Window Media Center Edition is not a new entrant in the digital video recorder (DVR) realm and is armored with certain features which distinguish it from other challengers, unlike TiVo, Windows Media Center Edition or popularly known as MCE is software based personal video recorder (PVR) and its setup is lot different from TiVo.
Setup
Microsoft‘s Window Media Center Edition runs on media center personal computers. The hardware requirements for seamless operation of MCE are a fast microprocessor in GHz range or more, TV tuner and video cards besides these a DVD burner and not to mention a fast RAM and adequate hard disk space to store the recording. Install the MCE on your personal computer and suitably configure your devices and your custom made DVR is ready to serve you. While TiVo is a Linux based hardware connected to MPEG-2 encoder/decoder chips and high-capacity IDE/ATA hard drives and a ready to use gizmo.
Television display
Most computer companies offers does not include a video card with an out put for TV and you can only watch the shows on your computer monitor or else you are required to install the hardware and software for video card. This also needs some basic computer expertise to reconfigure your MCE or you may seriously harm your system. No such expertise is required for TiVo setup.
Multiple Program recording
MCE support up to five TV tuner cards and obviously it can record five programs at a time but the setup charges of these TV tuner card is a major bottleneck and also it causes lot of churning because of heavy strain on microprocessor. As for TiVo it can only record a single program at a time but the DirecTiVo can record two programs simultaneously and new series 3 TiVo units are speculated to be able of recording two programs simultaneously.
HDTV and Radio
To date HDTV feature is the most esteemed feature of MCE which is appreciably incomparable with TiVo units but the new series 3 TiVo units support HDTV signals. You can also listen and record the radio transmission on your TiVo and MCE,
Cost of Setup
MCE setup is a very costly deal and although you can use the computer for other purposes but the cost of initial setup is too high as compared with the TiVo purchase price and monthly subscription charges.
System Crash and Security
System crash and security are some other hurdles in the popularity of MCE as you need an up to dated antivirus and anti spyware software to keep your system clean from the malicious codes and this will seriously hamper the performance of your system and the registered versions of software is an added strain on your budget.
Retroactive Recording
If you happen to struck somewhere and after coming back to your home you just realized that you just missed your favorite show, stop worrying, TiVo can buffer and even record the shows up to 45 min so you can rewind or record the show even if your television is off. Although MCE also buffers but does not allows you to save it on your hard disk.
Retroactive TV guide
If you are using TiVo then you can scroll through the future listing of programs as well as the past listing of programs, this feature is valuable in some regards but MCE’s guide does not look into the past listing of program.
Conclusion
If you believe in a feature based, low cost and stable digital video recorder (DVR) and monthly subscription fee is not a gag for you then TiVo is made for you.