Can I use my computer and watch TV at the same time?

With Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005, you can get work done while watching your favorite TV show. Media Center is designed for you to enjoy while relaxing on the couch with your family using a remote control, or while sitting at your desk using a mouse. When you're at your desk, you can use other programs while you watch live or recorded TV, play a DVD, or listen to music. This lets you catch up on the news while you get some work done, take notes while you watch a do-it-yourself show, or read about your favorite show at MSN TV while watching it.

To run other programs on your computer while you watch TV:

1. Press the Green Start Button on your remote to open the Media Center Start menu.
2. With your mouse, click Restore Down on the toolbar to switch Media Center out of full-screen mode and into a movable, sizable window. (If the toolbar is not shown on your screen, move your mouse slightly.)

3. Drag the lower-right corner of the window to resize it so that you have room to run other programs on your desktop. You can also click the top bar in the Media Center window, and then drag the window to the location where you want it on your desktop.

4. Start the program that you want to use. If the program is maximized, click its Minimize button, and then resize the window by using your mouse to drag its lower right corner.

5. To control Media Center with your remote while it is in a window (rather than in full-screen mode), you must first either click the window with your mouse or press the Green Button on your remote. To control Media Center with your mouse when it is in a window, click the buttons at the top and bottom of the window in the same way that you would press buttons with your remote.

Media Center can stay on top of other windows if you overlap them. To configure Media Center to stay on top of other windows:

1. Press the Green Button on your remote, and then select Settings.

2. On the Settings page, select General.

3. On the General Settings page, select Startup and Window Behavior.

4. Select the Media Center window always on top check box.

5. Select Save.

If you don't want to watch TV with Media Center, you can close Media Center by clicking the Close button with your mouse.

Media Center can still record TV while it is closed, as long as you leave the computer turned on, in standby mode, or in hibernate mode.

 

Other Links

• What is a Media Center Extender?

• I want to set up my Media Center in my family room. What should I use to make the job easier?

• Can I watch a recorded show while Media Center is recording another show?

• What are the new TV features?

• What happens if I try to record multiple shows at once and I don't have enough tuners to support it?

• What is content protection, and how does Media Center use it?

• What does the Media Center remote do?

• Do I need to purchase a TV tuner when I buy a Media Center PC?

Copyright : www.dvr-ms.com     Modified : 2009-04-22 07:05:25