Petteri Pyyny
30 Sep 2003 15:42
Microsoft continues its push towards consumers' living rooms by releasing a new version of its Windows XP Media Center operating system, dubbed as Windows XP Media Center Edition 2004.
Company has so far failed to lure consumers to switch to Media Center "revolution" and now tries to put more pressure behind the concept of "living room media center" by adding new features, such as CD ripping, more flexible audio streaming and ability to print photos via system's remote control.
So-called HTPC (home theatre PC) boom has been growing quite rapidly during the last year or so, but consumers have so far opted to use cheap Mini-ITX boxes equipped with either Linux or more traditional versions of Windows. Most of the analysts consider this to be simply because of high cost of Media Center PCs compared to self-built projects.
Now Microsoft has signed new names to its support list, including Sony and Dell and also cheapest Media Center devices come now with price tag less than $1000.
Source: http://news.com.com/2100-1046-5084286.html