11. In Use

Because the z556 uses Windows Media Center Edition, I won't go through my usual description of media center software features. But since HP provides a few of its own applications to enhance the MCE experience, I'll instead focus on them.

HP is the only vendor that I am aware of that provides an out-of-the box solution to Windows MCE's inability to play Apple iTunes MP4 files. So those who have invested a lot of money into iTunes music can still access and listen to their favorite MP4 files within MCE using HPtunes. The only problem is that HPtunes is extremely sluggish. Accessing individual songs one at a time quickly becomes more trouble than it's worth, because there is a frustrating wait between every action that is performed within HPtunes. On the other hand, if you're willing to just leave it alone and let it play, it's not too painful to use and it gives you the ability to listen to content that would otherwise be unavailable in MCE.

HP also built a Picture management program into MCE called HP Image Zone. There's already a reasonably decent picture management program built into MCE in the first place so the necessity of this venture is debatable. The HP version gives you the ability to organize your pictures in a few different ways and they have a few more search options. The enhancements are not really spectacular however, and it was just as sluggish as HPtunes so I was left wondering why they bothered with it in the first place.

HP also added two of the few games that have been built to run within the MCE interface: Gem Master and Otto. They are not unlike a couple of old Nintendo games and are very simple yet somehow strangely addicting. I was surprised after "testing" the games that I had wasted more than an hour without realizing it, seeking that elusive next game level.

Another HP addition to the program arsenal within MCE is a simple video-editing program called Make Muvee. I found it to be a little light for any real serious movie making, but it did offer a quick way to combine a few home video clips with a few added coloring and sound effects. For someone who is not interested in spending a lot of time or effort into learning how to use a more robust video editing program, Make Muvee is a nice simple solution.