2 Parts Fusion
DMS Model 501
Reviewed By: Parker Clack
Page 2Software:
2 Parts Fusion has decided to utilize Windows MCE 2005© for their DMS units. Windows MCE 2005© runs as an application within Windows XP Professional©.
When you first set up your HTPC you can tell it to either start up with MCE on bootup or you can have it start with the traditional XP desktop. The DMS unit that I received had MCE start up automatically when you boot up the system.
On start up you will get prompted with the Media Center wizard. Here you will setup MCE with your particular options. One thing to note is that you are going to have to play around with some of the settings to optimize your picture and to set up your audio. Setting it up for the first time is fairly straight forward. I will not go into how to set up MCE here in this review as their are plenty of great resources available including a comprehensive guide that Chris has compiled and place in the HTPC forum area.
In addition 2 Parts Fusion has set up an online FAQ and forum area to field your questions and provide you will answers well beyond what my limited knowledge of the software can provide. They will be also hanging out around the forum to answer questions that anyone may have not only about MCE but about the products that they offer.
Since 2 Parts Fusion will be custom making these units to order you will be able to let them know your particular setup, ie: type of display, pre amp/receiver. etc. so your unit will come ready to plug in and go.
The major advantage of this setup is that here you have all in one place a media server that will allow you to watch live TV, record a show while watching another one (if you have a dual tuner set up) or record 2 TV shows at once. As the owner of two Replay TV PVRs this last function is a must for me. Almost all the shows that I want to either watch or record is on at the same time that my wife wants to watch or record something. This section of MCE will show you three icons that allow you watch recorded TV programs, Live TV or Movies that MCE finds from your program listing.
Windows Media Center 2005 also allows you to archive you favorite music, TV Shows, home movies, etc. to CD or DVD with a convenient interface.
Then to top all of this off you will be able to surf the net by going back to the main XP desktop and accessing your email and browser programs or any other program you might have. Microsoft has included access to your Messenger account so you can send and receive messages back and forth with your friends that use Messenger. I hope that someone comes along with a nice plug in that will allow you to use something like Trillian so you can access ICQ, AIM and IRC from within the MCE interface.
Note: Windows, Windows XP, Windows XP Professional and Windows Media Center 2005 are copyright Microsoft. All rights reserved.