Comments on: Apple recycles Media Center

By: Rob

Rob — Thu, 23 Feb 2006 05:59:59 +0000

To Anon – the version of Cyberlink PowerCinema that emulates the MCE interface came *after* Windows media center was released, not before. Why is it that everytime someone actually copies Microsoft they assume the opposite?

After 20 years using the “innovation” argument or the “Apple did it first” argument is just getting old and repetitive. Who actually goes out and bases their buying decisions on stupid “who did what first” arguments? This is business not a track-n-field event. Being first is not all that important. Even in track-n-field leaving the starting line first doesn’t mean you’ll win the race.
Case in point, Apple dominates the portable digital music player market with the iPod and many people actually believe Apple invented that market. Apple was NOT the first to market and sell a portable music player. The Diamond RIO MP3 player was the first. Heck if you want to get nitpicky, Sony invented the Walkwalk back in the 70′s.

By: » links for 2005-10-17 InsideGoogle » part of the Blog News Channel

Mon, 17 Oct 2005 03:07:03 +0000

[...] Ed Bott’s Windows Expertise » Apple recycles Media Center Qoute: I do hope the people who were so outraged about Microsoft ripping off Apple “innovations” – the Windows Vista interface, Microsoft Gadgets, etc. – are slamming Steve Jobs right now for Apple’s blatant (and frankly pretty lame) ripoff of Windo (tags: apple microsoft media_center front_row) [...]

By: Ed Bott

Ed Bott — Fri, 14 Oct 2005 11:51:44 +0000

Link fixed. Thanks, Wes.

By: Wes McGee

Wes McGee — Fri, 14 Oct 2005 04:54:06 +0000

The link to Thomas Hawk is broken on both postings… anyway, I think it is a bad idea to dismiss it on feature count alone. Apple has managed to outdo everyone on music players even when they lacked many features others have. That said, I agree with the first comment, this thing desperately needs a TV Tuner of some soft… ABC (and maybe NBC) shows for $1.99 is not a substitute for this.

By: Infinite Abyss

Infinite Abyss — Thu, 13 Oct 2005 13:02:31 +0000

Apple has TV and Movies now the extender?

Ed Bott asks the question about Apple’s response to Media Center Extender. This brings up a post I did specifically talking about my theory on what it could be in following up a Robert X. Cringley post. I still think…

By: Lee

Lee — Thu, 13 Oct 2005 09:03:31 +0000

To be perfectly frank, FrontRow and Media Center are a world apart – and I don’t actually think Apple are trying to compete. To start with, FrontRow isn’t on the mini – if they were truely aiming for the lounge, it would be on that first (given that it’s the most suitable mac for the lounge).

I think calling it a lame ripoff is a bit of a stretch though – I personally don’t see enough similarities between the two. Sadly, the same can’t really be said for the similarity between dashboard and gadgets.

At the end of the day however, both platforms win here – if the best features of both can be on the market, the end user gets the choice.

By: anon

anon — Thu, 13 Oct 2005 08:10:39 +0000

It’s funny you say Apple ripped Microsoft, since I told myself the same thing the first time I saw the Microsoft Media center UI look and feel. Crap, they have ripped (or licensed) Cyberlink PowerCinema. See for yourself : http://www.gocyberlink.com/multi/products/main_12_ENU.html

By: Sunshine

Sunshine — Thu, 13 Oct 2005 05:22:58 +0000

Why do all Microsoft evangelists get so worked up over Apple like this? Does it matter? NO! You’ve still got over 90% of the market.

I ask the same of Apple evangelists – why do they get so worked up (take Mighty Mouse, for example).

I work in IT. I’m a mac user at home, a windows user at work. They each serve their purpose just fine. There is more to life than apple and microsoft people! Try going outside and sitting in the sun..

By: Microsoft News Tracker » Blog Archive » Apple tries to up the ante in Home Media

Thu, 13 Oct 2005 00:35:45 +0000

[...] Ed Bott: I do hope the people who were so outraged about Microsoft ripping off Apple “innovations” – the Windows Vista interface, Microsoft Gadgets, etc. – are slamming Steve Jobs right now for Apple’s blatant (and frankly pretty lame) ripoff of Windows Media Center Edition, Front Row. After all the buzz earlier this year about what a cool media platform the Mac Mini would be, this is a big letdown. … It appears they’re going after the dorm room, not the living room. [...]

By: Andre

Andre — Thu, 13 Oct 2005 00:28:36 +0000

The main ui looks nice. Maybe they are saving the best stuff for leopard.

By: mbg

mbg — Wed, 12 Oct 2005 22:14:16 +0000

To make it worse, Apple often gets it right the first time and doesn’t really break the mold after that. Microsoft is on their magical 3rd iteration of Media Center, and this Apple offering isn’t very impressive.

Unless either of them get direct digital cable (and HD cable) support, I think this PC-as-DVR idea will be even more of a niche product than it already is.