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It is rare that Microsoft and I agree, here however we do, although you can purchase a version of Windows XP for Media Centre with a hardware purchase I would certainly recommend that you purchase it with a built Media Centre PC from a vendor. Not simply because I am a wimp but also because it is extremely fussy about what it’s connected to and that does not just mean approved hardware but also approved drivers some of which do not even show themselves willingly on the manufacturers web sites. Without these it will just not work. I know of very experienced system builders who have just given up and gone back to producing standard PC’s.

If you are still determined to try, you need a very specialised shopping list. XP for Media Centre should be available when you purchase at least one item of hardware and it should cost around £80. Next it will only work on a bare PC so even if you have data on the PC you will not be able to upgrade. If you should want to connect to a network domain as far as I can see you get one chance during the initial install only.

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The places that are likely to give you the biggest problems are getting it to work with CD/DVD drives, graphics cards and TV tuners. Certainly if your PC already has these I would doubt if any of them will work with the MCE of XP. Save yourself a load of grief and buy versions of the hardware sold especially for MCE.

At this point you may think everything is okay, probably not, MCE records in MPEG2 and you need special software to read/play this, again MCE versions.

Why go to all this trouble, well a lot of people swear by the ‘Programming Guide’ something that is totally free in MCE it gives two weeks of programming from a quick download and then any connection can quickly update. Packages available are either or both not as good and or cost money as that ‘subscription’ word is used.

The version I used was on a unit supplied by a vendor and a review of that will follow in a week or so. It comes with twin digital TV tuners from Black Cat and these were a joy to use perhaps their one drawback is they take up two slots.

Using it with a TV as a monitor was not a lot of fun and I found that screen resolution needed to be no more than 800x600, however when used with a flat panel and DVI connection 1920x1200 looked excellent, and the many PVR programs I have recorded I enjoyed playing back slouched on the sofa as I would with TV.  

A lot of ‘other halfs’ do not like a computer in the lounge, well the MCE result may just sneak by simply by being a grey box looking like a DVD or video and perhaps the saving grace it has a special remote control (around £20) with the all important! Windows key in the centre.

If you are determined to build your own Media Centre then I wish you the very best of luck, my advice still is don’t but if determined then as least give it what it wants as far as CD/DVD graphics card and TV tuner. Then why not let all of us at GadgetSpeak know how you get on by writing about it however it turns out.