Windows 7 Media Center... yuck!!!

Is there anyone out there who actually thinks the "Media Center" UI within
Windows 7 is an improvement (or even tolerable)???

I am not sure what's the story with the Media Center software team over at
Microsoft? (Maybe they keep laying off the experienced software engineers
and hiring young kids right out of college.)

As far as "usability", I felt that the UI that was included in Windows XP
Media Center Edition 2005 was where they "peeked". That UI was straight
forward, and functional. It also was somewhat similar to the UI that
someone would see on cable boxes, and DVRs.

I felt the UI in Vista Media Center was a bit "gimmicky" and less usable
than the UI in MCE 2005.
By this I mean:
- there is no longer a "TV" page that has a summary of programs that have
been recorded recently and programs that will record in the near future
- "Recorded TV" page is far less easy to navigate (a simple list of what has
been recorded, with a list of possible actions as button on the left, is
much more intuitive)
All of that being said, there were a few new features in Vista Media Center
that made it seem like an OK tradeoff.

I installed Windows 7 on one of my HTPCs, and when I started trying to use
the Media Center UI, I was really frustrated/disappointed. Having that "pop
up window" (in the Recorded TV page) with info about the program that was
recorded is AWFUL! For one thing (and this started with Vista) without
something that looks like a "button", its hard to tell what you can select
as an option, and what is just text on the page. The UI is also INCREDIBLY
SLOW! If I have a program that is playing, and I try to switch over to the
program guide during the commercial, the guide is so slow that it takes
several seconds every time I want to page up or down. (And note that I am
using a system with an Intel DualCore @ 3Ghz and a new Nvidia graphics
card.)

If there are people out there who think that Microsoft is going in the right
direction with their UI development, please feel free to voice your
opinions. (As of yet, I have not met one.)

For they rest of us, could Microsoft at least offer a way to disable the new
UI, and go back to something we can use???

was this an upgrade over your do it yourself downloaded TV Pack 2008
you just posted about in another thread or a clean install or ?

in any case, the best place to discuss this is over on
thegreenbutton.com which is owned by Microsoft and where members of
the Media Center team are reading user comments.

On Mon, 17 Aug 2009 14:10:34 -0400, "Russ" <>
wrote:

>Is there anyone out there who actually thinks the "Media Center" UI within
>Windows 7 is an improvement (or even tolerable)???
>
>I am not sure what's the story with the Media Center software team over at
>Microsoft? (Maybe they keep laying off the experienced software engineers
>and hiring young kids right out of college.)
>
>As far as "usability", I felt that the UI that was included in Windows XP
>Media Center Edition 2005 was where they "peeked". That UI was straight
>forward, and functional. It also was somewhat similar to the UI that
>someone would see on cable boxes, and DVRs.
>
>I felt the UI in Vista Media Center was a bit "gimmicky" and less usable
>than the UI in MCE 2005.
>By this I mean:
>- there is no longer a "TV" page that has a summary of programs that have
>been recorded recently and programs that will record in the near future
>- "Recorded TV" page is far less easy to navigate (a simple list of what has
>been recorded, with a list of possible actions as button on the left, is
>much more intuitive)
>All of that being said, there were a few new features in Vista Media Center
>that made it seem like an OK tradeoff.
>
>I installed Windows 7 on one of my HTPCs, and when I started trying to use
>the Media Center UI, I was really frustrated/disappointed. Having that "pop
>up window" (in the Recorded TV page) with info about the program that was
>recorded is AWFUL! For one thing (and this started with Vista) without
>something that looks like a "button", its hard to tell what you can select
>as an option, and what is just text on the page. The UI is also INCREDIBLY
>SLOW! If I have a program that is playing, and I try to switch over to the
>program guide during the commercial, the guide is so slow that it takes
>several seconds every time I want to page up or down. (And note that I am
>using a system with an Intel DualCore @ 3Ghz and a new Nvidia graphics
>card.)
>
>If there are people out there who think that Microsoft is going in the right
>direction with their UI development, please feel free to voice your
>opinions. (As of yet, I have not met one.)
>
>For they rest of us, could Microsoft at least offer a way to disable the new
>UI, and go back to something we can use???
>
>
>
Barb Bowman
MS-MVP
http://www.digitalmediaphile.com
http://digitalmediaphile.wordpress.com
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/e...ts/bowman.mspx

Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but I think if you do a little
searching on the web for reviews of Win7, you'll find many glowing reviews
of the changes to the MC interface. Many reviewers love the changes and new
features. Personally, I think the Video Thumbnail Scroll feature when
playing a video or Recorded TV show is worth the upgrade by itself.

