Sony offers upgrade to Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005

In the weeks and months after Microsoft rolled out Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 there was always one guy who would comment on every post we did about a Sony product about how he was never buying anything from Sony until they offered owners of Sony Media Center PCs an upgrade to the 2005 version of the software. Well, dude, you can start buying Sony products again—they're finally offering owners of PCV-RZ4x, PCV-RZ5x, and VGC-RA series Media Center PCs an upgrade to Media Center Edition 2005 for $9.99 plus shipping and sales tax.
 
[Thanks, Mike G.]

UPDATE: That $9.99 includes shipping and handling. Our bad.

[dynamius @ Dec 19th 2005 12:12AM]

i have no experience with sony, but i have a hunch that they're gonna charge more for shipping than the actual upgrade itself... ebay style.

[Sergio @ Dec 19th 2005 12:12AM]

If its cheaper than going out and buying the the OEM version, who gives a crap?

[Raul @ Dec 19th 2005 12:12AM]

$9.99 includes shipping and handling...

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To Order the Microsoft� Windows� XP Media Center Edition 2005 Upgrade

The upgrade is only available on DVD and can be purchased online. The cost of the upgrade is US$9.99 (includes handling and shipping.) Orders must be submitted no later than May 31, 2005.

To order the upgrade, go to: http://esupport.sony.com/info/winxpmceoffer.html

[twain wheck @ Dec 19th 2005 12:12AM]

#1 you're an idiot.

[TheTspoT.org Admin @ Dec 19th 2005 12:12AM]

Once again I hate to sound like a broken record but Xbox media center does all these features and millions of people have xbox's. Just another toy to throw in the closet I guess......

[Jack @ Dec 19th 2005 12:12AM]

I think I was that "ONE" guy the writer of this article was referring to. LOL.

I ordered my Media Center upgrade the first day it was available (March 14th). It was only $10 TOTAL, but I would have been willing to spend a little bit more than that. It's going to take the standard 4-6 weeks to process and ship. A bit slow, but I'm just so excited that Sony reversed their policy of offering the upgrade. Thank you, Sony!

Microsoft, in turn, has sinced announced that there will not be a Media Center 2006 upgrade because of the lousy effort that Sony and our OEMs supplied us with the 2005 upgrade. Instead Microsoft has announced that any updates to Media Center will be supplied through Windows Update. Thank you Microsoft!

Hopefully after Microsoft releases the next "Longhorn" Media Center version, it will offer any additional Media Center upgrades either through Windows Update or in a retail upgrade package so we can bypass relying on our OEMs.

Because of Sony's policy reversal, I have reversed my policy of NOT purchasing Sony products that don't need upgrading, (i.e. monitors), but I'm still "hesitant" in buying their products that either may need upgrading once in awhile,( i.e. computer), or only work with their proprietary products, (i.e. their cameras with Memory Sticks).

[Uchendu Nwachukwu @ Dec 19th 2005 12:12AM]

In response to #5:

Too bad you have to mod your Xbox to get that to work. A lot of people will simply not mod their Xboxes, for good reason.

[magnetism87 @ Dec 19th 2005 12:12AM]

#5, the Xbox doesn't have a TV tuner.

The whole point of getting a Media Center PC, is to have a Tivo-like app to enhance your TV watching experience. And you simply can't do that with an Xbox.

[grot @ Dec 19th 2005 12:12AM]

Your (modded, live-useless) Xbox makes a fine media center extender. It lacks (as 8 said) the PRIMARY app people buy these for, which is DVR.

On top of that, I don't believe you can rip and record DVDs from an Xbox. Nor do I believe you can transcode WMA files down to MP3s and load them onto your player. I also don't think you can run it through VNC so you can leave it in the closet, and I'm doubtful abotu getting that 4 drive terabyte raid in there.

[R-Bro @ Dec 19th 2005 12:12AM]

Yes, I would be VERY pleased if Gateway would extend the same courtesy. I have two 610 AIO systems, which are awesome--but I want MCE 2005!

[Justin Larsen @ Dec 19th 2005 12:12AM]

i have a modded xbox and use live, by turning the modchip off and owning an orginal copy of the game i wish to use on live.

I can rip rented dvds to xvid or divx, and download the newest tv shows automatically via bittorrent.

I have a 300gb drive in there and can stream any videos i have on my home pc via windows sharing. Anything else i missed, grot?

[deland @ Dec 19th 2005 12:12AM]

1
nail brush
bath brush
bath mitt
bath scrubs
pumic stone
plastic bath massager
wooden brush
wooden massagers
animal bath accessories
bath cap
bath gift sets
bath pillow
bath robes

2
clothes hanger
massage glove
massage sock
mesh sponge
bath articles
jig saw
circular saw
band saw
table saw
mitre saw
metal saw
finishing sander
palm sander
palm rotary sander

3
rotary sander
delta sander
belt sander
angle grinder
car polisher
electric grinder
mini drill
cordless drill
cordless drill set
electric drill
impact drill
power tools

[Anthony @ Dec 19th 2005 12:12AM]

Did 12 say download his favorite television shows? Recording your favorite shows and downloading them from a bit torrent sire is not the same. they do not put sportcenter everynight to download. Come on, please accept the xbox does not have a TV tuner.

[deland @ Dec 19th 2005 12:12AM]

1
paper shredder
paper cutter
pencil shredder
CD shredder
CD destroyer
reed relay
reed switch
magnet relay
switch

2
circuit breaker
contactor
switch power supply
limiting switch
micro switch
universal changeover switch
distribution box
magnetic starter
thermal relay
plug socket
wall switch

3
warning lamp
halogen lamp
energy saving lamp
illumination lamp
fluorescent lamp
H.R.C.fuse
limited fuse,
cylindrical fuse
capacitor
panel meter

[Jon @ Dec 19th 2005 12:12AM]

xbox used as a media center eXtender DOES have a tv tuner. It has whatever your MCE has.