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Win 7 Launch Party: CE Pros Gone Wild!
Nine wild and crazy CE pros met at my house this morning for our monthly get-together. Once I tamed the rambunctious group, I treated them to a run-through of Windows Media Center, the Win 7 version.
It didn't really matter that it was Win 7. None of these dealers, reps and distributors had even experienced the original XP and Vista versions.
So instead of showing them some of the latest Media Center features, I had to start from the beginning: Look, you press this green button here, and you have a TV guide here, and you can even view your photos and manage your music library! All from the TV!
Even so, I ran the gang through some of the new goodies -- most of which I defined after my Win 7 sneak preview last year -- and some of the disappointments.
On the up side …
- Turboscroll. Instead of having to tap-tap-tap your way through the TV guide, the navigation turbocharges when you press and hold. Weeks worth of programming just fly by.
- Build-your-own channel guide. This feature was available with Vista TV Pack, but since no one really installed TV Pack, it's as good as new. You can have a different guide for every member of the household.
- Netflix integration. Again, this was available with Vista, but the interface is slightly improved with Win 7. I think only Media Center had a Netflix TV interface that lets users take advantage of the full Netflix browsing options … until Insignia just came along with its $99 combo Blu-ray player/Netflix streamer.
In the end, my party guests thought Win 7 Media Center was nice.
After that five-minute discussion, we all focused on whether or not to shift our productivity PCs to the new OS.
Man, are these guys geeks or what?
Microsoft Windows 7
 | 5 Reasons Windows 7 is Good for Installers Windows 7 will lead to more competition, more integration with A/V components, more automation functionality, more system design options and more revenue. Windows 7 Launch Party: CE Pros Gone Wild With all that hootin' and hollerin' over Windows 7, we wonder how these guys can call themselves pros! 10 Useful Add-Ons for Windows 7 Add Hulu to Windows Media Center, tweak hard-to-find settings and more." Stream HBO Over Internet with FiOS, Windows 7 Windows 7 support for Copy Freely, coupled with Verizon FiOS's generous content protection scheme, enables Windows Media Center to stream premium content over the home network or the Internet. Hands On: Windows 7 With 'Copy Freely' Support In the past, you could not share CableCard content -- even non-protected content -- from a Windows Media Center PC; now you can (and skip commercials, too!). Microsoft: Add Own CableCard, Switched Digital Video, Copy Freely Microsoft at CEDIA Expo 2009: Easy to add digital cable tuners (DCTs) to any Win 7 machine, fixes for switched digital video, and the ability to copy freely for tagged content. | |
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17 Comments (displayed in order by date/time)
And to think I gave up a trip to Minnesota for that. If I had known how wild it was going to be, I definitely would have come!
Paul, the thing they most marveled at was how quiet and cool my big S1Digital Media Center runs. They even touched it (gasp)
Did you make them change out of their biker jackets and ironic hipster t-shirts and into their geek outfits just for this?
Yes, Grant, how did you know?! I asked them please to cover their tattoos for the event. It was in the “How to throw a launch party” handbook.
How many attendees were in the marching band or A/V club in high school?
That would be Glee Club
1 here for debate.
Others??
How big of geeks can they be if they never used xp or vista? What where they using? dos? lol
Oh, Ranger! Of course they use XP & Vista, just not using Media Center app.
AH, ok. me be confuzed. 
Maybe they like avoiding the Blue Screen of Death and are dedicated OSX users.
Sorry Julie, you can take your shots at Snow Leopard.
Bob
Actually, Jim Wohlford of Sanus strolled in during the demo: “Sorry I’m late, but I brought my computer,” he said, toting his Apple laptop.
Either I’m experiencing Deja Vu, or I saw this party on an episode of ABC’s, “To Catch A Predator,” with Stone Phillips.
I do not know this woman. OK, maybe I do but I can pretend.