But why stop at CE? Why not attempt to get
Windows XP Medie Center working. Then you will make XBMP/XBMC obsoelete.... or will it?
Just becuase someone has CE running, does not mean it's going to replace my PC, or XBMP/XBMC. Like stated previously, I have a perfectly good PC with an S-Video output port, that I connect to my TV for streaming video, however I still use XBMC/XBMP for watching my video files, and as soon as they implement .nsv support, I'll stop using my PC for streaming video.
I am not looking for a cheap, under-powered PC to hook up to a television. I'm looking for a cheap entertainment platform, capable of outputting surround sound and HDTV. Something that I can easily go from watching a DVD, to Playing a game, to listening to streaming music, to watching streaming video, to watching previously recorded video.. all using a remote control and a controller.
As of right now, thanks to apps like Avaluanch and XBMP/XBMC, I will be able to wirelessly connect all the TV's/Home Theater's in my house via their own XBOX's... you know what, this is moot. The same people who like Linux on the XBOX are the people who like Win CE on the XBOX. All this really proves is what I've been telling my friends from the FIRST DAY I heard about the XBOX:
"MS needs it's own proprietary "PC" in the home that it can use without any objections of "un-fair" trade practices. The XBOX is just the first step in a circuitous plan to make a majority of the home rely on MS products."
That prediction of mine is slowly coming true. With the appearance of Windows XP Media Center addition, which is designed to be, OMG, an entertainment OS, one can only assume that the use of Direct X, and PC architecture in the XBOX was just a foot in the door. I am willing to bet that XBOX 2(or next) will be "Media Center Ready", with all the trappings that one needs to network their Home PC to their XBOX 2. Why buy a DVD player(or TiVO, or a multidisc CD player, or Stereo) when you can buy an XBOX 2 and get so much more with it? Watch DVD, Record Live TV, Store all your CD's as un-scrathable WMA's, stream live radio from around the world... you get the idea..
Now, all this sounds like I'm against this propect, however I am anything but. I think it's a great idea who's time has come, and apps like XBMC/XBMP prove it to be sufficiently popular and feasible. I know, everyone HATES MS, but why? Because they brought you an easy to use widely supported OS? Or because they are fighting to reduce software piracy worldwide? Or maybe its becuase they strive for a level of inter-operability that makes things "just work"?
Anyway, thats my $5 bucks worth. <