| While the iMac G5's software interface for | | | | sorts on your PC, and lets you burn them to CD |
| multimedia - Front Row - is new to the Mac | | | | or DVD with a couple of clicks. But it also gives |
| platform. Windows users have had similar tools - | | | | you access to tons of online content, including |
| in Microsoft's Windows XP Media Center Edition - | | | | movies from CinemaNow ( pre-recorded television |
| for a couple of years now. Is it possible that, as | | | | shows from Akimbo.com, and news broadcasts |
| Front Row matures, it could learn a thing or two | | | | from Reuters and other services. One huge |
| from Windows? | | | | irritation with Media Center is that clicking on some |
| Feel the music | | | | buttons calls up ads for paid content. |
| For music, Front Row gives you a large, text only | | | | But when it comes to television, Media Center's |
| interface with few options. You can shuffle the | | | | biggest advantage over Apple's offerings is that |
| playback order of songs and search by several | | | | you can connect a Media Center PC to a TV, |
| criteria. You can't create playlists, but you can | | | | often through high quality component connections. |
| access playlists you've already created in iTunes. | | | | Media Center plays, pauses, and records television |
| And you can't browse internet radio stations, but | | | | programmes; if the PC has a TV-tuner card with |
| you can access stations you've bookmarked in | | | | two tuners, it simultaneously record two |
| iTunes. | | | | programmes and play back a third. |
| Media Center gives you those same navigational | | | | You can add an external TV tuner and digital |
| and playback tools, and then goes a couple of | | | | video recorder, such as Elgato Systems' EyeTV, |
| steps further. It shows album artwork and also | | | | to the iMac G5, but Front Row won't have |
| provides a search engine that will show results as | | | | anything to do with it. |
| you enter characters on the remote control. | | | | Currently, you can view over-the-air |
| Some Media Center PCs have over-the-air radio | | | | High-Definition (HD) broadcasts only with Media |
| tuners, but the software will also let you access | | | | Center, and then only if the PC's TV and supports |
| internet radio stations. | | | | HD. Microsoft recently announced that Media |
| You can't browse or buy new songs through | | | | Center PCs with CableCard support will appear by |
| Front Row; for that, you must use iTunes. Media | | | | Christmas; those systems should be able to play, |
| Center displays a prominent 'Buy Music' button | | | | pause, and record HDTV programmes, without |
| once you start playback, but clicking on it calls up | | | | the need for a set-top cable box. |
| a page of albums and a 'Not designed for Media | | | | A Media Center PC particularly outdoes the iMac in |
| Center' message. In other words, it doesn't work | | | | one area: it can't act as a server, distributing |
| any better than Front Row. | | | | content (including time-shifted television) to other |
| DVDs on the menu | | | | devices throughout the house. Those devices |
| Because the iMac G5's remote has only six | | | | include Media Center Extenders and the new |
| buttons, the fast-forward and fast-rewind buttons | | | | Xbox 360, which has built-in wireless networking. |
| must do double duty as chapter advancing | | | | Playing catch-up |
| buttons. And you can't adjust the volume until | | | | When it comes to controlling a multimedia |
| after you begin playback. DVD playback is pretty | | | | computer, OS X isn't anywhere near Windows XP |
| simple, but you will find out that the wrong | | | | Media Center Edition. But Media Center has been |
| buttons are often pressed. | | | | around for more than three years; comparing the |
| The remote control supplied with Media Center | | | | fledgling Front Row to it is about as fair as |
| PCs has dedicated buttons for nearly every DVD | | | | comparing a bicycle to a BMW. And Apple's |
| function, so it is easy to look at the remote and | | | | success with digital audio players - which weren't |
| pick exactly what you want to do. The interface | | | | new when it began selling them - shows that the |
| is quite snappy, so you'll always get confirmation | | | | company can enter a product category and outdo |
| that button presses has registered. | | | | the competition by offering better features and |
| Straight to video | | | | more style. |
| Front Row gives you easy access to movie files | | | | Clearly, Mac users are not going to be buying |
| and video podcasts stored on your iMac, and to | | | | Media Center-equipped PCs anytime soon (and the |
| movie trailers stored on Apple's servers. You can | | | | same is true for Windows users and iMacs). But if |
| play back TV shows, too, but you have to use | | | | Front Row picks up some of the extra features |
| iTunes to find and purchase them. Everything | | | | that Media Center has acquired over the years, |
| playbacks in full-screen window, which makes the | | | | those users may soon have reason to be very, |
| 320 240 pixel TV shows look pretty fuzzy. | | | | very happy. |
| Media Center lets you play back videos of all | | | | |