Microsoft abandons Windows Media Center

Windows Media Center has been slowly dying from neglect for five or six years now, barely managing to survive as a niche product for its small band of fanatical users.  Even with Windows 8.1, Microsoft reluctantly offered the program as an additional cost add-on.  But the green button and all its functions for playing media files and recording tv shows will not be part of Windows 10.

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In a private meeting this week, Ed Bott was informed by Microsoft executives that WMC will not survive past its current form, and will not be compatible with Windows 10.  If you have a current installation of Windows 7 or 8, and upgrade to Windows 10 with that machine, you will be required to remove Windows Media Center before you can proceed with the upgrade.

Windows Media Center has provided remarkable functionality for home theater personal computers ever since its introduction in 2002.  But the combination of DVR's from cable and satellite providers, and the later advent of "cord-cutters" has reduced the need for the program.

For those of you who still rely on WMC, keep your installation of Windows 7 or Windows 8 intact.  Windows 10 is not for you, at least, not in the realm of recording TV shows and playback of media.

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You can read more on the story at The Ed Bott Report at ZDNet.

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