I'm not sure what you mean by " ... a page that has a summary of programs
that have been recorded recently and programs that will record in the near
future", going to the Recorded TV screen lets you see Scheduled or
Previously Recorded or add a recording in one place, rather than hitting the
Back button and changing screens.

But as I said, to each his own.
--
James
Orlando (Goofy says "Hey"), Florida

"Russ" <> wrote in message
news028A090-9965-4320-A12C-...
> Is there anyone out there who actually thinks the "Media Center" UI within
> Windows 7 is an improvement (or even tolerable)???
>
> I am not sure what's the story with the Media Center software team over at
> Microsoft? (Maybe they keep laying off the experienced software engineers
> and hiring young kids right out of college.)
>
> As far as "usability", I felt that the UI that was included in Windows XP
> Media Center Edition 2005 was where they "peeked". That UI was straight
> forward, and functional. It also was somewhat similar to the UI that
> someone would see on cable boxes, and DVRs.
>
> I felt the UI in Vista Media Center was a bit "gimmicky" and less usable
> than the UI in MCE 2005.
> By this I mean:
> - there is no longer a "TV" page that has a summary of programs that have
> been recorded recently and programs that will record in the near future
> - "Recorded TV" page is far less easy to navigate (a simple list of what
> has been recorded, with a list of possible actions as button on the left,
> is much more intuitive)
> All of that being said, there were a few new features in Vista Media
> Center that made it seem like an OK tradeoff.
>
> I installed Windows 7 on one of my HTPCs, and when I started trying to use
> the Media Center UI, I was really frustrated/disappointed. Having that
> "pop up window" (in the Recorded TV page) with info about the program that
> was recorded is AWFUL! For one thing (and this started with Vista)
> without something that looks like a "button", its hard to tell what you
> can select as an option, and what is just text on the page. The UI is
> also INCREDIBLY SLOW! If I have a program that is playing, and I try to
> switch over to the program guide during the commercial, the guide is so
> slow that it takes several seconds every time I want to page up or down.
> (And note that I am using a system with an Intel DualCore @ 3Ghz and a new
> Nvidia graphics card.)
>
> If there are people out there who think that Microsoft is going in the
> right direction with their UI development, please feel free to voice your
> opinions. (As of yet, I have not met one.)
>
> For they rest of us, could Microsoft at least offer a way to disable the
> new UI, and go back to something we can use???
>
>
>
>

Russ wrote:
> Is there anyone out there who actually thinks the "Media Center" UI
> within Windows 7 is an improvement (or even tolerable)???
>
> I am not sure what's the story with the Media Center software team over
> at Microsoft? (Maybe they keep laying off the experienced software
> engineers and hiring young kids right out of college.)
>
> As far as "usability", I felt that the UI that was included in Windows
> XP Media Center Edition 2005 was where they "peeked". That UI was
> straight forward, and functional. It also was somewhat similar to the
> UI that someone would see on cable boxes, and DVRs.
>
> I felt the UI in Vista Media Center was a bit "gimmicky" and less usable
> than the UI in MCE 2005.
> By this I mean:
> - there is no longer a "TV" page that has a summary of programs that
> have been recorded recently and programs that will record in the near
> future
> - "Recorded TV" page is far less easy to navigate (a simple list of what
> has been recorded, with a list of possible actions as button on the
> left, is much more intuitive)
> All of that being said, there were a few new features in Vista Media
> Center that made it seem like an OK tradeoff.
>
> I installed Windows 7 on one of my HTPCs, and when I started trying to
> use the Media Center UI, I was really frustrated/disappointed. Having
> that "pop up window" (in the Recorded TV page) with info about the
> program that was recorded is AWFUL! For one thing (and this started
> with Vista) without something that looks like a "button", its hard to
> tell what you can select as an option, and what is just text on the
> page. The UI is also INCREDIBLY SLOW! If I have a program that is
> playing, and I try to switch over to the program guide during the
> commercial, the guide is so slow that it takes several seconds every
> time I want to page up or down. (And note that I am using a system with
> an Intel DualCore @ 3Ghz and a new Nvidia graphics card.)
>
> If there are people out there who think that Microsoft is going in the
> right direction with their UI development, please feel free to voice
> your opinions. (As of yet, I have not met one.)
>
> For they rest of us, could Microsoft at least offer a way to disable the
> new UI, and go back to something we can use???

