Funny you mention this. I downloaded and installed Windows XP Media Center Edition into a VPC a couple days ago, just to play around with it. I don't really watch TV, so it's kind of a hard sell, but there are some shows that I do like (Chappelle's show, for one) and might watch if i could just have the damn thing record all of them and let me watch them when I get a free minute or two.
Anyway, it looks like the price of these units are really coming down. Shuttle sells full systems now, and they have an MPC for $999. Crazy! After thinking about it, though, I've decided to hold off until this HDTV thing hits. I still have a 20-or-so inch from college, so I doubt I could do any computing on it (AWFUL resolution) and therefore relegating it to just a Tivo/Music player, and an expensive one at that.
Oh right, now I remember: The Media Center extenders were all the rage in the rumor mill a few months ago and THAT was what got me pumped. Use the MCE computer as your main machine (ie hooked up to one or more LCDs/monitors), then hook a wireless extender up to your TV to watch your "Tivoed" shows, play music and whatnot. _That_ would be cool, and not a complete waste of a computer.
OK, done.
You just missed a rebate Tivo was running for the HMO. You could have gotten it for $60 in March.
Man, you shouldn't have told me that, I would have bought it then, err.