On Monday, El Gato Software launched the first consumer PVR for the Macintosh market.īut PVRs for PCs, like their TV counterparts, aren't big sellers. Sony ships several Vaio consumer PCs with its GigaPocket PVR. PVRs, which let consumers use an online guide to schedule shows for recording ahead of time or to stop or replay live action programming, are not new to PCs. Windows Media Center also comes with a digital personal video recorder (PVR) that serves up TiVo-like features, as long as the PC contains an additional TV tuner card and other hardware. The first Windows Media Center PCs and PC entertainment hybrids/> would appear in time for the holidays, said Cadiuex, who declined to give a specific date. We felt very strongly that for a positive consumer experience it should be OEM only'-meaning only from PC makers. 'If this doesn't work well the first time around, they tend to not want to go back any time soon. 'Consumers aren't forgiving, especially for products that come and are a new idea,' said Jodie Cadiuex, Windows Media Center marketing manager. Freestyle PCs could be used for either standard computing or digital entertainment. Instead, they'll have to spring for a new system if they want Windows Media Center. Microsoft unveiled Freestyle, which promised to unlock the operating system's digital media features via a remote control and new user interface, during the Consumer Electronics Show in January.īut digital media aficionados and other consumers will not be able to buy the new XP version and install it on existing PCs.

Windows media center for xp pro