As I understand it, the Windows XP Media Edition OS uses proprietary media formats and/or digital content protection which I would not want to mess with. If you really want a media-oriented computer, just add an ATI "All In Wonder" card with remote control to any standard PC.

I don't pretend to know all that much about the operating system, but it has been good so far. It does have the TV in and out, Tivo like recording capabilities, remote, and all that, but I do not use them. I have not even set them up. You can capture analog video and audio etc., and convert to digital, and that I have used. The front has the built-in drives for all the removable media. That was good for me as between my video and still digital cameras, and my boat sonar and GPS, I use three of the four slots. It was just a good overall package and I got a good deal on it. I you really want the best computer for anything, it should be hand built, with just the stuff you need on it. No packaged software with a hundred different trial software packs on it, etc. But sometimes it is not practical to do it. That is the way this deal was.

Years ago, I had another computer that was a good unit, for its time, but the darn thing would just restart itself while you were working, and sometimes did it several times a day. I did not have another to use for my business at the time and just put up with it for about a year, (the funny thing is that it never lost any data, and even if you were writing a letter, it was there when it fired back up!) The manufacturer could never figure it out either. When I finally got another computer, I transferred the important data. I formatted it, and instead of using the recovery software, I installed a clean windows OS on it. After that, it never restarted itself on me again.

I picked up a ViewSoni, 20.1-inch HD ready monitor, a couple of weeks ago, and I like it very much. Needed a much better digital camera for my project, and received my new Nikon D70 yesterday. Like I said, I’m new and just learning, but this camera sure seems awesome to me. I guess now I will have to figure out how to put stills with HD video. Must be a way huh? I swear I am done spending money, really! No, Really!!! Well, one thing maybe. I do not want to put extra time on my JY-HD10U just to shoot DV, do you have any suggestions on a decent DV video camera, older used model that would shoot decent video. Lower price range!

I wish I had found this video stuff and started with it years ago. This is a blast! Strains the old brain though.

Thanks for you help--Mike