I'm considering getting a media center PC with Windows XP Media Center
edition and have been researching the benefits and whatnot. I have one major
question I need answered before I make a decision. I have digital cable
through my local cable provider (Brighthouse). With my digital cable box and
controller I can program reminders, use a VCR like interface for ordering
movies called iControl, etc. I'd prefer to use Media Center's TV interface
over the cable box but I don't know if this can be accomplished. Is Media
Center even compatible with digital cable like this? I'm assuming it is.

After seeing
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/m.../listings.mspx I
figure it all depends if my cable provider appears in the TV Signal Provider
setup in Media Center. I went to
http://www.microsoft.com/tv/CustomersAndPartners.mspx too look but I don't
think this is what I was looking for. I also went to
http://bakersfield.mybrighthouse.com/ but there was no information about
Media Center. I suppose I'll need to call Brighthouse if no one can tell me a
way to see if my cable provider is included online somehow.

The solution obviously seems to call Brighthouse but I'm also curious about
anyone's experience with Windows XP Media Center edition. I'm considering
getting an Alienware DHS 2 if my cable company will work.

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<BlenderStyle@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in
news:56F0CA02-3C9F-41AB-9793-01B02C515EC4@microsoft.com:

> I'm considering getting a media center PC with Windows XP Media
> Center edition and have been researching the benefits and
> whatnot. I have one major question I need answered before I make
> a decision. I have digital cable through my local cable provider
> (Brighthouse). With my digital cable box and controller I can
> program reminders, use a VCR like interface for ordering movies
> called iControl, etc. I'd prefer to use Media Center's TV
> interface over the cable box but I don't know if this can be
> accomplished. Is Media Center even compatible with digital cable
> like this? I'm assuming it is.
>
> After seeing
> http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/m...g/setup/listin
> gs.mspx I figure it all depends if my cable provider appears in
> the TV Signal Provider setup in Media Center. I went to
> http://www.microsoft.com/tv/CustomersAndPartners.mspx too look
> but I don't think this is what I was looking for. I also went to
> http://bakersfield.mybrighthouse.com/ but there was no
> information about Media Center. I suppose I'll need to call
> Brighthouse if no one can tell me a way to see if my cable
> provider is included online somehow.
>
> The solution obviously seems to call Brighthouse but I'm also
> curious about anyone's experience with Windows XP Media Center
> edition. I'm considering getting an Alienware DHS 2 if my cable
> company will work.
>

My limited experience of MCE is with NTLworld cable in the UK. MCE
gives an interface allowing me to select what to watch or record
from the EPG (electronic program guide) - much better than the
NTLworld guide. But NTLworld-specific stuff - e.g. selecting a pay-
per-view program - only works directly via the STB.

BTW: microsoft.public.windows.mediacenter is more appropriate group
for your reauirements, and is quite active.

MCE will control the cable box, and provide you a list of programs watch and
record. But the media center remote wont work will on demand programs, you
still will have to pull out your brighthouse remote and order those programs
to be able to watch them in media center.

"BlenderStyle" <BlenderStyle@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:56F0CA02-3C9F-41AB-9793-01B02C515EC4@microsoft.com...
> I'm considering getting a media center PC with Windows XP Media Center
> edition and have been researching the benefits and whatnot. I have one
> major
> question I need answered before I make a decision. I have digital cable
> through my local cable provider (Brighthouse). With my digital cable box
> and
> controller I can program reminders, use a VCR like interface for ordering
> movies called iControl, etc. I'd prefer to use Media Center's TV interface
> over the cable box but I don't know if this can be accomplished. Is Media
> Center even compatible with digital cable like this? I'm assuming it is.
>
> After seeing
> http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/m.../listings.mspx I
> figure it all depends if my cable provider appears in the TV Signal
> Provider
> setup in Media Center. I went to
> http://www.microsoft.com/tv/CustomersAndPartners.mspx too look but I don't
> think this is what I was looking for. I also went to
> http://bakersfield.mybrighthouse.com/ but there was no information about
> Media Center. I suppose I'll need to call Brighthouse if no one can tell
> me a
> way to see if my cable provider is included online somehow.
>
> The solution obviously seems to call Brighthouse but I'm also curious
> about
> anyone's experience with Windows XP Media Center edition. I'm considering
> getting an Alienware DHS 2 if my cable company will work.