Why Windows Media Center is dead
Windows Media Center (WMC) is based on a relatively simple (albeit awfully implemented) principle: you have ONE "server" PC holding and running your media, and then you associate any number of Media Center Extenders to it that are typically (except for the XBox 360) single-purpose devices that can only act as such and are fancy and silent enough to deserve a place in your living room.
I guess back in 2005, the entire model and most of Microsoft design decisions on this product may have be justifiable. 5 years later, none of them make any sense and IMO mean that WMC is currently a totally flawed, doomed and generally useless product for most common needs.
Why it (kind of) made sense back then
- Hardware: In 2005, you wouldn't dare subject your family to the noise, ugliness, quirkiness, uex, power comsumption, and cost of a full-blown "Home Theater PC" (HTPC) or an XBox power sucker. The Media Center Extender model made sense because you couldn't buy a full PC that was silent and nice-looking enough for the price of an extender. (but the extenders weren't without ...
