Ben has an interesting post on how the future of Windows Media Center could lie with Windows Home Server, I will let you read Ben’s post for the details but Ben’s idea closely mirrors my idea for having a centralised system distributing the content around the home. The ideal world for me is a central device with TV tuners and a large pool of storage and then I want to be able to access the content from any device in my home, including laptops, netbooks, extenders and portable devices (like a Zune) and full web access.
So the missing pieces are Webguide (but a Mesh version was shown off at the PDC) and a way of distributing live TV.(recorded TV is taken care of with Home Group)
With all the disappointing news around Extenders this week its easy to see this vision slipping away if Microsoft focus on the “TV on the PC” concept to much and take their eye of digital homeand forgets that its a 10” UI
Checkout the TDL Home Server blog a new blog focusing on getting the two platforms to work together
Great article. But I am unclear on the future of clients for the bedroom (no jokes there, please). With the death of the extenders, what are folks putting in the bedroom. And don’t tell me an Xbox. That jet engine will kill marriages.
Is the vision a netbook with some sort of IR, RF for the remote control? What are the economics of making an extender? Is there a market here for a company smaller than Linksys?
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Let’s hope Ben is right 🙂
Great article. But I am unclear on the future of clients for the bedroom (no jokes there, please). With the death of the extenders, what are folks putting in the bedroom. And don’t tell me an Xbox. That jet engine will kill marriages.
Is the vision a netbook with some sort of IR, RF for the remote control? What are the economics of making an extender? Is there a market here for a company smaller than Linksys?
One of the ASUS EeeBox PC B208’s would be perfect for the bedroom. IMO it is much better than one of the current extenders because:
1 – It can be mounted behind the TV, so it is totally out of the way.
2 – Almost silent in operation with low power consumption…which is ideal for the bedroom.
3 – Has HDMI…whih makes connecting very easy.
4 – 320GB HDD…you don’t always need to stream…you can simply copy your stuff onto the HDD and also use it for pvt recordings
5 – Gigabit – Much better transfer rates than the Xbox360
6 – Wireless N – Much better than the Xbox360
7 – PC Software Extender – This means VIDEO_TS & Subtitles are supported.
8 – WHS 7 Allowing the streaming of Live TV – Softsled is COMPLETE.
A complete Media Center solution…an extender the way it should be….don’t you think?