What's the point of PAYING for WMC

jimbo45

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Hi there
I'm not sure if WMC supplies any meaningful function these days - especially if you have to pay for it.

It won't play normal commercial DVD's, and for things like TV you don't need tuners etc any more --broadband these days is fast enough.

recently I was in LA and via a proxy was watching a live "footie" (Soccer) stream from the UK -- Internet even in the hotel on Wireless was perfectly fast enough for the video stream-- not even using the Hotel's Hi-Speed Lan - couldn't find a simple thing like a piece of Lan cable in W. Hollywood any more !!! Quality was fine for watching the game on the laptop --which I outputted to the Hotel bedroom's TV -- nice Samsung LCD -- well done W.,Hollywood hotels - far cheaper than downtown LA, (short bus ride to Santa Monica beach and Venice Blvd --also a great experience) and far more interesting than downtown LA.

Internet speed will not really be a limiting factor any more.

So can anyone tell me what do you use WMC for or are you installing it just because at the moment "It's there and free".

Cheers
jimbo
 

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I acquired the free WMC mainly to watch the recorded tv files I have on my desktop. When we take a trip on a train there is no internet and very spotty cell service. I have about 1T of programs that I have not watched (can record 4 programs at the same time). I now like to watch the recorded programs because I can skip the ADs A one hour program has up to 20 min. of ADs.
 

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I'm not bothering with it although I did get a key for it but as I only have the OEM version of 8 couldn't use it without upgrading to Pro.

I've decided not to bother, Asus included PowerDVD 10 so I can play DVDs. I can watch TV via Sky Go or BBC iPlayer, in fact I'm going to watch last weeks Africa shortly I downloaded it last night.

This is all via a wireless connection, my router is at the other end of the bungalow so I can't Ethernet connect to that but so far I'm having no problems doing things through wireless.
 

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I acquired the free WMC mainly to watch the recorded tv files I have on my desktop. When we take a trip on a train there is no internet and very spotty cell service. I have about 1T of programs that I have not watched (can record 4 programs at the same time). I now like to watch the recorded programs because I can skip the ADs A one hour program has up to 20 min. of ADs.

Hi there .
things like VLC etc can play DVD movies or other multi-media too without you having to go anywhere near the Internet !!

Also my post was saying what's the point if you have to PAY for it. - If it's free then download it by all means but I'm not really sure what it gives you over other multimedia systems which are infinitely more versatile and aren't riddled with DRM preventing you from playing things like commercial DVD's or enforcing the stupid regional coding on DVD's which really ought to be retired by now.

(At least in Europe on decent Intercity or International trains there's often Internet available. BTW -- even in the UK where the train service is just about emerging out of the Victorian era the main East Coast line (Kings X==> Doncaster, Leeds, York, Durham, Newcastle, Scotland) has a decent Wi-Fi service --although for video streaming --probably not fast enough !! so I agree with that part of your comment)

Cheers
jimbo
 

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I acquired the free WMC mainly to watch the recorded tv files I have on my desktop. When we take a trip on a train there is no internet and very spotty cell service. I have about 1T of programs that I have not watched (can record 4 programs at the same time). I now like to watch the recorded programs because I can skip the ADs A one hour program has up to 20 min. of ADs.

Hi there .
things like VLC etc can play DVD movies or other multi-media too without you having to go anywhere near the Internet !!

Also my post was saying what's the point if you have to PAY for it. - If it's free then download it by all means but I'm not really sure what it gives you over other multimedia systems which are infinitely more versatile and aren't riddled with DRM preventing you from playing things like commercial DVD's or enforcing the stupid regional coding on DVD's which really ought to be retired by now.

(At least in Europe on decent Intercity or International trains there's often Internet available. BTW -- even in the UK where the train service is just about emerging out of the Victorian era the main East Coast line (Kings X==> Doncaster, Leeds, York, Durham, Newcastle, Scotland) has a decent Wi-Fi service --although for video streaming --probably not fast enough !! so I agree with that part of your comment)

Cheers
jimbo

If it was not FREE I would not have it but I would have some other utility for my recorded TV. I have not run into the regional coding on DVD yet.
 

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I can't even remember the last time I ever used WMC. Been using VLC for quite a long time now.
 

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Windows Media Center seems entirely pointless as a whole to me. No offence to anyone... but I know of a decent amount of freeware products that can do basically most of what WMC "perfectly" (or so does it?) does for a soon-to-be-payware addon.

