HP Exits Media Center Business, Drops DEC Line

I always thought of HP as one of Microsoft's biggest partners, so seeing this news is pretty surprising. I remember when the original Media Center was released, and theirs was basically the poster child of the MCE's. And even since then, HP's been pretty aggressive with trying unique things, and I guess that's continuing, just completely separate from Microsoft (and in fact, competing now.

CE Pro

The company instead will focus its energy on MediaSmart, the new brand of TVs with digital media adapters built in — not Microsoft Media Center Extenders that link Media Centers with remote TVs, but HP's own solution for distributing photos, music, video and other content (including Web-based) to the TV.