Microsoft Media Center Vs Apple FrontRow - My thoughts
There is an ongoing debate about Media Center v Apple’s Frontrow, so here are my thoughts.
Om Malik and Charlie Owen have traded comments about it, my thoughts are:
1) What is the point of the 10′ app with out the PVR functions. Ok internet downloadable content is coming but the single element of Media Center that sold it to my wife was the PVR functions. I would not spend the time and effort to get a home entertainment system running if I was still using VHS . I don’t even know when the motor racing is on, it just turns up in my recorded TV :)
2) the 2nd most important thing for me is the developer story and Front Row misses that. It’s not just that I am a developer, even if I wasn’t it still would be critical for me as a user. I love the 3rd party applications that have been developed for Media Center. Being able to check the weather, read RSS feeds, voice control your PC, Home automation etc. All developers need to do is download the SDK and your away. There is a ton of source code on the Media Center blogs.
So Media Center and Frontrow should not be spoken in the same sentence, its like comparing apples with oranges ;)
October 25th, 2005 at 8:13 am
Hi Ian! While I agree with you on Point #1 now, back in college that was a huge usage of my computer, was to play movies and music, so I do see a usage for it.
That being said, i do agree 100% that they shouldn’t be compared really, because they are very different, as the TV functionality is a HUGE factor of MCE, and is the #1 reason I use MCE today.
October 30th, 2005 at 10:48 am
I’ve been a Media Center user for about the past year and I believe Microsoft has done a good job with the product. I haven’t seriously used a Mac since System 7 (because my employer standardized on PCs like the rest of the known universe and I have to conform), but I know not to underestimate the creative souls at Apple. FrontRow is nothing more than a version 0.5 product and it’s just a matter of time before Jobs and his army of geniuses crank out something that puts MCE to shame. Let’s hope this threat causes Microsoft to put some real effort into continuing to enhance MCE (Vista). In the mean time, I’m buying a Mac for insurance…
November 1st, 2005 at 7:42 pm
well I won’t be buying a mac. I do think Microsoft are pushing the development of Media Center hard