Brett Bentsen - A look at the Portable Media Center | TheChannel9Team

ChrisChance
;)

Oh where to start! I love the entire idea of these things but theres a few things that will stop me from buying them.

A. It's $500! I'm living on my own and studying and working i cant afford that much for a really nice toy Smiley

But oh well guess ill have to save up for it. This is alot like the tabletpc's they all cuss that the units are selling... well hate to say it but it could be because you cant get one for anywhere near 1000$ which is what most people i know are looking for effective portables at really good prices with the economy as weird as it is these days.

B. I have heard from some reviewers the device just seems a tad too large, just large enough not to fit confortable in your pocket but i guess thats the designers fault. That creative unit seems to be the nicest one that i have seen for portability but that ... umm i think it was samsung one looks too much like a little tv i cant see people walking around or sitting at the airport with it.

C. I've heard the screen is really crisp on that creative, but just wish it was 4" Wink

LOL I know its nitpicking.

Hopefully someday we'll see a tv encoder built in to one of these can you imagine that plug it into the tv set to record and walla your done. Who knows maybe slide in a SD card with some pictures on it and it saves them to the device, Can you imagine that the device usable even without a PC Smiley

Wow i just noticed Im first reviewer for once!

fatboy_au
itnewslog.com

I really like the creative device and MediaPlayer 10. Also it's great news that Microsoft have opened the Media Center up and allowed just the TV tuner cards to be added to whitebox machines. I also think Chris's idea of having the device as an independent recorder sounds like a good idea yet I think the Xbox Extender boxs should to the trick.

The only thing missing from the device which is a bit of a let down is that they do not incorporate the Microsoft Voice Command software which I use everyday on my Pocket PC to query my music via voice when driving to work. The Voice Command software on the Pocket PC could possibly be the best application for the Windows Mobile platform. Considering that the Portable Media Center and the Pocket PC are almost identical in regard to sepcs I can't see any reason why this marriage would not work out perfectly.

MSInbox.com #

-Cameron

juliankay

Ok, I don't have a Media Center PC. I don't think I'm going to be getting one soon. I do have a TV card, and I'd like to be able to use the TV feature in Media player 10.

What do I need?

I'd defo get a PMC if I could do this with my current PC.

Manip

That menu system looks clunky and difficult to use... not intuitive in the least. I'm not massively impressed with the device. I mean feature wise (video, music etc) it is very nice but not very easy or pleasing to use.

You could also extend the battery by removing the useless background and shutting down the screen outside the menu. You could and should also shut-down the screen when your playing music.. But if creative want to keep people happy with flash effects rather than a functional device then I guess this is what you end up with.

I assume a lot of the problems with this device are down to the producer (creative) and that the 'portable media centre' is capable of being changed and having other menu setups.

I know I would want to be able to re-write my portable media player (And yes I would look for that before I buy, and it is a selling point) so I would be looking at Linux devices but Microsoft could win me over if I could write C# apps to customize it. Smiley

I also prefer to transfer stuff using traditional folders (or directories) and being forced to use WMP to transfer things would piss me off no end.

Brett: Nice DS9 in the background =)

MisterDonut
The Disco Godfather

Preface: I have not seen the video yet... I will once my new Media Center PC comes in next week.. Smiley

I'm seeing a few replies stating that there are some design issues (being able to fit into a pocket, etc..).

I certainly hope Microsoft realizes the impact of a poor physical design. Despite being primarily a software shop, the joe-shmo user will see a poor design / price / etc., and dismiss "Microsoft's" product. And if ever asked or told about it, their response might well be like "Don't buy Microsoft's portable media center, its too big. (or what have you).

My point being, factors outside of Microsoft's software will influence the perception of Microsoft's software. I hope this is taken into consideration.

eagle

It's a nice device, I got to play with one back in June. My Pocket PC can do just about everything this device can do, except I have to swap-out SD cards for memory.

Manip

MisterDonut wrote:

I certainly hope Microsoft realizes the impact of a poor physical design. Despite being primarily a software shop, the joe-shmo user will see a poor design / price / etc., and dismiss "Microsoft's" product. And if ever asked or told about it, their response might well be like "Don't buy Microsoft's portable media center, its too big. (or what have you).

I think your *really confused. The device is made by Creative. When people buy it they are buying a Creative device and thus it is a reflection on Creative.

I assume the visual look and feel of the Media Centre software can be customized by the vendor and as such the customer shouldn't have any clue what the device is running.

The physical design of Creative's device does NOT reflect on the software in any way, shape or form. To suggest that it does is silly, it is like suggesting the colour of a PC case reflects on how well Windows XP functions..

lucid
Best Browser On Earth

Manip wrote:

That menu system looks clunky and difficult to use... not intuitive in the least. I'm not massively impressed with the device. I mean feature wise (video, music etc) it is very nice but not very easy or pleasing to use.

How in the world did your tiny little brain ever conceive to use the word "intuitive" in your post. You're an idiot. how does one make a menu "intuitive"?

I don't even have time comment on your other stupid rambling.

lucid
Best Browser On Earth

Manip wrote:

lucid wrote: How in the world did your tiny little brain ever conceive to use the word "intuitive" in your post. You're an idiot. how does one make a menu "intuitive"?

I don't even have time comment on your other stupid rambling.

Then don't comment.

I assume an 'idiot' is someone that has an opposing view point to your own. I find it ironic you posted in order to attack me and call be 'stupid' and an 'idiot' but in doing so managed to make yourself look like one.

I'm still waiting for you to tell me what clasifies something as "intuitive"...

Do you even know the meaning of the word?