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Media Center Extender for Xbox |
by Paul_Thurrott
1/12/2005 |
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In addition to the less-than-perfect Media Center Extenders (codenamed Bobsled), which we might think of as "dedicated" Media Center Extenders, because that's all they do, Microsoft has always had plans for other forms of Media Center Extenders.
These plans included Extender chipsets that would turn otherwise normal televisions and other devices into Extenders, a software-based Extender for Xbox (codenamed XSled), and a software-based Extender for PCs (codenamed SoftSled). While the former and latter are currently up in the air--no TV-based Extenders have appeared and, according to Microsoft, none are in the works that it is aware of; SoftSled is also an unknown, with some at Microsoft feeling that it's critical, while others think it will impact the business for hardware-based Extenders--XSled arrived in late November without much sound and fury. That's kind of surprising, frankly.
The cute little Xbox Extender packaging (Figure) seems right at home alongside other Xbox accessories, though I have to wonder whether normal people will understand what it does, exactly, and that you must have a new Media Center PC (or an older unit that was upgraded to XP MCE 2005) in order to use it.
Once you get past the box, you're presented with the actual XSled solution. This consists of some hardware, some software, and some paper. The hardware includes a little IR (infra-red) dongle that you plug into one of the Xbox's four controller ports and a remote control (Figure). The dongle is identical to the one that Microsoft supplies in its Xbox DVD Movie Playback Kit; indeed, the version I received includes a label that literally reads "Xbox DVD Movie Playback Kit." So if you have already purchased that Kit, you now have a backup dongle and a second, compatible, remote control.
The XSled remote is the nicest Media Center remote I've seen, and I've seen them all. It's small and attractive looking, with a nicely beveled body and those slightly-sticky and easy-to-find buttons I like. It also includes a dedicated Recorded TV button, which is important to everyone in my family, because that's almost always where we're headed when we sit down in front of the TV. If you want to use your Xbox to watch DVD movies, this remote works well for that purpose as well.
The software includes two disks. One is a DVD that you place in the Xbox in order to make it behave like an Extender. It doesn't load any software directly onto the Xbox hard drive, which is a huge oversight in my opinion, but rather requires you to manually insert the disk every time you want to use the Xbox to watch TV or access your other Media Center functions. The second disk is a PC-based CD-ROM that loads the Extender software onto your Media Center PC. This software, which I discuss briefly in my Media Center Extender review, first lets you link an Extender to a particular Media Center PC (in the same way that you might link a Bluetooth device to a particular Bluetooth-equipped PC), and then provides utilities for managing, updating, and troubleshooting an Extender. The software you get with the Xbox Extender is identical to that which Microsoft's partners ship with dedicated Extenders, so there's no advantage in installing one over the other. If you have already installed a dedicated Extender on your network, you can simply boot up the Xbox with the Extender disk insert and then run the Media Center Extender Manager on your Media Center PC to add that device to the list of connected Extenders.
Surprisingly, Microsoft also ships a decent set of documentation with the Xbox Extender that walks you through the process of setting up the software on both the PC and the Xbox. It also discusses some of the pros and cons of various network connections. For example, a wired Ethernet connection is always best, but if you must use wireless, Microsoft recommends an 802.11a network (which most people don't have). Naturally, it will also work with an 802.11g network, though this type of network has much bigger problems with interference than 802.11a and is, in my experience, almost completely unacceptable (the Xbox Extender will not work over lowly 802.11b connections).
My advice, as is Microsoft's, is that anyone serious about using an Extender (Xbox-based other otherwise) wirelessly should get a dedicated 802.11a access point for that purpose. However, the Media Center PC will still need to be connected to your router using a wired connection, and you can only use one wireless Extender at a time; all other Extenders will need to be wired. Otherwise, your experience will be, as they say, less than desirable.
As for comparing the Xbox Extender to dedicated Extenders, it's a familiar experience (Figure). The Start screen and other UI elements are all identical (Figure), and in day-to-day usage, the Xbox Extender is basically identical to a dedicated Extender. Given the fact that the Xbox also lets you play back DVD movies (not to mention an ever-growing library of impressive video games), you may think that purchasing an Xbox Extender (if you already have an Xbox) or even an Xbox and an Xbox Extender, is a better choice than purchasing a dedicated Extender. Unfortunately, this supposition is incorrect. That's because the Xbox Extender falls down in four critical areas.
Performance
The Xbox Extender takes about twice as long as a dedicated Extender to connect to the Media Center PC and then "boot" into the Media Center environment, a period of time that can be measured in several seconds but is nonetheless annoying when you plop down on the couch and want to get started with some serious television browsing. More annoying, however, is that the actual performance of the device is worse as well: As you navigate around the Media Center UI on the Xbox, button clicks are followed by slight pauses before anything happens. The effect is like Media Center in molasses, and that's not a good thing. Dedicated Media Center Extenders just perform better.
Microsoft product Manager Tom Laemmel told me recently that the performance of the Xbox Extender shouldn't be surprising, since it's a software product that's emulating a hardware device. And he's right. But I'm curious why Microsoft didn't take the step of copying the Extender software to the Xbox hard drive during installation. It seems like it would perform a bit better. It would certainly boot up more quickly.
Noise
Unlike a dedicated Media Center Extender, the Xbox is not silent. That's because the Xbox is, essentially, a PC that's been shoehorned into a small (well, relatively speaking) case. PCs have fans, and the Xbox fan is, to me, particularly loud. That's because the unit typically sits in your den, and not your home office, where PC fan noise is more common. Consumer electronics devices typically don't make much sound, and they certainly don't have fan noise. The Xbox, however, does. And this is a problem for my sensitive ears. A big problem.
