Watching DVDs on Computers
The line between the computer and the home theater set up
is becoming very blurred. This is only natural since more and more home theater
equipment, such as the DVD player is basically a computer itself. Home theater
equipment now has connections to your home computer via firewire (IEEE 1394) and
USB ports. Because of this there is a need for a computer operating system that
is designed to expedite the integration of these two common aspects of our
lives.
One of the more recent advances in this inter-connection
is the Media Edition of the Microsoft XP operating system. It makes the
interaction between your home theater and computer easier than ever. At least
that is the word from Microsoft. Only time will tell as this operating system
starts appearing in actual homes.
Of course operating systems and features like will require
a fairly powerful computer. You really should have a multi-media ready PC to
take advantage of this operating system. Consider a Pentium 4 with a lot of RAM,
fast video card and a large hard drive before you even think of getting the
operating system.
Features of XP Media Edition
 | Digital download and Storage, Personal Video
Recorder (PVR). This feature permits your computer as a
kind of TiVo. You can record video directly from your digital cable or
satellite on to your hard drive. You can then edit the programs and re-record
them to a DVD. |
| Electronic Program Guide (EPG). Similar to the feature
in TiVo and other external home theater hard drives, XP Media Edition connects
to the internet to gather information as to what is on your television
stations. You can then program the computer to always record every episode of
a particular show. You can also browse a menu to select which shows to record.
This takes the hassle out of programming the start and duration of a program.
|
| Viewing options. You can either watch your programs on
your TV or in a window on your computer. This permits you to watch a program
while working on your computer. |
| Digital Home Movies. You can browse your collection of
home movies with thumb nail views. You can also edit these home movies adding
music, commentary tracks etc. |
| Photo Albums. Organize your digital photos and play a
slide show on your computer or television. |
| Full DVD support. Turn your computer into a full
function DVD player. With this trend more and more of the functions and
required equipment for your home theater will be moved to your computer.
Makers of such equipment are bound to resist these functions. The computer
based DVD player features parental control, multi-angle and all the features
you commonly find on a stand alone DVD player. |
| Music Jukebox. Load your CD collection into your
computer and play the songs through your home theater receiver. You can also
mix in other formats such as the ever popular MP3 files. You can create play
lists, browse information about the songs and artist and download the songs to
portable players. Most of the album information is now on the internet so you
have little if anything to type in. |
| Remote Control. The new XP Media Edition interacts with
many universal remote controls. With some of the new remotes you can download
from the internet all the settings required to replace the many separate
remotes you have all around your living room. |
