media center but I moved on to XBMC once I finally moved into the world of HD movies.
If I had a tuner card in my HTPC, I'd probably use it more often.

 

[RPB]

I use it only for OTA TV recording and viewing of shows and VLC for everything else.

 

[ViRGE]

I only use it on my desktop on the rare occasion I have live TV running in a window. On my HTPC it's my most used program.

Ditto.

 

[Jaskalas]

It appears that Microsoft never successfully (or even tried) to market WMC to the vast majority of us.

 

[brotj7]

Rarely in my desktop.

 

[IGemini]

The only time I tried using it was for MKV transcoding to my 360 with the DivX codec pack...which only worked with some of my videos.

 

[dawks]

I am only interested in how is it used on desktop and laptops,
I am not interested in knowing whether it is good in dedicated media center pcs (HTPC),

just want to know how people are comfortable using big buttons with limited functionality .. aka metro style


First impression of windows media center - years ago - was that it is pretty good, and that it could be used to open media files ..etc, but then, it has limited functionality with big buttons, so not really as useful as VLC, Media player classic, or Windows media player.

Answers:
- Use if all the time / have it on auto start-up with the computer.
- Use it for most of media viewing.
- Rarely used.
- Never use it / forgot it even existed.

Its not meant to be a replacement for VLC, Media Player Classic or Windows Media Player.. It really is meant for HTPC.. or to act as a TV Guide/PVR. I'd love to use it as my PVR software but my cable provider doesnt support cablecards, and forces use to use the shitty moto boxes.

 

[Infraction Jack]

I use media center for watching live broadcast tv. I have no interest in the PVR aspect of it. I wish I could find a simple easy to use program that allows me to watch live broadcast tv without having the PVR stuff bundled into it.

 

[jtvang125]

It's more of a user interface for your media rather than a dedicated media player application, hence the large fonts and simplicity. It makes it easy to read and navigate while sitting at a distance when connected to a tv.

 

[notposting]

My vote was for my HTPC before I read the topic, sorry. We have a dedicated HTPC running it, but on the desktop/laptops the only time I open it is if I'm testing something out for 7MC before putting it on the HTPC.

Otherwise media files are getting opened in WMP or VLC...no reason to use 7MC if the "10 foot interface" isn't needed.

On the other hand, a decentralized media collection and 7MC makes replacing an HTPC pretty easy. Had ours crap out a few years ago when we had guests coming to stay with us for a long weekend. Slapped the laptop on top of the media center case for the weekend, plugged the remote sensor into it...tada! Between the HDHomerun (network tuner) and WHS (networked movies/music/recorded-TV) it was basically an invisible transition.

 

[Binky]

just want to know how people are comfortable using big buttons with limited functionality .. aka metro style

This part isn't true. Media Center is not made to be used with a mouse. It's not the same as metro. Using a remote, the media center interface works fine. It's pretty annoying to use with a mouse - far more annoying than the metro interface.

I use media center on the desktop to access OTA broadcasts recorded on my HTPC. I also use it to access Media Browser. For everything else, I use Media Player Classic.

 

[WelshBloke]

I use it a lot. I have a tv tuner card in my PC and the TV guide and scheduled recording in WMC is miles better than anything else that I've used (even if the picture quality isnt) .

 

[Dirigible]

My desktop is my htpc. Use it for live tv, dvr, and Netflix interface.

 

[dagamer34]

It's the best DVR in the world. Been using it for the last 3 years with a CableCard tuner, I'd never want to go back to a cable company DVR.

 

[PingviN]

First impression of windows media center - years ago - was that it is pretty good, and that it could be used to open media files ..etc, but then, it has limited functionality with big buttons, so not really as useful as VLC, Media player classic, or Windows media player.

It's not meant to compete with media players like VLC, that's what the Windows Media Player is for -.- It's made for HTCP use, much like Mediaportal or XBMC.

No, I don't use it. I use Mediaportal. And a remote.

 

[rolodomo]

Rely on it for viewing live TV on various computers (which are not being used as HTPCs) acting a clients to a live media server.

WMC's cablelabs certification is critical.

Also rely on it for viewing recorded media on various computers (which are not being used as HTPCS) acting a clients to a file server. I like its library presentation.

 

[bbhaag]

I use it to play movies and tv shows on our Xbox. You need to set up the Xbox as an extender in order for it stream video properly from your PC.

It works good for what we use it for. What I would really like to see is Microsoft updating there codec support. I had to remux some HD MKV files to M2TS in order to get them to play on the Xbox.

 

[gmaster456]

I did a couple times for netflix. But I liked the web interface better so I now use that on the few occasions I watch netflix on my computer.

 

[Berryracer]

The first thing I do when I install Windows is go to Control Panel, Program and Features, then I remove the following useless crap:

1- Internet Explorer
2- Media Features (all of the, including WMP, Media Center, and DVD Maker)
3- Tablet PC Components