Microsoft Corp. and Cable Television Laboratories Inc. (CableLabs®) today announced they have reached an agreement that will allow Microsoft and PC manufacturers to bring to market digital-cable-ready Windows® Media Center-based PCs in the holiday 2006 time frame. [eHomeUpgrade]
While this is great news for people hooked on MCE, I don’t really understand why this announcement is coming out now. This is AT LEAST a year away.
If I am in the market for an HTPC, should I wait now? Vista arrives at the same time basically and that will likely be a heck of an upgrade to handle on it’s own. One of the main hopes for OEMs around the globe (including Intel and AMD) is that we’ll all race out for a new machine (finally) since there will be a need to support a major new OS launch.
Don’t forget Microsoft does not make the PC, so they’ll have to make their own release dates in order for their hardware partners to consider getting product to retail.
Back to this PR… It does not even say MCE is a limitation. I suppose this means that when it eventually arrives, BeyondTV, Sage and others will also be able to take advantage. Thats’ cool. An even playing field and good consumer choice.
So, why announce today? Just more from Microsoft this week? Apple had a good few weeks and now it’s time for Redmond? Maybe this is just a view into the roadmap and that’s good to know as an enthusiast… at least you know the platform has a committed future.
My real hope though is that Apple delivers in 2006 with a real digital home strategy that takes the initial work done with Front Row and refines the media center universe into a friendly and simple place for the consumer.