Windows Media Center Edition lets those of you in one-room apartments and dorms watch and record TV on your PC.
The good: Supports operation via remote control; easy to use; built-in personal video recorder lets you save television shows to your hard drive.
The bad: Doesn't add much new capability to Windows; only available preinstalled on a system; inconsistent interface.
By Lori Grunin, November 15, 2002
Unless you're planning to spring for a whole PC, don't start jonesing for Windows Media Center Edition (better known by its former code name, Freestyle). This new build of Windows XP Professional, which delivers remote-controlled audio, video, live TV, and the ability to record live TV to the PC, can be found only preinstalled on select PCs--at least, for the moment. You'll love Media Center if you need one of these new all-in-one PCs for your tiny dorm room, say, but Microsoft needs to work out a few rough edges before this edition is good for everyone.
