Wednesday, November 3, 2004
HP Offers Media Center Edition 2005 Upgrade for Desktops, Not Laptops
Posted by Jason Dunn in "NEWS" @ 03:00 PM
"On October 12, Microsoft accounced [sic] the next generation operating system for the Media Center PC. Microsoft® Windows® XP Media Center Edition 2005 offers updated features that deliver a simple, convenient way to enjoy your photos, music, television, movies, and more throughout your home. You may be eligible to upgrade your existing Microsoft® Windows® XP Media Center Edition or Microsoft® Windows® XP Media Center Edition 2004 operating system to Microsoft® Windows® XP Media Center Edition 2005 for FREE + US $9.95 shipping and handling."
If you have an HP Windows Media Center Edition desktop PC, you can place your order for the MCE 2005 upgrade. Unlike MCE 2004 which was distributed via the Windows XP Service Pack 1, MCE 2005 is being distributed through OEMS. There are some significant frustrations though to consumers, because it's completely up to the OEMs to decide if they want to release the upgrade. HP, for instance, is releasing it for their desktop computers, but after speaking to five different people at HP, none of them could confirm for me that they would ever release it for their zd7000 series laptops.
As a customer of HP's that bought a zd7000 series laptop only a few weeks ago, I find that very frustrating. I've managed to get MCE 2005 installed and working myself, but it took a lot of effort and time. If you're the owner of an HP laptop that came with MCE 2004, get on the phone with HP and complain about the lack of an MCE 2005 upgrade. The only way they'll get motivated to make us happy as customers is if we speak up.
If you have an HP Windows Media Center Edition desktop PC, you can place your order for the MCE 2005 upgrade. Unlike MCE 2004 which was distributed via the Windows XP Service Pack 1, MCE 2005 is being distributed through OEMS. There are some significant frustrations though to consumers, because it's completely up to the OEMs to decide if they want to release the upgrade. HP, for instance, is releasing it for their desktop computers, but after speaking to five different people at HP, none of them could confirm for me that they would ever release it for their zd7000 series laptops.
As a customer of HP's that bought a zd7000 series laptop only a few weeks ago, I find that very frustrating. I've managed to get MCE 2005 installed and working myself, but it took a lot of effort and time. If you're the owner of an HP laptop that came with MCE 2004, get on the phone with HP and complain about the lack of an MCE 2005 upgrade. The only way they'll get motivated to make us happy as customers is if we speak up.
