Add features to Windows 8.1 - is this product worth it?

[nougart]

Add features to Windows 8.1 - and you have the option to buy a product key online? Has anyone got the product key or bought the product key online and found that it was worth it please?

 

[Brink]

Hello Nougart,

It all really depends on if you need Windows Media Center or not for if it's worth it.

Get started with Windows Media Center - Microsoft Windows Help


http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/6559-windows-media-center-add-windows-8-a.html


Hope this helps some,
Shawn

 

[nougart]

Have to think about it.

Hmm £100, I'll have to think about it.. Thanks for the link.

 

[Brink]

You might give the free program VLC a play with for a bit to see if it may work for you instead.

VideoLAN - Official page for VLC media player, the Open Source video framework!

 

[XweAponX]

10 bucks to add it in Windows 8 - Worth it

100 bucks top add it in 8.1 - Not worth it.

Use VLC and Cyberlink PowerDVD

 

[Edwin]

Personally I found Windows Media Center to be a huge resource hog. If you want to get wired in for internet TV and all then, yeah, maybe but if you want to just be able to watch DVD's then VLC Media Player is the way to go. I got the feature free during the Microsoft promotion 'oops' and still turned the feature off! Wouldn't be worth it in my opinion, (just sayin)

 

[nougart]

Media Monkey anybody?

I've got Media Monkey and VLC on my other pc. I use Media Monkey for my music, but no one has mentioned that. Would there be some conflict if I installed on it 8.1? as I do find it user friendly.

 

[CountMike]

WMC must be the clunkiest MM I ever seen, and to think to pay for it... (shudder) !!!. There's so many beautiful, working, free, media players out there, VLC, Daum, even Winamp to name just a few that I'm just aghast that M$ would even think of including it, let alone selling it.

 

[strollin]

VLC is more of an alternative to WMP than a replacement for WMC. Take a look at the free XBMC which is like WMC on steroids.

 

[adamf]

Agree with all above. I have WMC because it was free. I opened it once, hated the look of it and never have again. XMBC is great if that is what you're after.

 

[alphanumeric]

Add Features can also be used to upgrade from Core to Pro by buying a Pro Pack. Also, you have to be running Pro to add Media Center. The limited time offer free Windows 8 Media Center codes they gave out will also work in Windows 8.1. I went from the factory 8 Core on my ASUS laptop to 8 Pro by entering my Retail TechNet code, then added MC with my freebe code. That same code worked in Windows 8.1 too.

 

[arachnaut]

I've got Media Monkey and VLC on my other pc. I use Media Monkey for my music, but no one has mentioned that. Would there be some conflict if I installed on it 8.1? as I do find it user friendly.

MediaMonkey works great in 8.1.
It's my favorite media player.

 

[Phone Man]

From the price quoted by the OP and his specs show a Laptop, I believe the upgrade in question is from Windows 8 Core to Windows 8 Pro. and not the $10 upgrade for WMC.

Jim

 

[fireberd]

I got the WMC freebie upgrade when it was offered. When I upgraded to 8.1 it automatically included the WMC. However, I don't use it.

 

[arachnaut]

I got the WMC freebie upgrade when it was offered. When I upgraded to 8.1 it automatically included the WMC. However, I don't use it.

Same for me. Grabbed the freebie, but never turned it on.
I think I tried it once, but I don't watch TV on my computer so I never set it up.

 

[jimbo45]

Hi there
Can't be bothered with WMC -- Dinosaur technology if you have fast broadband - just stream TV from NETFLIX, HULA TV, SKY GO, BBC Iplayer etc. - Loads more stations WORLDWIDE - much more choice etc. WMC is a 20th century app struggling in a 21st century Digital Universe.

Smart TV's these days also mean you can stream a lot of these services direct to your TV without needing a computer too.

The Internet is a much better option -- you can get proper HD quality too and 4K when it's available shortly. You can also use any browser you like -- you don't need things like TV tuner cards any more. (Unless you are in a Car and need long distance Radio who uses AM Radio any more -- yoiu always get infinitely better reception of these AM stations too on the Internet via FREE services like Tunein etc).

Even DAB Radio (Digital Audio Broadcasting) is useless - we call it "Dead And Buried". Internet Radio is far better and actually even older FM often has better quality than some of the compressed sound being shoved out by the DAB stations --that version of Radio won't survive for long either.

I'm enjoying (with a nice glass of Whisky in my hand) from several 1000 KM away the music of Classical New England (Boston MA) at good quality sound almost stripping off in shorts -- It's going to be an AMAZING Balmy 10 deg C in Reykjavik tomorrow (Tuesday) - warmer than London / Paris etc - albeit a bit rainy !!!.

Cheers
jimbo

 

[nougart]

MediaMonkey works great in 8.1.
It's my favorite media player.

I'll stick with MediaMonkey.

 

[nougart]

Take a look at the free XBMC which is like WMC on steroids.

:shock:

 

[Mr Sardonicus]

WMC can be very good if you plan to use it with a TV tuner in your PC, like the HVR-2250.
The interface definitely needs a facelift. I suspect that Microsoft will start to phase it out, eventually.

 

[CountMike]

Just enjoying TV with obout 120 channels out of 600 streamed by service called D3Go and all thru FireFox, no WMC or nothing else, don't need any overhead. It's a service provided by cable and internet company. 2 of us are using and sharing that service, one main that gets the full service (IPTV) and 2 thru mobile IPTV but on the PC. It comes to pennies a day and all that in what many can consider third world country. I imagine you guys in USA, UK etc should have it much better. Most of this channels are in HD and still do not need great bandwith, i'm using only up to 4Gb/s out of possible 8- It does not need any fancy HW or SW to run like that.