Gordon Laing

Ever since Microsoft first launched Windows XP Media Center Edition (MCE), I've wondered why a company so keen on pushing its platform has made it so hard for customers to buy it.

Here's one of the slickest media interfaces ever designed, but only available if you buy it pre-installed on a brand new, high-spec system, excluding anyone who wants to try it on their existing PC.

Microsoft argued that this was for the best out-of-the-box experience. MCE's fussiness over TV tuners could present compatibility issues for anyone installing it on their own system. But surely all Microsoft needed to do was post a list of compatible hardware, allowing interested users to buy the required parts. They might already own some of them.

I appreciate the out-of-the-box argument, but feel Microsoft's MCE strategy excludes many people with decent PCs who are interested in the software, but not enough to buy an new system to run it.

They have stuck with packages such as Showshifter which do a great job and enjoy a wide range of third-party plug-ins, extending its capabilities.

But however much I enjoy using Showshifter, I feel envious every time I see a demo of MCE with its animated menus, natty icons and slick appearance. Say what you like about Microsoft, but it knows how to make an interface look pretty. And while that may seem shallow, looks and ease-of-use are crucial for anything used in the living room.

I'm not alone in falling for its charms: you could almost sense the anticipation on media PC forums when earlier this summer, Microsoft announced its plans to broaden the distribution of Windows XP MCE to include system builders.

While this wasn't the retail upgrade pack everyone hoped for, it did mean that the bare discs supplied to system builders could be sold on to end-users. Finally, enthusiasts could get their hands on MCE without having to buy a new PC, and it would be the newly announced 2005 edition.

Before you get too carried away, though, there's a couple of caveats. First, the system builders must comply with their OEM licence and only sell the MCE software discs with additional hardware, although this could in theory be a mouse, keyboard or hard disk.

System builders I've spoken to so far reckon the cost of the software discs alone could work out at around £90. Second, you're then pretty much on your own. After all, you've just bought the discs designed for system builders who are supposed to understand the issues and have the required expertise.

There's no end-user helpline here, no glossy manual to refer to. You may find help on various forums or from a friendly system builder, but the end-user who buys the MCE discs has to understand that they're on their own.

The software set-up is straightforward, as the MCE components are integrated as part of a new XP installation, and the £90 or so you'll pay includes a new XP licence. So you install a new version of XP, then start the MCE configuration which sets up TV tuners and remote controls.

Which leads onto the tricky bit: the TV tuners and remote controls. MCE is strict about what hardware it works with, and there's a good chance that the TV tuner you may already own won't cut the mustard.

Even if it's on the compatible list, you'll need to have specific MCE drivers for it, which aren't always easy to find. Of course, now MCE is potentially available to end-users, hopefully some companies will start marketing products which aren't just designed for OEMs. For example, Hauppauge in the US now sells a TV tuner to end-users with MCE drivers.

System builders won't sell you the MCE disc without some hardware, so it would seem sensible to bundle it with a compatible TV tuner and remote control. Then at least you'll know the hard part - sourcing the right hardware and drivers - has been taken care of.

At this point, you may be asking yourself whether MCE is worth all the effort. From what I've seen so far of the 2005 edition, it's not that big a step from the 2004 version. The main new features are support for High Definition TV and dual-tuners, although the former is of limited use in the UK and the latter is slated for Showshifter in 2005.

There's Sonic's DVD authoring package, a version of MSN Messenger with the MCE interface, and cosmetic improvements, but it's an incremental release.

Some aspects remain unchanged, such as not supporting smartcard-based satellite tuners, not recognising radio channels broadcast over digital terrestrial TV as audio-only, and still having to exit the MCE interface to create playlists in Media Player using the standard XP controls.

This latter aspect is madness: a dedicated media interface should let you control media creation and management, especially if you're operating it with a remote control from a distance.

That said, I still have a soft spot for MCE. It has its faults, but remains the best-looking media front-end I've used.

I still find it bizarre that Microsoft doesn't seem interested in marketing Media Center to enthusiasts keen to install it on their own PCs, but at least they now have access to the 2005 edition, albeit through a somewhat underground channel. I'll be interested to see whether anyone takes them up on the offer.

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