New Asus G1 and Question

Hi! Yesterday I picked up my new Asus G1 - I'm extremely pleased with it. It's better than I expected in a laptop.

I have a question. It has Windows Media Center on it. However, the system did not come with all that Media Center stuff (remote, etc.) that are listed in the WMC booklet. I've never had Media Center on a machine before so I know very little about it.

I tried looking up Media Center kit on Google, but wasn't too successful. What's the best resource for putting together for myself a few of the items like a remote and the cabling I'd need to get the most out of Media Center? Thanks!

 

the g1 dosnt have an IR port so you wouldnt be able to use the remote

I dont think asus made the best decision to put media center on the g1...your not gonna get the most out of media center with the g1, it's not a media center laptop, it's a gaming laptop

 

Aren't there Bluetooth remote controls available for Windows XP Media Center?

 

I agree with m477hew...Mediacenter is not the best OS for the G1. It doesn't have a TV Tuner and is really a gaming focused laptop.

 

Ah, I see. Thank you.

I don't know but I'll start digging to find out.

I'm wondering about purchasing one of those external Hauppauge tv tuners...

 

ATi also has the USB 2.0 TVWonder.

I use this one and I really like it.

 

Oh thank you (making a note of it).

Is there any other equipment I could get to take full advantage of Windows Mediacenter?

 

I've tried these out and they work nicely: http://www.hauppauge.com/pages/products/data_hvr950.html

 

OK, I've got a G1 on the way. If Media Center isn't that good of an OS for the G1, where is a good place to get XP Pro for cheap? I found a lot of places on Pricegrabber and Bizrates today that were less than $100 but most seemed shady. Anybody know where to get a legal copy of XP Pro for less than $100?

 

Personally, I think that ASUS was wise to put Windows XP MCE in, as it provides the most cost-efficent upgrade to Vista. MCE will let you upgrade to Home Premium, which most users will find appealing, thanks to Aero. Putting in XP Home would give us that piece of garbage Vista Home Basic, while I feel that XP Pro would hike up the "oh so sweet" price of the G1 - to something less "oh so".

Just my 2 cents!

 

That is interesting about the remote

because the a8js comes with an ir port so perhaps it should have come with media center


IF a G1 owner would prefer xp pro and xp vista 64

and Im 100% percent certain I can trust them based on my own criteria

I will trade xp pro asus recovery disc and teh xp business 64 upgrade for

xp media center recovery disc and xp home premium upgrade cd.

Is anyone interested in this deal who feels the grass is greener over here?

 

The IR port on the A8 and any other Asus other than the W2 is not a consumer IR.... we have gone over this within the last week or so. However, even though the W2 has a CIR, the CIR isn't certified by Microsoft for MCE, their remote won't work with it. The W2's CIR was meant for Asus' own pc card slot remote that works with their own Asus Mobile Theater (which loads on top of XP Pro). Personally, I helped reject that version of the W2 because the Mobile Theater software SUCKS in comparison to MCE. The only down side is that you need to use the full sized remote and USB IR blaster from Micrcosoft.

Now... there is ONE other way you could do it.... We've been offering a pretty sweet bluetooth remote which stores and charges in an express card slot as part of the NBR member program... That works with media player and MCE.... and works on any system with bluetooth and stores in any system with an full sized express card slot.