george Posted October 8, 2007 Share Posted October 8, 2007 I might want to connect my Windows Vista Ultimate PC with to my TV in order to play DVD's direct from the PC. There is a product called Windows Media Center Extender http://www.microsoft.com/windows/products/...er/default.mspx Any good reviews? Anybody using it? Can the Extender box be bought in Thailand? Does it work good? Do I really need this box? Any advise appreciated! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Florin Posted October 8, 2007 Share Posted October 8, 2007 Haven't yet seen any Extenders around here except for the XBox360...I reckon you should just go for that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
george Posted October 8, 2007 Author Share Posted October 8, 2007 Haven't yet seen any Extenders around here except for the XBox360...I reckon you should just go for that. I don't play any games, so shouldn't need an XBox... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
solo siam Posted October 8, 2007 Share Posted October 8, 2007 You can set the Xbox 360 to boot into Media Centre Extender mode, so you won't be forced to go through any sort of games interface, It's the only extender available for Vista - I use it extensively and install them for my clients as well, very good - That is ONCE you have your movies in WMV format... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
george Posted October 8, 2007 Author Share Posted October 8, 2007 You can set the Xbox 360 to boot into Media Centre Extender mode, so you won't be forced to go through any sort of games interface, It's the only extender available for Vista - I use it extensively and install them for my clients as well, very good - That is ONCE you have your movies in WMV format... Great! So exact what can I do with an Xbox360 connected to my Vista PC, if I am not in game mode? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
solo siam Posted October 8, 2007 Share Posted October 8, 2007 Watch movies stored in WMV, see photos, listen to and browse music. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
george Posted October 8, 2007 Author Share Posted October 8, 2007 Watch movies stored in WMV, see photos, listen to and browse music. How do I connect the network to the DVD/Tuner/amplifier? Its just a bloody RS-232 in the back. [sorry for stupid questions...] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
solo siam Posted October 8, 2007 Share Posted October 8, 2007 xbox360 connects to the TV/amp, and streams media from the Vista box over preferably Cat-5. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sjaak327 Posted October 8, 2007 Share Posted October 8, 2007 Strictly speaking, you don't need an extender to hook up your media center pc to your tv. There are also ways to hook it directly, thus saving the money for an xbox. Look here for more information on Media Center. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sfokevin Posted October 8, 2007 Share Posted October 8, 2007 The trick (or problem) is what your TV's connectors are and its native resolution... If your TV has a VGA plus similar to your computer monitor plug it in and boot up your computer... Now the real problem ensues... The native resolution of your TV will most likely not match your computers output... right click on the desktop and try to find a setting close to your TV... If your TV has no VGA plug you can buy a PC Card that has an S-Video output to plug into you TV... This will look crappy as a computer but for movies it might be ok... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LivinLOS Posted October 9, 2007 Share Posted October 9, 2007 I would always have a PC tied into my home theater.. I might do an extender (360) for the bedroom or secondary zones.. Simplicity and remote GF friendly rules.. But for the HT its quality every time and thats PC processing.. Plus a PC can handle ALL the formats thrown at it.. Bens (once its in WMV comment is telling).. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
solo siam Posted October 9, 2007 Share Posted October 9, 2007 I would always have a PC tied into my home theater.. I might do an extender (360) for the bedroom or secondary zones.. Simplicity and remote GF friendly rules.. But for the HT its quality every time and thats PC processing.. Plus a PC can handle ALL the formats thrown at it.. Bens (once its in WMV comment is telling).. True but I'm betting the processor and graphics card in the 360 are far more powerful than the one in your PC. Yet to have an extender crash on me, which is the real reason I use them TBH, I've never had so many problems with a video source as a PC outputting HDMI. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LivinLOS Posted October 10, 2007 Share Posted October 10, 2007 Yeah the PC route does have its drawbacks.. But the open system is a non negotiable item for me.. No point having massive processing if it wont decode the Hidef transport stream you have downloaded.. Buy quality band name components, good memeory and power supply. Should be stable.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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