Windows XP Media Center Edition 2004 PC for Dummies

This book helped me decide whether I really needed a MCE computer (versus a normal XP). The key was on the first page of chapter 9, quote "the TV functionality that Media Center provides is its most compelling feature". I tried in vain to figure out how would the integrated TV tuner (NTSC) work with our TV system (Pal N). In short, I got no answers either from the forums nor "the green button" fan's website. Conversors were expensive and nobody would guarantee they would work down here. Conclusion: I bought a DVD recorder locally, and an XP computer that is still the standard OS most people have (unlike MCE, that barely exists here). The book is extremely user friendly, very clear, but doesn't shy away from hard topics. Part IV specially is crammed with knowledge on networks. No wonder the authors made a separate book on the subject! The comparison of wireless LAN systems on chapter 16 comes in handy. The explanation of "sampling" on page 34 is, again, almost "too clear" :). Finally I understood what 24 bit and 96kHz mean! And WHY bigger numbers are, in this case, better. The comparison with the CD's sampling rate is another example of their ability to teach. In short, the hardware recommendations may be a bit dated, their enthusiasm over this OS may sound a bit over the top after Vista, but I think this was a honest effort to explain what this OS was all about at the time it was the newest kid on the block. This book is the closest thing to actually using this OS. For their detailed walkthroughs alone, it deserves its 5 stars. PS: The appendix on how to connect your MCE PC to different home entertainment systems is comprehensive thanks to its drawings. And the index is clearly organized in big topics, which renders it useful.