Windows Media Centre replacement

jippers · Post by **jippers** » Wed Jun 13, 2007 6:11 am

Hi all,

Sorry I haven't been around in a while - long story...

Anyway, recently got a new computer and it contains windows media centre on it. When I first saw it it looked cool, but now, having used it, I think it sucks. Is there anything else I can replace it with that does all the same stuff, but better?

I'm too busy to do all the research myself, so I'll come and ask those in the know - you guys!

Cheers

Mostess · Post by **Mostess** » Wed Jun 13, 2007 1:00 pm

I'm a big fan of XP-MCE. We have two machines, one Gateway and one Dell. The Dell is a little clunky (I think there's not quite enough video RAM), but the little video blips are infrequent and harmless. The joy of having only one monitor in the living room (the other is in the basement) is priceless. I use both computers for recording. They're real work-horse machines: running Audition while recording two television shows.

If you haven't visited thegreenbutton.com, you should try it. Lots of hardcore and softcore users there. Help you resolve any technical problems.

Of course, if you just don't like the feel or the UI, go with a TiVo and use your PC for more PCy things. I understand the new TiVos can make computer-readable files. Same diff.

jippers · Post by **jippers** » Thu Jun 14, 2007 4:56 am

Hey Mostess,

Good to hear from you. Good to see you're still around.

I just found the interface a little bit cluncky and I ddin't like the way it sorts artists, especially if you have a few compilation albums in there.

Also too, I don't like the way WMP sources metadata for your CDs. While I was a uni student, I used to put two albums by the same artist on the 1 CD, and once I rip them in, it won't update the data correctly. I wanted to get away from writing the track names in myself but this seems to be happening more often than not. I thought you could select the 10 or so tracks that belong to one album, right click and select the title they belong to, and then bingo - they're updated. But that doesn't happen so often...

Thanx for your feedback though, mate. Oh yeah, Audition rocks too. Just upgraded to it a few months ago. Awesome!

Cheers

Mostess · Post by **Mostess** » Thu Jun 14, 2007 5:57 am

And good to hear from you!

Sounds like your problem is with Windows Media Player, which is basically what the MCE looks to for music organization.

I absolutely don't care an ounce enough to spend one minute "organizing" my music on those machines for the reasons you mentioned. Though I used to do it by using some freeware to edit the ID3 tags and turning off all WMP's options to "help" me "organize". I can't remember what that freeware was, but it was one of many from a simple Google search.

But I have a soft spot for the MCE. Disclaimer: I did some useability research for Microsoft for the UI, though most of my specific work isn't in the final product.

jippers · Post by **jippers** » Thu Jun 14, 2007 8:07 pm

I just wish WMP would look for album data from somewhere else other than one of it's own sites, like gracenote or freedb or something.

I also didn't like the way Media Centre sorts it's artists names - I have about 200 CDs in theh library, but about 560 artists, because of the compilation CDs there!

Also too, I'm fussy when it comes to my music collection. I like it organised. Plus it helps my wife too, who constantly whinges she can never find anything to listen to in my collection because there is so much of it. If it is properly organised, she can just find stuff as she feels like it.

But I'll take your advice though. That green buton site is also helpful too. Thanx.

jack · Post by **jack** » Thu Jun 14, 2007 8:54 pm

i just have to say that jipper's "step up" is one of the 12 greatest songfight songs of all time.

good to see you mate!

Dan-O from Five-O · Post by **Dan-O from Five-O** » Thu Jun 14, 2007 11:29 pm

jack wrote:i just have to say that jipper's "step up" is one of the 12 greatest songfight songs of all time.

This makes me real curious about your top 10.

Or 100 for that matter.

jack · Post by **jack** » Fri Jun 15, 2007 6:57 am

Dan-O from Five-O wrote:
jack wrote:i just have to say that jipper's "step up" is one of the 12 greatest songfight songs of all time.
This makes me real curious about your top 10.

Or 100 for that matter.

previously posted elsewhere.......

but since the stream is probably broken now, in a nutshell:

1. more than soup - starfinger
2. there are so many possibilities - puce
3. hold my calls - lonbobby
4. accelerator - hoblit
5. texas - the sober irishman
6. sunny again - roymond
7. step up - jippers
8. everybody now - ants invisible
9. deuce - abominomikiss
10. shreds - sonofsupercar
11. the blue signal - the landfills
12. gonna be your man - MC Frontalot

of course this list was made a couple years ago, but these all still rank as favorites.

roymond · Post by **roymond** » Fri Jun 15, 2007 8:51 am

As you know, I'd move Jippers way up that list. I have to state this each year until justice is served and everyone wakes up to it on their clock radio.

jippers · Post by **jippers** » Tue Jun 19, 2007 9:42 pm

Thank you so much to all who have ranked my tune in their top 10. I am humbled and flattered by the accolades.

I have been out of the loop for so long that I have missed so much of the great music that is produced by you all. I haven't downloaded anything from SF.org since Jan 2006 so I have a lot of catching up to do!

I hope to get back in the ring soon. Keep up the good work one and all!