Windows 2 Apples

Is it possible Microsoft finds it intolerable when someone actually claims to have found the WOW in Windows?

Shortly after proclaiming Windows Media Center offered a superlative viewing experience when accessing free video content on the Internet, I’ve lost the ability to use Windows Media Center to view any of the MSN Control Room Music Concerts without continuously having them paused every 5 to 10 seconds. Ironically, the only way I can actually view the videos without frequent pop ups of the dreaded blue circle of frustration is to log on to Soapbox (a.k.a. Video MSN, a.k.a. MSN video) and view using Firefox running in either Vista or OS X. When using IE7 my viewing experience is not any better than when using Media Center.

I feel as if I’ve been punched in the stomach! I’m happy I didn’t rush out and buy a Media Center Extender or the HP Media Center television I had been lusting after. Given the current degradation in performance, it’s impossible to recommend Windows Media Center as a preferred means of accessing MSN beta TV content reliably.

I don’t know whether the problem is with Microsoft’s implementation of its high resolution streaming display technology, Microsoft Servers or a temporary clogging of the pipes by Internet video coverage of the Olympics. Whatever the cause, for me Windows Media Center has now become a source of angst as opposed to a proof Microsoft can actually follow through on a winning strategy to garner customer enthusiasm for its products. The only positive from my experience is the realization that apparently all of the Beta Internet content produced by Microsoft can be accessed by anyone with a flash enabled Firefox browser and does not require the Windows operating system or any proprietary Microsoft technologies.

Even though the viewing experience is less than that I experienced when using the Windows Media Center several weeks ago, Microsoft offers an impressive catalog. Perhaps the easiest way to access MSN content is to do a Google search for Soapbox. You will be taken to the video.MSN web site where not only can you view MSN beta television content but iNetSynch videos.

I have my fingers crossed that the issue is not with the Media Center technology but rather with a heavier than expected demand on servers as a result of internet coverage of the Olympics. Whatever the cause, the wind has been abruptly taken from my sails. I have to wonder why Microsoft can’t get its act together … why they seem intent on offering up a more and more fodder for Apple to fuel its continued successful strategy of ridiculing Microsoft.

Produced using MixCraft 4, HP Media Smart Home Server, M-Audio Interface, and iTunes tags editor.

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