Navigating your Media Center interface with your keyboard is a snap, and it can also turn you into a "power user ," giving you access to many more powerful commands than are available from your remote control alone. These commands are issued by means of "hard-wired" buttons mounted on your keyboard in addition to the traditional "QWERTY" keyboard layout, as well as keyboard shortcuts, which are combinations of keystrokes that execute a particular action. Either method can be much faster than mousing your way through menu after menu, trying to find the right command to click on. They are also popular with people who suffer from repetitive strain injuries and experience wrist pain from using their mouse. Using Hard-Wired Keyboard Buttons for Media CenterMaking use of dedicated keyboard buttons that control media- related features is as simple as pressing the button on your remote control. Unfortunately, the degree to which your Media PC maker has included such buttons varies from "extensively" to "not at all." Even more unfortunately , currently available Media PCs have mostly failed to integrate their dedicated keyboard controls with the Media Center's TV and video playback interface. The transport controls used on the Gateway Media Center system, for example, are integrated with Media Center's audio CD playback features, but trying to use them to start, stop, fast-forward, and rewind a DVD movie playing within Media Center just doesn't work ”at least not yet. Figures 5.6 through 5.8 show three examples of keyboards shipped with Media Center PCs, demonstrating the range of hard-wired media-centric controls built into the designs. Figure 5.6. This wireless keyboard supplied by Gateway features a row of CD transport control buttons across the top, as well as Mute and Vol+ and Vol “ buttons (see inset).
Figure 5.8. This HP Pavilion keyboard has loads of extra buttons and even a volume knob (see inset), but it won't control Media Center's video applications.
Figure 5.7. This wired version of the Gateway keyboard adds another row of dedicated buttons (see inset), for Web browsing, getting help, online shopping and browsing your My Documents folder.
Getting these hard-wired buttons to work seamlessly with the Media Center interface should be just a software fix away, so don't be surprised if someday your Automatic Update Wizard suddenly downloads something that repairs the problem. In the meantime, use the dedicated buttons for launching browsers and other applications outside of Media Center. Within Media Center, they won't do much more than allow you to listen to a CD and adjust the volume. Using Keyboard Shortcuts for Media CenterAlthough the hard-wired keyboard buttons won't do much to enhance your Media Center enjoyment, using keyboard shortcuts is another story altogether. They're called shortcuts because of the time they save by eliminating mouse clicks. But although using the keyboard instead of the mouse may reduce the strain on your wrists, it may lead to increased strain on your brain: recalling all the correct key combinations can be difficult. The best way to remember particular keyboard shortcuts is to use them frequently, keeping them fresh in your mind. Otherwise, a "cheat sheet," along the lines of the following tables, can come in handy. On the following pages, you'll find a collection of reference tables with shortcuts to some of the most useful keyboard time-savers available for Windows XP Media Center Edition. Keyboard Shortcuts for Media Center NavigationTable 5.1 lists several navigation-related keyboard shortcuts for getting around Media Center's screens and menus , including the TV program guide. Table 5.1. Keyboard Shortcuts for Navigating Within Media Center
Changing Channels with the KeyboardIt may not be very intuitive at first, but changing TV channels with your keyboard is a simple matter, when you know the right keys to use. Table 5.2 shows you. Table 5.2. Keyboard Shortcuts for Changing Channels
Keyboard Shortcuts to Media Center MenusReaching the major menu features of Media Center from your keyboard is equally simple. The shortcuts listed in Table 5.3 will take you directly to the main Media Center menu areas. Table 5.3. Keyboard Shortcuts for Accessing Media Center Menus
Keyboard Shortcuts for TV and DVD MenusTable 5.4 shows the keystrokes you'll need in order to access the submenus available for watching TV and DVDs. Table 5.4. Keyboard Shortcuts for Accessing TV and DVD Menus
Keyboard Shortcuts for Audio and Video Transport ControlsMultitasking by getting some work done while watching a favorite show or video? No problem ”and no need to reach for the remote just to rewind to that scene you want to see again. Table 5.5 shows you how to control the playback of your media without ever removing your fingers from the keyboard. Table 5.5. Keyboard Shortcuts for Controlling Media Playback
|