You're kidding of course...right? I've got XP WMC 2005, Vista Ultimate
and Windows 7 Ultimate. Vista is much better than WMC 2005 and 7 tops
them all.
But to each his own!

This was an install of Win7 on a separate system (cold install, not an
upgate).

"Barb Bowman" <> wrote in message
news:...
> was this an upgrade over your do it yourself downloaded TV Pack 2008
> you just posted about in another thread or a clean install or ?
>
> in any case, the best place to discuss this is over on
> thegreenbutton.com which is owned by Microsoft and where members of
> the Media Center team are reading user comments.
>
> On Mon, 17 Aug 2009 14:10:34 -0400, "Russ" <>
> wrote:
>
>>Is there anyone out there who actually thinks the "Media Center" UI within
>>Windows 7 is an improvement (or even tolerable)???
>>
>>I am not sure what's the story with the Media Center software team over at
>>Microsoft? (Maybe they keep laying off the experienced software engineers
>>and hiring young kids right out of college.)
>>
>>As far as "usability", I felt that the UI that was included in Windows XP
>>Media Center Edition 2005 was where they "peeked". That UI was straight
>>forward, and functional. It also was somewhat similar to the UI that
>>someone would see on cable boxes, and DVRs.
>>
>>I felt the UI in Vista Media Center was a bit "gimmicky" and less usable
>>than the UI in MCE 2005.
>>By this I mean:
>>- there is no longer a "TV" page that has a summary of programs that have
>>been recorded recently and programs that will record in the near future
>>- "Recorded TV" page is far less easy to navigate (a simple list of what
>>has
>>been recorded, with a list of possible actions as button on the left, is
>>much more intuitive)
>>All of that being said, there were a few new features in Vista Media
>>Center
>>that made it seem like an OK tradeoff.
>>
>>I installed Windows 7 on one of my HTPCs, and when I started trying to use
>>the Media Center UI, I was really frustrated/disappointed. Having that
>>"pop
>>up window" (in the Recorded TV page) with info about the program that was
>>recorded is AWFUL! For one thing (and this started with Vista) without
>>something that looks like a "button", its hard to tell what you can select
>>as an option, and what is just text on the page. The UI is also
>>INCREDIBLY
>>SLOW! If I have a program that is playing, and I try to switch over to
>>the
>>program guide during the commercial, the guide is so slow that it takes
>>several seconds every time I want to page up or down. (And note that I am
>>using a system with an Intel DualCore @ 3Ghz and a new Nvidia graphics
>>card.)
>>
>>If there are people out there who think that Microsoft is going in the
>>right
>>direction with their UI development, please feel free to voice your
>>opinions. (As of yet, I have not met one.)
>>
>>For they rest of us, could Microsoft at least offer a way to disable the
>>new
>>UI, and go back to something we can use???
>>
>>
>>
> Barb Bowman
> MS-MVP
> http://www.digitalmediaphile.com
> http://digitalmediaphile.wordpress.com
> http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/e...ts/bowman.mspx

This is just me "ranting"... and just my 2 cents. But then again, all of
the people I have spoken to around here seem to voice similar feelings about
the Win7 Media Center.

Now just to be clear, I feel that the Media Center UI in Win 7 sucks.... But
I like many other features of the OS, and I think the UI on the main desktop
is an improvement.

But as you say... to each his own.


