HP Exits Media Center Business

MCE writes "The first big adapter of Microsoft's Media Center Edition is quietly dropping MCE. HP is ceasing production of its Digital Entertainment Center, the only real success story for Media Center PCs in a living-room form factor. As the first company to embrace Microsoft's MCE, at a time when the platform was still half-baked, HP was simply spent by the time Vista rolled around. Now the company will put its resources into MediaSmart, a new line of TVs with a digital media adapter (not an MCE) built in. HP insists that its departure is not a statement about the viability of the Media Center platform."

I bought one of their first Media Center PCs

[stratjakt]

I installed MythTV under OongaBoonga lunix and then called to get new balls for my mice and THEY HUNG UP ON ME AND CALLED ME A FAG0T! They managed to say it with one G, and a 0 too.

Which was nice.

Re:I think it was just a matter of...

[stratjakt]

If it was a pared-down machine with WinXP embedded, simplified interface (as in, maybe only Media Center?), etc. and brought it in under $500, it could have had a shot.

If it could play Gears of War and came with a wireless controller then it'd be totally bad ass!

Strangest business decision ever...

[copponex]

"HP insists that its departure is not a statement about the viability of the Media Center platform."

Oh, yeah. I was making tons of money selling this product, but I've decided to stop. Not because it says anything about the profitability of the product I was selling, but, you know... just because. I'm not licking Microsoft boots either - let's face it, that's kind of an oxymoron.

(phone rings... whispers... "$150 per copy of Vista?!")

Ahem... on second thought, I respectfully withdraw that last statement.

Rumor has it...

[Shawn Parr]

that on their new systems changing the channel voids the warranty.

Re:No it isnt.

[User 956]

Since when does Xbox come with TV tuners or DVR software?

You think the future of video programming involves something as archaic as TV tuners and DVR software? You might as well be asking where the buggy-whip-holder is in your new car.

...Drops DEC line

[ajlitt]

This wouldn't be the first time they've murdered DEC.