Microsoft sending mixed messages about Windows futures with 'Fiji'?

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This isn't even strictly a Beta Tester issue

Microsoft realised that MCE systems just weren't flying out the door and then correctly perceived that it makes more sense to bundle it with Vista so that OEMs can either make a "home entertainment center" with it - or let users configure their own. Either way, Microsoft sells a copy of Vista, which is the POINT of all this.

Having done that, now they seem to be reversing course back to the 'only prebuilt systems need apply' mindset, which was strangling MCE in the first place.

Let me start with the obvious: DirecTV and CableCard really aren't big players yet, so missing that - most people in the world can live without it. It's not even used up here in Canada and we have far greater cable TV market penetration.

On the OTHER hand, we're in the middle of transition from analogue to digital - and worse, three or four different KINDS of digital, which means support for multiple tuners - even if not all at the same time, but at least allowing the user to switch on demand, is kind of essential.

Look at all the NTSC/ATSC/Clear QAM cards showing up - and the PAL/SECAM/DVB-T cards in Europe (not to mention Seg1 in Asia). In Europe in particular, the ability to switch between PAL/SECAM and DVB-T is necessary until all the countries switch to DVB-T.

Even up here, Canada isn't switching to ATSC until 2011 (maybe) while the US is switching in 2009 (maybe).

To me this is far, far more important a feature. Also, the use of MPEG-2 as a primary encoding format sucks. MPEG-4 uses far less space and is more compatible. Programs like Beyond TV can do it - why can't MCE?

Finally releasing this as an OEM upgrade will essentially kill MCE on Vista. It means you can't get upgrades without bying either a new copy of Vista (maybe) or worse, a new computer.

That's nuts. What - does the MCE group think they're working for Apple?

Posted by: TheWerewolf   Posted on: 08/05/08 You are currently: a Guest | Members login | Terms of Use

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