Fix for Editing Recorded TV Shows in Vista Media Center

While it's true you can edit your recorded TV shows in Movie Maker with Windows Vista you might run into an 'unspecified error' stating that Movie Maker can't open your DVR-MS file. This means Movie Maker is probably having compatibility issues with the different video decoders installed on your system. If you go to Tools and then Options, you can click on the Compatibility tab and deselect the different video filters and that should solve your problem.

Nvidia TV Tuner Card DOES Work in Vista Media Center

I just upgraded to Windows Vista from Windows Media Center Edition 2005 this weekend and I'm happy to report that my evga single PCI TV tuner card with Nvidia NVTV does in fact work in Vista.

Even though the Vista Upgrade Advisor said it would not work and some of the forums said it would not work I got mine to work. I had to run through the TV setup a few times using manual settings but I did get it to work.

Vista's Ready Boost No Match for RAM

I've been watching Ready Boost in Vista for a while now and I've read different things about how much of an improvement this feature is supposed to have but the crew at Tom's Hardware put it all to rest with a very nice test comparing Ready Boost vs Memory RAM:

Although an additional USB 2.0 Flash memory device clearly helps to increase application responsiveness at launch time (we've experienced time savings in this area of up to 50%), upgrading an average computer from 512 MB to at least 1 GB of RAM makes a huge difference. Microsoft may argue that adding a Flash memory stick already has a tremendous impact on subjective performance, reducing application launch times considerably. And that's all true; the performance impact is considerable, but Windows Vista still remains slow in the end.

I wasn't surprised to see that having more system memory would give the biggest improvement but I was surprised to see how in certain configurations the USB flash memory with Ready Boost could make up to a 50% improvement. I think when I upgrade to Vista I will use a USB flash drive with Ready Boost just in case it gives me better performance.

SideShow Is One of the Coolest Technologies with Vista

SideShow is the technology Microsoft is rolling out with Vista that allows a Vista PC (even if its hibernating) to transmit data to other devices like remote controls and small LCD displays. CE Pro has a nice slideshow from CES highlighting a multitude of different devices that will use SideShow.

I'm pretty excited about SideShow - imagine being able to see if you have any new emails without opening and turning your laptop on. Or what about a text LCD display on your keyboard when you are gaming? There was even one application for a SideShow display on the outside of a messenger bag!

What SideShow device would you like to see?

Windows Vista Gaming Will Answer the Keyboard/Mouse vs Controller Debate

With the release of Windows Vista and Microsofts push for cross-platform gaming where a PC gamer can play against an Xbox player the XFPS keyboard/mouse adapter may come in handy. This little device allows you to hook up a keyboard/mouse to use in your Xbox 360 games. Xbox 360 Fanboy has a review but says that using the keyboard/mouse combo has too much lag for first-person shooters. The comments over at Gizmodo had people in an uproar saying that it wasn't fair because the keyboard/mouse combo would allow more accuracy against a controller. But with Windows Vista where PC players can go up against Xbox 360 players it might not matter anymore.

So what do you think is better for first-person shooters like Gears of War: the keyboard/mouse or the controller?