There is a new book out on Media Center soon from Babani. See the blurb on
the In Preparation page on the web site:
http://www.babanibooks.com/bb3iprep.htm

It's available on Amazon:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/...467790-4654346

It's not available at all yet...the release date is given as March. Several
issues I've noticed. First, it doesn't appear to be offered in the US...it
appears to be a UK-only book. Second, it doesn't appear to cover the subject
of building your own - which is of course where people have the most
problems. Finally, I've never heard of these authors - they're certainly not
Media Center MVPs and they don't appear as authors of any other available
books, so I wonder about their expertise.

Dana Cline - MCE MVP

"UseNet" <brianjsatinbreeches@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:lVHHf.14961$232.10539@fe49.usenetserver.com.. .

Dana

As one of the two authors of the book, I thought I would take a few minutes
to respond to your post, and also that of your post in the Media Center
newsgroup.

The book is not out yet, it is due for release mid April, as the dates
states on the UK Amazon website (and not mid March as you stated in your
reply).

Currently it is UK only published book, as it is a UK based publisher.
Anyone who wishes to obtain the book who lives outside of the UK can of
course order it through Amazon.co.uk, in much the same way as us British guys
need to do when we want a US only published book through Amazon.com.

And you are right, we are not covering building your own Media Center. The
purpose of this book is to explain to those people who have just bought a
Media Center pc, extactly what it does, and how to use it. Mainly because
there are no real instructions on what it can do and certainly here in the UK
there is quite a big push on Media Center in a number of our big computer
shops.

We are not aiming the book at people who want to build their own. Mainly
because most people cannot easily obtain the software (unless they have an
MSDN subscription or the like).

If people builiding their own Media Center is a big topic, then perhaps at a
later date we might write something, but for today that is not who we are
trying to reach with the book.

And yes, I have not written a book before, however I have presented on other
topics at various Microsoft events such as Tech Ed and the Microsoft Exchange
Conference, and in fact I used to work for Microsoft. And my co-author, Tony,
has over 100 articles published in various computer magazines.

And finally, we are not MVPs, as you have pointed out twice now, but I am
not aware of this being a reason why we could not publish a book on MCE.

I am sorry if this sounds negative, but both of the responses seem very
negative towards the book and to us as individuals. You appear to be implying
that as we are not MVP's we have no expertise and should not be writing a
book.

One of the reasons we chose to write the book in the first place was because
there was nothing out there for people to use as a guide, and thats what the
book is, a guide.

Of course, as a Media Center MVP, I cant see anything in the book that will
interest you, but is not aimed at people with your level of knowledge or
experience.

Andrew Edney




"Dana Cline - MVP" wrote:

A passionate author protecting his work, Now I have to read it...

Anything in there about bypassing those pesky TV Record copywrite
restrictions. If I own a license to something I should be able to watch it in
another room of the same house.


"Andrew Edney" wrote:

Sorry Paul, nothing in this one about that, but who knows the for the next
book :-)

"Paul Mac Neil" wrote:

Replies inline below...

"Andrew Edney" <AndrewEdney@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:3BD1E6F5-2369-416A-B592-35111F061F5D@microsoft.com...
The supplied link in the original message (not to Amazon, but to your
publisher) says March...

Well, I suppose there is a need for this. I just see an even bigger need for
a construction book.

Dunno about the UK and Europe, but you have been able to buy Media Center in
the US for over a year now, originally with a "qualifying hardware purchase"
(i.e. display adapter, tuner card, hard disk, even video cable) but now
apparently even that is not required.

OK, fair enough. As you may know, I'm a big fan of build-your-own. It
probably colors my thinking...

No, it's certainly not a reason. I apologize for implying that it means you
may not have the technical expertise that an MVP does. If you might like to
investigate becoming a Media Center MVP, please contact me offline.

Well, again, let me apologize for the tone of my remarks. However, in the
tech world, I've seen too many books that were hyped in advance and yet
never released. I've perhaps become too jaded...

Actually, the book would interest me (assuming it applies to Media Center in
general, and not just UK or European Media Center) as I'm always interested
in learning new stuff. Since the regular US Amazon didn't seem to have it
listed, however, I have no idea if I could even buy a copy here.

Please keep us informed! And thanks for your feedback. Again I apologize for
the "negative waves" and I'll try not to do that again. When the book comes
out, if you'd like to send me an explanatory paragraph, I'd be happy to
mention it on my web site.

Dana Cline - MCE MVP

Well, in the US at least, even telling you how to bypass the DRM would be
against the law. And they _have_ prosecuted people for doing exactly that.

Dana Cline - MCE MVP

"Paul Mac Neil" <PaulMacNeil@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:92169442-D22C-4D18-82A1-1F825507EFFD@microsoft.com...

The book is now with the publishers and will be available in the next few
weeks.

You can find out a little bit more about it, and how to order it here :

http://www.usingmce2005.co.uk/

Andrew


"Dana Cline - MVP" wrote: