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RE: Justifiably better?
I agree with you, essentially about the vista solution.
I actually purchased Vista home premium during a weak moment at a computer fair where I saw an upgrade version going cheap. It was only then that I discovered the Media Center facility, not knowing that it had been around for years in some versions of XP. One can still Google forums where the XP media center pioneers were working through immense problems trying to get their systems working.
I wish I could get an independent media centre software on ROM with no operating system and a dedicated mother board. The lengthy boot up all the way to MCE is a real pain. It should operate almost instantly like an STB.
Vista MCE is pretty, and has quite good ergonomics through a programmable remote (Logitech harmony). However, it is limited to only two tuners which I find insufficient when there are several things to record. I gave up watching the free to air services in real time years ago because I find the commercials extremely irritating. There is a work-around for the two tuner problem on the net but I have not been able to get it to work yet.
In summary, I think it is still too early to go down this path unless you are a techo tragic machocist, but if you are, then start with fast motherboard, lots of memory, a super graphics card and a very cool (windy) case.
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Justifiably better?
Are the Blu-Ray and HD DVD formats really that much better?
It seems like such a scam to me. Perhaps I do not have a distinguished enough eye.
For instance, last night I watched The Umbrellas of Cherbourg in DVD format on an RCA ColorTrack console that was manufactured (by the looks of it) prior to 1985. The busted old TV still works great (I would say perfectly, but for no perceivable reason it sometimes turns itself off then back on again).
However, I was still able to enjoy the film and take away from it that love is difficult and fragile; that people often use love in the same capacity as an umbrella. All this despite my AV shortcomings.
The big question for me is: does Blu-Ray impart on its viewers a greater understanding of the story? By comparison, is DVD so wretched?
I can understand if one has a DVD collection full of action films and recent CGI-dependent blockbusters like Spiderman and Transformers. I guess in that case the emphasis is more on the experience of watching superheros and machines play out the timeless Good v Evil battle. Or zombie movies....wait a minute. OK. I am sold.
When it comes to Zombie movies the catharsis associated with spectatorship is NOT ENOUGH! I need to feel like the Zombies are staring into my soul; that they are eternally starving for, not just blood, but MY blood.
HD/Blu-Ray DVD here I come.
P.S. Did the format have to be named Blu-Ray? Did anyone do their market research? That sounds way too much like Billy Ray...Cyrus. Which is the last person I associate with anything having to do with technology or that antithesis to country music: objectivity.
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