CNET'S QUICK GUIDE: Having fun with Windows Vista

The good and the bad of Media Center

Finally, lest anyone be confused, Windows Media Center is very different from the Microsoft Media Player, which is used only to play back media files. We wonder why Microsoft spent so much time developing two very different media playback systems--the Windows Media Player and the Windows Media Center. Why not integrate them both? For example, Windows Media Player and Windows Media Center both allow you to burn DVDs and CDs, sync with mobile devices, and both display visual interpretations of the music currently playing.

While Windows Vista Media Center is a major improvement over the current Windows XP version, this new release still leaves us wanting. Here's a summary of some of the pros and cons we've seen in the Windows Vista version of Windows Media Center:

Pros:
--Extenders let you experience Media Center on your home-theater system.
--Access media files from any networked PC.
--Sync your media library content with mobile devices such as a video-enabled iPod.
--Built-in DVD codecs
--Built-in HD digital support

Cons:
--Earlier Media Center Extenders will not work with the new Windows Vista Media Center.
--Parental controls within Media Center do not integrate with Vista's own Parental Controls.
--Image viewing does not support the RAW image file format used by many digital cameras.

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