Chapter 11. Watching DVDs on an XP Media Center PC

In This Chapter

  • Controlling DVD playback with the remote control

  • Controlling DVD playback with the mouse and keyboard

  • Changing closed captioning, subtitles , and language settings

  • Settings and shortcuts for DVD playback

  • Troubleshooting DVD- related problems

One of the most seductive qualities of the Windows Media Center machine is its chameleon-like capability to take on the characteristics of so many different devices, effectively eliminating your need for numerous standalone entertainment components such as a home stereo system, a television, and, not least, a DVD player.

The basic DVD playback features of Media Center are designed to be as simple and straightforward to operate as those of any conventional DVD player. However, many of these standalone players have expanded their resume in recent years , adding advanced capabilities to fine-tune your DVD watching experience.

The problem is that these devices are limited in how they allow you to access these advanced features. Generally, a dedicated button is required for each feature, from Menu to Skip. As a consequence, their remote controls are bristling with buttons , and most consumers will never take the time to ascertain the functions or learn the use of most of them.

caution

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If you insert a DVD disc when the Windows XP desktop is displayed, such as when the Media Center interface is not running or has been minimized, Windows should open an option window and ask whether you want to play the disc. More insidiously, the disc manufacturer may have included a DVD player application of its own that automatically opens a setup window and asks whether it can begin installing the software.

Choose carefully ! For one thing, you already have a very capable default DVD player application within Media Center, so there's really no need to install an additional one. Also, that third-party DVD player application may turn your machine into a remote "client" for the DVD maker, including launching Web-enabled applications designed to entice you into a marketing relationship with the manufacturer. Unless you want to register with the company that made the movie you're about to watch, and participate in its online promotions and marketing plans, it may be that you should "just say no."


Media Center has the upper hand in this design conundrum . Simple playback tasks are assigned to dedicated buttons on the remote control, but because that remote is communicating with a sophisticated multipurpose multimedia machine, it also gives you access to underlying layers of software menus that let you thoroughly customize your viewing experience. The result is that it's much easier to unlock those hidden features that are often difficult to fathom and configure using today's standalone DVD players.

Of course, you can also climb into the "cockpit" of your Media Center and manage your DVD playback with mouse and keyboard. It's just a matter of personal preference, and how much control you want to exert over your home theatre experience.



Absolute Beginner's Guide to Microsoft Windows XP Media Center
Absolute Beginners Guide to Windows XP Media Center
ISBN: 0789730030
EAN: 2147483647
Year: 2002
Pages: 159
Authors: Steve Kovsky

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