VLC Media Player is almost perfect for me. Plays most file types I operate with, especially .mkv files (my Windows Media Player doesn't like it, and it's annoying needing to go into the Metro UI system to use it's video app...).

For the "TV" part of it, you still need to go to the expense of buying a tuning card or adapter to pick up the whole TV thing. That, again, seems pointless, when you could just watch it all online without a TV tuning card.

I only upgraded to Windows 8 Pro with WMC because all my friends had it on their school ultrabooks... >_>
 

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WMC does provide that "set top box" functionality for a home theater PC (particularly when used with a remote control). Yes, there are other apps to do these things as well, but that's just it.. other apps.. You need apps to get this functionality, so why not WMC? It looks nice, is well integrated, and just functions well. You can cobble together stuff from a bunch of other sources to do the same thing, but then it's pretty obvious that none of it works together.
 

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Media Center is the only software on any computer that can take advantage of CableCard and replace the cable company DVR, which for me means cutting an $18/mo fee to $2/mo, saving $192/year while I enjoy 3 tuners vs. 2, 10x the storage, and a quiet system. That's the only thing I find it good for, and it is essential for this. XBMC is better for all other library-based video, with VLC best for files launched from Windows Explorer. iTunes and foobar2000 are the corresponding programs for music. Some people also take advantage of WMC's extender capability for whole-home DVR.

If I were forced to use Windows 8, I would have to spring for Media Center to continue what I've been doing.
 

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Media Center is the only software on any computer that can take advantage of CableCard and replace the cable company DVR, which for me means cutting an $18/mo fee to $2/mo, saving $192/year while I enjoy 3 tuners vs. 2, 10x the storage, and a quiet system. That's the only thing I find it good for, and it is essential for this. XBMC is better for all other library-based video, with VLC best for files launched from Windows Explorer. iTunes and foobar2000 are the corresponding programs for music. Some people also take advantage of WMC's extender capability for whole-home DVR.

If I were forced to use Windows 8, I would have to spring for Media Center to continue what I've been doing.

Hi there
there might be a few users who can benefit from WMC - but if you don't need things like set top boxes, tuner / cable cards etc then it really isn't worth paying money for this. Certainly if it SAVES you money go for it - but I'm sure most users aren't in this situation.

In any case now if you buy a new TV (guess what they call them "SMART TV's these days too") they all (at least here where I am ) have computerless Internet connections for playing media from the web or your home network, USB slots for playing media from these and a whole host of other peripheral possibilities.

The Computer itself isn't necessary any more for accessing this type of stuff -- I can even do basic email from my TV but using the remote to key in text isn't the best way to do it !!!. Accessing media streams is fairly straight forward though. I use Network streaming to play Videos / films I've downloaded from the web without any problem straight to the TV.

Services like Netflix, sky tv, catch up "terrestial TV" services, VOD (Video on demand) etc have changed IMO the whole way we use and access multimedia.

The current Ms WMC seems a bit of a throwback to an earlier era where your computer was going to be the center of your home entertainment system -- we've moved on a bit from those days now -- and fast broadband really IS a game changer.

In fact I basically only use my computer for multi-media when travelling or if I'm working at home on a project. Most casual surfing these days I do from my smart phone while multi media I watch in my Loft / roof conversion "Attic" in a dedicated "Cinema room" with a Huge screen, home Bar !! and expensive studio quality Sound system -- and no neighbors to worry about either !!!).


Cheers
jimbo
 

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to watch online streams LEGALLY is not easy especially if you want to watch them new. most content providers don't even allow their material to be streamed unless you subscribe to the TV service.

tuners are easy and cheap and let you record to your heart's content. especially great for shows that never get streamed online.

illegal downloads and torrents can cover some shows but only the popular ones. with a tuner, you have it all.

and while there are free alternatives to WMC, all of them are clunky with TV tuners. I've loved XBMC for a long time now (ever since the Xbox days when the name XBMC made sense) but it wasn't until recently that it had tuner support. most of the free software also have bad programming guides. I've used MythTV, GB-PVR, and MediaPortal. BeyondTV is a good one but you have to pay for it and it's still got flaws (though in some ways, it's better than WMC). Plus, WMC has great remote control support whether you have a MCE remote or a Harmony or whatever.

and while Netflix and Hulu are great, they still have shortcomings. many series are missing some episodes! plus, shows are taken up and down over time as licenses expire. you think with more streaming places, you'd have more series covered but you don't. I use Netflix, Crackle, and a bunch of others and still big holes in programmiing.
 

