Dell tells Microsoft to 'talk to the hand'
Spinner
Birmingham, UK
<a target="_blank" href="http://www.microsoft-watch.com/article2/0,4248,1242483,00.asp">Latest Windows XP Media Center Launch Info<a>Just a few days before Microsoft is set to launch the next version of Windows XP Media Center, Dell shows off a copycat version of the product that is its own creation. The "Dell Media Experience" is based on Windows XP Home Edition, rather than on Windows XP Professional, like Media Center is. Neither Microsoft nor its usual OEM ally is talking about each other's offering.
<a target="_blank" href="http://www.betanews.com/article.php3?sid=1064550873">The "Dell Media Experience" Launch Info<a>
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Comments
But who cares, eh? This is Dell.
http://www.extremetech.com/article2/0,3973,1305887,00.asp
Microsoft says that Dell simply put a Dell branded user interface onto a slightly retooled Windows Media Player (since this is not in and of itself a violation of the OEM agreement, looks like Microsoft will let Dell do this-- OEMs can brand and make more effective an interface these days if the base software is not changed.).
The rest of the story shows how Microsoft can get its OEMs, including Dell, to package specific hardware and software combos. This combo spec resulted in what Microsoft and its OEMs, including Dell, are calling the "Windows Media Center PC," which Microsoft hopes will be an "in thing" for Christmas season. We will see, I guess.
John.