Comments on: Windows Media Center — a Microsoft success story?

By: David Mackey

David Mackey — Mon, 18 May 2009 19:31:52 +0000

I'm not sure I can agree with the premise of this article. I don't know anyone who uses a Windows Media Center as a WMC. Rather, it seems most people who have WMC have it because it came at a slightly lower price on their computer than XP Home or Professional. This is especially true of those with Dell computers.

By: hd2o

hd2o — Wed, 17 Oct 2007 18:49:51 +0000

Microsoft gets big numbers by default. Most feel they have to use Microsoft products, if they are tech challenged they’re options are limited. I applaud the EU for forcing MS to disable the windows media player, although I don’t have the facts. As usual, MS will just wait it out in court with an army of lawyers, until the opposition is out of money. Predator business practices, they flat don’t like to play well with others. What I’d like to see is numbers on how many PCs have iTunes installed? I’m guessing that number is high too, and that PC users that have it like it BETTER. The success of the apple music store tells the tail of what PC users think!
Regards,

By: The African Nerd

The African Nerd — Wed, 12 Sep 2007 11:40:32 +0000

those numbers are a big fat illusion. Because a lot of people buy media center pcs does not mean they use the media center part.
http://www.tunjiafonja.com/tun....._big_.html

By: Steve O'Hear (editor)

Steve O'Hear (editor) — Fri, 24 Aug 2007 15:21:14 +0000

@David, fair point. But the wider picture is that WMC is out there on millions of machines. Like you say, how many are actually using the functionality, is a valid question.

By: Mack D. Male

Mack D. Male — Fri, 24 Aug 2007 15:11:57 +0000

@David

I see what you’re saying. It’s true that Microsoft has done some clever marketing to get the numbers I have mentioned (clever depends on your point-of-view I guess).

That said though, I think the key thing is that over 50 million people now have media center functionality in their homes. What would the world look like if everyone had such functionality? I bet we wouldn’t be writing about it anymore – it would just seem natural.

So if WMC having some success means that media center functionality in general becomes more accepted and understood, then I’m all for that!

By: David Mackey

David Mackey — Fri, 24 Aug 2007 05:01:04 +0000

I’m not sure I can agree with the premise of this article. I don’t know anyone who uses a Windows Media Center as a WMC. Rather, it seems most people who have WMC have it because it came at a slightly lower price on their computer than XP Home or Professional. This is especially true of those with Dell computers.

By: Bob

Bob — Fri, 24 Aug 2007 01:14:05 +0000

I’m typing this on a Dell that’s running Windows Media Center. WMC was the same price as XP, so I got it – why not. I don’t use the WMC features at all. How much of the “huge success” is based on sales like this?

By: Mack D. Male

Mack D. Male — Thu, 23 Aug 2007 21:59:33 +0000

@Charlie

Thanks for reading! It was a fun article to write!

By: Steve O'Hear (editor)

Steve O'Hear (editor) — Thu, 23 Aug 2007 21:18:34 +0000

@Charlie

Thanks for stopping by :)

By: Charlie Owen

Charlie Owen — Thu, 23 Aug 2007 20:44:03 +0000

Mack this is a nice writeup on the history of Windows Media Center — on behalf of the entire eHome team here at Microsoft allow me to say ‘Thanks!’ for wishing us a Happy Birthday.

Charlie Owen
Program Manager
Microsoft Corporation