Now, if you already use the Xbox to watch DVD movies, and aren't annoyed by the constant hum of the device's fan, which is most acutely heard during silent or slow passages in movies, than more power to you: The Xbox Extender is no more or less loud than the Xbox is during DVD playback. But if this sound bothers you, the Xbox Extender isn't going to make you very happy either.
 
Power up and down
Though the Xbox Extender remote control, like other Extender (and Media Center) remote controls, includes a Power button, you cannot use this button to turn on or off the Xbox. Instead, this button can only be used to power off the Xbox Extender software. Once you do so, you'll receive a message explaining that you can now turn off the Xbox manually, or insert another disk. And yes, that means you have to literally walk up to the Xbox and press the power button on the unit with your finger. There is no way to remotely trigger a power on or off. That's ridiculous, sorry. And the first time you're lying in bed after watching a movie until the wee hours of the night, see how excited you are about getting up to turn the darned thing off. Inconceivable.
Remote control incompatibility
As I mentioned previously, the Xbox Extender remote control is the best Media Center remote I've ever seen. Sadly, this benefit is completely tarnished by the fact that it is incompatible with every other Media Center/Media Center Extender remote control on the planet. That's right: It only works with the Xbox. This is a problem only because every other Media Center and Media Center Extender remote is interchangeable. That is, you can use any remote with any Media Center PC or Extender. Except the Xbox.
The key to this incompatibility lies with the use of the dongle from the Xbox DVD Movie Playback Kit. Instead of creating an IR fob that is compatible with Media Center remotes--which would have been more useful--Microsoft chose to reuse an existing part. Which is silly, because there's no benefit to doing so at all. But there are some negative consequences. Let's say you lose or break your Xbox Extender remote. Now what? Your only option is to order the exact part from Microsoft, and hope they're still being made. If it had been a standard Media Center remote, you could have used your existing Media Center remote control (remember, you get one with a Media Center PC), or you could order one of numerous replacements from any source on earth, including PC makers like HP and Dell, direct retailers like Directron, or from Microsoft. Heck, if the remote was compatible, you could choose to use the Media Center PC's remote with the Xbox simply because you liked it better. Now, that's not an option.
Conclusions
The Media Center Extender for Xbox should have been a no-brainer, but it isn't because of some serious design mistakes. If you are looking for a Media Center Extender, but don't own an Xbox, skip out on the Xbox Extender and get a dedicated Media Center Extender: They aren't perfect either, but they are silent, perform better, can be powered up and down via a remote, and include remote controls that are compatible with other Media Center equipment. If you own an Xbox and would like to try out the Xbox Extender software, understand the limitations first. Look over the list of problems above and determine if you can live with them. If you can, the price is right, and the Xbox Extender won't let you down. But for most potential customers, I can only arrive at one possible conclusion:
The Xbox Extender is a dog, and you should avoid it.
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xerocool208
X365 Member
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ok now im not getting it
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XBOXlasvegas
Heckler
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One lazy complaining basterd this guy is, he's to lazy to get up and turn off the XBOX after watching a movie before going to bed, I know for sure his "significant other" isnt getting any, esp late at night ! A little noise is too much, ya Ok, most XBOXs seem to be in family rooms or kids rooms where noise is very abundunt. Some software quirks and some waiting for menus to load, ok I guess hes gotta have everything just the way he wants it RIGHT NOW,spoiled egocentric. He fails to mention a Media Center Extender retails for $300 and can NOT play XBOX games, seems like a huge complaint to me, while you can pick up this kit and add it to your exsiting XBOX for $79.99, seems like a bargin to me. I understand it has its drawbacks buts it's really just an added feature to your XBOX, not a reason to buy an XBOX itself. If you don't want it don't get it, but if you have a wired home network its very hard to beat, esp for $79.99.
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blackcat
X365 Member
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Just get the Xbox Media Center. Its free from their website. Requires some slight modifications to the Xbox of course but kicks serious ass. Add an ATI All-In-Wonder card to your PC and you have the same thing as what MS is selling for way less...especially since you need to buy a Media Center PC in order to make the Xbox extender work....which is crap IMO.
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ryan
X365 Member
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^^^^^ how is it free?
please use a few details.
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shiniguns
X365 Member
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still xbox media center beats this hands down......as blackcat said it is free & it the most complete (and will be cos of the solid updates we get regularly) media app for the xbox.it can be found in usual places in irc(#xbins,#xbmc)some site has direct links for download ,for legal reasons they cant be posted here on this web site.
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shiniguns
X365 Member
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still xbox media center beats this hands down......as blackcat said it is free & it the most complete (and will be cos of the solid updates we get regularly) media app for the xbox.it can be found in usual places in irc(#xbins,#xbmc)some site has direct links for download ,for legal reasons they cant be posted here on this web site.
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shiniguns
X365 Member
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still xbox media center beats this hands down......as blackcat said it is free & it the most complete (and will be cos of the solid updates we get regularly) media app for the xbox.it can be found in usual places in irc(#xbins,#xbmc)some site has direct links for download ,for legal reasons they cant be posted here on this web site.
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shiniguns
X365 Member
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^^site error :D
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Bergamot
X365 Member
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If it's the design (and not the color) of the remote that you find appealing, you can buy a silver PC-only one here:
http://store.yahoo.com/directron/xpmediactrl.html
It's even possible that one of these may work with a xBox<->USB cable, though I haven't tried it:
http://www.lik-sang.com/info.php?category=53&products_id=2154&
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matt204
Heckler
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I already have a PC in my room with my Xbox (which already plays CD's that you can put on it as well as dvd's so why do you need a TV in it too?) aswell as a CD player and a TV that my xbox goes into that also has sky.Alot of people i know have a setup like this so why do people need a media centre xbox?
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test
Heckler
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so they could watch their recorded shows on another tv......
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