Microsoft Remote Control and USB Receiver for Windows Media Center PC > Reviews (2)

I built my own Windows Media Centre PC, so naturally I wanted Microsoft's own remote to go with it.
When you first open the box the remote comes in, you get the feeling that someting is missing, all you get is:-
1. The Remote itself.
2. The USB reciever.
3. 2x AA Batteries.
4. A leaflet about warranty.

So thats it, no software CD and no instructions.

Luckly installation is a breeze, simply put the batteries into the remote, then plug the USB reciever into a spare USB socket on your Windows Media Centre PC. Thats it, Windows just reconizies it and away you go.

A simple press of the large green media centre button in the middle of the remote and media centre launches straight away.
From there on its just like using any other modern DVD or TV remote, 4 large buttons, up, down, left & right control the on-screen menu and a button in the middle selects whatever is highlighted at the time. There are also a few other basic buttons for controlling your media centre such as a back button which goes back to previous menu, volume control, mute, channel change, previous and next track. Other buttons include power, play, record, fast forward and back and 0-9.

Using the remote couldn't be easier, its more like using a jukebox than a PC, which is just as well because my girlfriend hates PC's but loves the media centre as she doesn't have to use a mouse.

Two minor niggles I have with the remote however is if you happen to be sat down at a table for instance with the remote on the table having a couple of drinks, and a song comes on you would like to skip, you tap the skip button and the remote rolls over on its side due the underside being very curved. The other problem is the volume control, you have to hold the button down for a second or so before the volume changes.

But all in all it does make the media centre alot easier to use, especially if you want to do away with your existing Hi-Fi and replace it with a media centre PC.