[PCWorld]

Post your comments for Like Windows Media Center? Don't Upgrade to Windows 8 here

[BigRedMachine2]

Of course you are overreacting. You don't even know the price of either Win 8 or WMC. The justification is why should everyone have to pay for certain codecs for a relatively small user base. Theoretically MS can lower the overall cost of Win 8 for everyone and the people that use it can apply the savings to puchase it. Now reason to throw yourself over a cliff...

[bjbrochu]

This is just another reason why I will not upgrade for as long as I can possibly avoid it. I am staying with Windows 7 and I am not even thinking about upgrading beyond avoiding it.

[BulldogXX]

No, I don't think you're over-reacting. Microsoft has a history of investing large amounts of effort into products, to say nothing of marketing, and then deprecating them.

Microsoft is really putting all its eggs into one basket with Windows 8, and flipping the bird to the desktop. However, long gone are the days when Redmond can bend users to its will. I'm sticking with Windows 7.

[databaseben]

i gave up being mad at microsoft a long time ago. this isnt the first time that microsoft abandons windows features and basically says to its customer base, "who cares what you want or like. its our software and you will take it or leave it"

[compnovo]

I had the same initial reaction until I sat back and looked at what my actual Win8 usage will be, and right now my only interest is in WinRT on an ARM-based tablet. I won't need DVD playback on a tablet, so no issue there. Furthermore, I have four Win7-based PCs at home (including the one under the television) with four perfectly good Win7 OSs on them, and not a touch screen among the bunch, that I hadn't planned on upgrading, so no issue there either.
Looking farther ahead, if I ever buy a Win8 PC with an optical drive that doesn't have WMC bundled, THEN I'll have heartburn about it. The thing is, I build my desktops, and I think optical drives in portables are going the way of the Dodo bird.

[nonseq]

compnovo, on 04 May 2012 - 09:20 AM, said:

I had the same initial reaction until I sat back and looked at what my actual Win8 usage will be, and right now my only interest is in WinRT on an ARM-based tablet. I won't need DVD playback on a tablet, so no issue there. Furthermore, I have four Win7-based PCs at home (including the one under the television) with four perfectly good Win7 OSs on them, and not a touch screen among the bunch, that I hadn't planned on upgrading, so no issue there either.
Looking farther ahead, if I ever buy a Win8 PC with an optical drive that doesn't have WMC bundled, THEN I'll have heartburn about it. The thing is, I build my desktops, and I think optical drives in portables are going the way of the Dodo bird.

Or the 3.5 inch floppy. Or in the case of the Osbourne and Kaypro- the 5.25 inch floppy.

[nothanks91fh6s]

I think you are over reacting, or maybe you are getting paid to create biased posts, Not many people use WMC, so why should everyone pay for this if it is included in windows bundle, Microsoft is actually lowering cost of Windows 8 for all customers, & All those users who want to use WMC will surely find Someway to tackle it.
P.S I am WMC User Too.

[robotortoise]

And suddenly, there's yet again another reason to bate Windows 8.

Good job, Microsoft.

[whiplash55]

I see no compelling reason to update a desktop or laptop from Win. 7. However if I really want Media Center I will buy it as an add-on and it's no big deal. Clearly Microsoft is turning to X-Box as it's all in one entertainment platform, this has been happening for a while.

[YodiCollins]

Relax. Microsoft didn't get where they are by flipping a coin. If the rationale for something along the lines of WMC that is 8-compatible presents itself, they will respond accordingly.

[thanxal]

Can't wait to break out the popcorn on W8 launch day and the few weeks after. Looks like it'll be a nice big clusterf*ck.

[mike6875]

nothanks91fh6s, on 04 May 2012 - 09:34 AM, said:

I think you are over reacting, or maybe you are getting paid to create biased posts, Not many people use WMC, so why should everyone pay for this if it is included in windows bundle, Microsoft is actually lowering cost of Windows 8 for all customers, & All those users who want to use WMC will surely find Someway to tackle it.
P.S I am WMC User Too.

Do you really think Microsoft will actually lower the price? If you do you are really dreamin.

[ecubed01]

Suuuurrrre it'll factor into MS passing the "cost savings" onto the customer. Really? Please.

[retnavyspook]

This is crazy. I have a pc connected to my big screen and use media center extensively. Micro-crap is now giving people reasons to NOT upgrade. Why should we have to pay for the option in Win 8 when it was included in Win 7. Well I certainly will NOT be upgrading to Win 8. Don't like the new interface anyway. It may be great on a phone but it stinks on a PC.

[riffdex]

BigRedMachine2, on 04 May 2012 - 08:45 AM, said:

Of course you are overreacting. You don't even know the price of either Win 8 or WMC. The justification is why should everyone have to pay for certain codecs for a relatively small user base. Theoretically MS can lower the overall cost of Win 8 for everyone and the people that use it can apply the savings to puchase it. Now reason to throw yourself over a cliff...

The problem is MS WON'T lower the overall cost of the OS. They will continue to overprice the OS. MS loves to make you pay more for features that used to be included in the OS. Now we will pay the same high prices for less features, and pay more to get the same features.

[userp07z]

The blame for low use of WMC sits with Microsoft for not advertising at least the great DVR functionality. There are millions of over-the-air TV watchers who have no idea that they can use their computer as a DVR. There are thousands of TiVo subscribers who don't know that they can get the same TV guide info for free in WMC. Microsoft has failed to advertise this, and WMC has fallen flat because of it.

[userp07z]

The blame for low use of WMC sits with Microsoft for not advertising at least the great DVR functionality. There are millions of over-the-air TV watchers who have no idea that they can use their computer as a DVR. There are thousands of TiVo subscribers who don't know that they can get the same TV guide info for free in WMC. Microsoft has failed to advertise this, and WMC has fallen flat because of it.

[jeepmanjr]

I guess it's great to be king. M$ has done whatever it wanted to do since 3.1. Sorry Rick...get in the Kool-Aid line with the rest of the MS groupies. Same sh, uh, thing...different distribution. Learn to live with M$ dominance, or perhaps support your favorite alternative flavor to replace it. While I, too, despise MS, it's the consumer who put them in the position they are in today. That really is the bottom line. So, in a nutshell, you're pleading to the fox for a solution to an unsecured hen house...literally. :-) Don't expect any reasonable answers. Just sayin.....

[waldojim]

After seeing how nicely Windows 8 runs on my media center, and how well the new WMC works - I will be in line for the upgrade as soon as it is offered. Do I like the idea of paying extra? Nope. But I do like the fact that I can get more work done with my MPC that I could with Windows 7.