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It won't play normal commercial DVD's, and for things like TV you don't need tuners etc any more --broadband these days is fast enough.

I have barely tested it for that purpose, but WMC indeed plays commercial DVDs, at least on my system (Win8 Pro X64).

As I don't watch DVDs on my PC (prefer my LCD TV), it's not a matter of deep concern. Whether I'll pay the $10US if I need to activate it again (free key can't be used for new activations after the end of January), I can't say.

Whether there are issues with it outside of Zone 1, I have no idea. (Hard to believe that MS would be that clumsy.)
 

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That is why MS did not include it in Windows 8 and offer it as an option. They were paying a license fee for each copy installed and a lot of people were not using it. But they still give you a choice if you want it.

Jim :cool:
 

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I don't use it; just got it because it was available free. I thought it would play commercially available DVD's, but no??? I guess I've never tried since it first appeared, where?, Vista?

When checking out Win8, the upgrade assistant told me that I might need an app to play DVD's. Following the links got me to here:

"Media Center and playing DVDs after you upgrade

Is Windows Media Center included in my upgrade?


Will I be able to play DVDs after upgrading?

If you already have third-party DVD playback software, Upgrade Assistant helps determine if this software is compatible with Windows 8. If your PC is running Windows 7, you'll have the option to keep this software during the upgrade toWindows 8. If your PC is running Windows XP or Windows Vista, you'll need to reinstall it.

If you don't have a third-party app that plays DVDs, or if you currently rely on Windows Media Player for DVD playback, you'll need to download and install a third-party app or install Windows Media Center to play DVDs. If you use Windows Media Center on Windows 7 and are upgrading to Windows 8, for a limited time you can get the Windows 8 Media Center Pack for free. For more info, see the Add features webpage."

Looks like I was too gullible. Apparently, I should have asked "which DVD's?" At least I was had for free.
:D :eek: :cry:


 

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It won't play normal commercial DVD's, and for things like TV you don't need tuners etc any more --broadband these days is fast enough.

For the "TV" part of it, you still need to go to the expense of buying a tuning card or adapter to pick up the whole TV thing. That, again, seems pointless, when you could just watch it all online without a TV tuning card.

It depends upon what you want to watch. There are many programs available on cable TV networks are not licensed for internet viewing, including various football games, etc. You can get a lot of programs on Hulu and Netflix, but they are a subset based upon the network's licensing. So a TV tuner still has its uses. Of course, I'm assuming everything is done legally. :) And, of course, there are many alternatives to WMC for playing what comes in on the tuner card.
 

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I also got it because of the free offer, hardly ever used it, I won't be bothered to pay for it.
 

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Looks like I was too gullible. Apparently, I should have asked "which DVD's?" At least I was had for free.

(Insert expletive here.)

WMC plays commercial DVDs. I can't swear that it's true under all circumstances (e. g., people outside of Zone 1, playing DVDs licensed for their zone), but it works for me. I care very little about that, but I have an almost obsessive preference for facts (of the true sort).

I wouldn't mind if the moderators removed this thread, to prevent it from being a permanent source of misinformation courtesy of the web search engines. (Probably already too late.)
 

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WMC is the only player that effectively shows broadcast TV through my USB tuner. The software provided by the tuner manufacturer is rubbish and I haven't found anything else that will do the job. VLC is supposed to be able to do this, but for the life of me, I can't get it to work.
 

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Media Center is disgusting to look at, vista aero mish mosh design with everything shiny...

I have a TV tuner card I recently installed and can properly watch the OTA HD channels. It doesn't look like I'm watching TV with content that looks like it was filmed with a potato. But I use the manufacturer's software to view the channels, replaces the need for Media Center altogether.

For DVDs and other video, VLC all the way! There will be a Windows 8/RT/Windows Phone 8 app coming out soon from the VLC team, and some mockups really make it look it will be my music player as well, they understand the metro design! Best of all, ALL the Desktop functions of the program will be in the Windows 8 app.
 

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if you want a Windows Store media player app, check out Metro Media Player. while it's not great for music, it does have good functionality for a video player.

as for WMC, no other PVR has the breadth of features that WMC has.
 

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