PC Magazine Guide Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005, 3/e (Paperback)

Description:

Learn to use your power well

As much as this book is about how to buy and use a Media Center PC, down deep it is…about how owning one changes the way you watch TV and manage your entertain-ment content. Like all good revolutions, this one empowers you.

The revolution has begun–in your living room!

Now PC Magazine gives you control of this new era in entertainment

One device. One remote. If that isn’t a revolutionary approach to entertainment, what is? Now a former PC Magazine contributing editor and digital lifestyle pioneer shows you how to activate all your MCE’s power. You’ll never again worry about missing the end of a TV show, finding that special photo, or having the perfect soundtrack ready to go. You can even say good-bye to your stereo, DVD player, and TiVo — your MCE PC replaces them all!

You’ll be empowered to

• Select and set up a Media Center Edition PC
• Decide whether to use it for general computing
• Record and pause live TV
• Edit, store, and share digital photos and videos
• Control all your media with one remote
• Connect and use both a TV and standard monitor–at once
• Build your home network around your MCE
• Transfer content to DVD
• Put Media Center on any TV in your home with a Media Center Extender

 

Table of Contents:

Acknowledgements.

Introduction.

Part I: Introduction and Setup.

Chapter 1: Planning to Use a Windows XP Media Center Edition PC.

Chapter 2: Setting Up Your Media Center PC.

Chapter 3: The Windows XP Media Center Edition Operating System.

Chapter 4: Media Center Experiences.

Part II: Media Center Edition PCs and Devices.

Chapter 5: Choosing the Right Media Center PC.

Chapter 6: Getting Audio and Video In and Out of Your MCE PC.

Chapter 7: Media Storage: Adding and Replacing Drives.

Chapter 8: Home Networks and Media Center Extenders.

Part III: Watching and Recording TV: Playing and Burning DVDs.

Chapter 9: My TV and the Program Guide.

Chapter 10: Recording and Playback of TV Programs.

Chapter 11: Playing and Burning DVDs.

Part IV: Music and Radio.

Chapter 12: Playing Audio Files and CDs with My Music.

Chapter 13: Managing Playlists and Music Libraries.

Chapter 14: Listening to Broadcast and Internet Radio.

Part V: Viewing Photos and Home Videos.

Chapter 15: Viewing and Managing Digital Picture Libraries.

Chapter 16: Creating Slideshows Using My Pictures.

Chapter 17: Playing Home Movies with My Video.

Part VI: Expanding Media Center.

Chapter 18: Adding More Programs to Media Center.

Chapter 19: Accessing Internet Content from Online Spotlight.

Chapter 20: Final Thoughts about Media Center.

Part VII: Appendixes.

Appendix A: Media Center PC Manufacturers.

Appendix B: Media Center PC Applications and Devices.

Appendix C: Media Center PC Reference Sources.

Index.