"Russ" <> wrote in message
news028A090-9965-4320-A12C-...
> Is there anyone out there who actually thinks the "Media Center" UI within
> Windows 7 is an improvement (or even tolerable)???
>
> I am not sure what's the story with the Media Center software team over at
> Microsoft? (Maybe they keep laying off the experienced software engineers
> and hiring young kids right out of college.)
>
> As far as "usability", I felt that the UI that was included in Windows XP
> Media Center Edition 2005 was where they "peeked". That UI was straight
> forward, and functional. It also was somewhat similar to the UI that
> someone would see on cable boxes, and DVRs.
>
> I felt the UI in Vista Media Center was a bit "gimmicky" and less usable
> than the UI in MCE 2005.
> By this I mean:
> - there is no longer a "TV" page that has a summary of programs that have
> been recorded recently and programs that will record in the near future
> - "Recorded TV" page is far less easy to navigate (a simple list of what
> has been recorded, with a list of possible actions as button on the left,
> is much more intuitive)
> All of that being said, there were a few new features in Vista Media
> Center that made it seem like an OK tradeoff.
>
> I installed Windows 7 on one of my HTPCs, and when I started trying to use
> the Media Center UI, I was really frustrated/disappointed. Having that
> "pop up window" (in the Recorded TV page) with info about the program that
> was recorded is AWFUL! For one thing (and this started with Vista)
> without something that looks like a "button", its hard to tell what you
> can select as an option, and what is just text on the page. The UI is
> also INCREDIBLY SLOW! If I have a program that is playing, and I try to
> switch over to the program guide during the commercial, the guide is so
> slow that it takes several seconds every time I want to page up or down.
> (And note that I am using a system with an Intel DualCore @ 3Ghz and a new
> Nvidia graphics card.)
>
> If there are people out there who think that Microsoft is going in the
> right direction with their UI development, please feel free to voice your
> opinions. (As of yet, I have not met one.)
>
> For they rest of us, could Microsoft at least offer a way to disable the
> new UI, and go back to something we can use???
>
>
>
>

Maybe I should post at 'the green button' whatever that is since I CANNOT
READ the damn GREEN BUTTONS with WHITE TEXT!!!!!! WHO the F_CK ever thought
WHITE on LIGHT GREEN was easily
readable????????????????????????????????????!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! YES
I am FRUSTRATED that I CANNOT READ the damn button TEXT!!!!!!

I agree with Frank but my gripes are not the same.

"Frank" <> wrote in message
news:#...
> Russ wrote:
>> Is there anyone out there who actually thinks the "Media Center" UI
>> within Windows 7 is an improvement (or even tolerable)???
>>
>> I am not sure what's the story with the Media Center software team over
>> at Microsoft? (Maybe they keep laying off the experienced software
>> engineers and hiring young kids right out of college.)
>>
>> As far as "usability", I felt that the UI that was included in Windows XP
>> Media Center Edition 2005 was where they "peeked". That UI was straight
>> forward, and functional. It also was somewhat similar to the UI that
>> someone would see on cable boxes, and DVRs.
>>
>> I felt the UI in Vista Media Center was a bit "gimmicky" and less usable
>> than the UI in MCE 2005.
>> By this I mean:
>> - there is no longer a "TV" page that has a summary of programs that have
>> been recorded recently and programs that will record in the near future
>> - "Recorded TV" page is far less easy to navigate (a simple list of what
>> has been recorded, with a list of possible actions as button on the left,
>> is much more intuitive)
>> All of that being said, there were a few new features in Vista Media
>> Center that made it seem like an OK tradeoff.
>>
>> I installed Windows 7 on one of my HTPCs, and when I started trying to
>> use the Media Center UI, I was really frustrated/disappointed. Having
>> that "pop up window" (in the Recorded TV page) with info about the
>> program that was recorded is AWFUL! For one thing (and this started with
>> Vista) without something that looks like a "button", its hard to tell
>> what you can select as an option, and what is just text on the page. The
>> UI is also INCREDIBLY SLOW! If I have a program that is playing, and I
>> try to switch over to the program guide during the commercial, the guide
>> is so slow that it takes several seconds every time I want to page up or
>> down. (And note that I am using a system with an Intel DualCore @ 3Ghz
>> and a new Nvidia graphics card.)
>>
>> If there are people out there who think that Microsoft is going in the
>> right direction with their UI development, please feel free to voice your
>> opinions. (As of yet, I have not met one.)
>>
>> For they rest of us, could Microsoft at least offer a way to disable the
>> new UI, and go back to something we can use???
>
> You're kidding of course...right? I've got XP WMC 2005, Vista Ultimate and
> Windows 7 Ultimate. Vista is much better than WMC 2005 and 7 tops them
> all.
> But to each his own!
>