Review: Microsoft Media Center 2005

Recently I have purchased a Microsoft® Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 PC to replace my old VCR. I hesitated between a KISS DP-558 and a MCE, but I’m lucky to have chosen the Microsoft® Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 PC.

Installation
After some installation challenges I managed to set it up. The trouble had to do with the NVIDIA GeForce4 MX driver. Apparently the latest NVIDIA driver had trouble with the TV-out signal. The older driver worked fine.
After a succesful setup of the Microsoft® Windows XP operating system, I just had to start the Media Center and complete the initial launch wizard. During this wizard, the primary output is configured and the TV guide is downloaded, based on the location and signal you receive. The entire wizard could be completed with the remote control. No keyboard was required.

Use
The ease of use is great. All features can be controlled by the remote control. The first thing I dis, was tuning into lice TV. Just as my regular TV I was able to switch between channels. Another way to watch TV is the TV Guide. With a single button you can open the TV Guide with all programs per channel. Just select the program and press ‘Play’ to watch. If the program has not yet started, you can also chose to record the upcoming program. When live TV is stopped or paused, the remaining program is automatically recorded in the background. Just resume to continue from the moment you stopped or paused the program.
The radio channels still need to be programmed manually. Luckily I have an old-fashion radio ;-). All other features such as DVD Player, burn etc. are easy to understand.

Plugins
Now I have to look for good plugins. I zould like to be able to play other formats on my Media Center. By default Media Center supports (and records) in MS-DVR format, but no dvix, xvid etc. To enable these formats, simple install ffdshow and most formats can be played.
Another nice plugin is mceWeather. This plugin provides a weather forcast for your own region.

I have been using the Media Center for a couple of weeks now and I removed the VCR from by inventory list. The ease of use and the quality convinced me.

Release: VMware Workstation 5

Finally the new version of VMware Workstation 5.0 has been released to he web at VMware. This new version has many new features:

• Multiple snapshots
• Teams of VM’s
• Clones
• Better performance
• Improved 64-bit support
• New guests support
• Movie record and playback, ideal for presentations
• VMware Virtual Machine Importer (Virtual PC > VMware conversion)

Due to these new features, the VM format has changed, so be aware that you have to create a legacy format VM if you want to reuse is in older products.

You can start your download here.

Release: Ubuntu 5.04

“Ubuntu� is an ancient African word, meaning “humanity to others�. Ubuntu also means “I am what I am because of who we all are�. The Ubuntu Linux distribution brings the spirit of Ubuntu to the software world.
Ubuntu is a complete Linux-based operating system, freely available with both community and professional support.

According to DistroWatch.com Ubuntu 5.04 (The Hoary Hedgehog Release) is the number 1 Linux distribution, that recently kicked Mandriva (Mandrake) from the first place.

The good thing about Ubuntu is it’s size. A complete Linux desktop environment still on one CD. Other distributions exist op multiple CD’s or even DVD.
Another good thing about Ubuntu is the FREE CD distribution. Register here for FREE CD’s with the latest version of Ubuntu.

Ubuntu comes with a Gnome 2 interface and for the KDE lovers, a separate version called Kubuntu is released. The core of both versions is identical.

Ubuntu is supported through a public forum, where you can ask anything. Due the the success of Ubuntu, a lot of 3rd party communities become available. A quite good support site is the Unofficial Ubuntu Starter Guide.

Read more at Ubuntu.

Ubuntu under Microsoft Virtual PC
If you install Ubuntu in Microsoft Virtual PC, the GUI is scrambled due to a incorrect default color quality. To fix this, follow these steps:

1. Boot in recovery mode or go to another virtual terminal
2. Log in as root
3. cd /etc/X11
4. pico xorg.conf (edits xorg.conf)

Now, scroll down in pico to Section “Screen� and find the entry named “DefaultDepth�. Change the setting you find there from 24 to 16.

5. Ctrl O
6. Enter
7. Ctrl X
8. reboot

The emulated audio adapter is not recognized by Ubuntu, so experience Ubuntu under Microsoft Virtual PC silently.

Ubuntu under VMware Workstation 5
No tweaks are neccessary to install Ubuntu 5.04 under VMware Workstation 5. Even audio works fine.

Windows XP Professional x64 Edition driver quest

Since the RTM of Windows XP Professional x64 Edition the search for drivers started. A good site for available drivers can be found at AMD website. Click here for the beginning of your driver quest.