Windows Media Center How To's

Some have asked me how to work with the fantastic Media Center in Vista and its 'father' WinXP Media Center Edition.
There are other 'open source or freeware' apps and plenty of quality ones to purchase available to do what Media Center does, but I have used most of them and they don't compare with the Vista (or WinXP) Media Center.
Some example of the other application Myth TV, Media Portal, Beyond TV, Sage TV, and XBMC to name a few of the quality ones I've used (use).
If you don't have Vista, or WindowsXP Media edition some of the freeware applications can do a very good job and some of the retail applications will too.
You can even use a media center PC to save money by kissing cable or satallite goodbye! (see below)
Well, anyways here are some great links that will help more than I can with a a simple email response.

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/help-how-to.aspx

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windows-media-center/get-started-on-windows-vista.aspx

some other good stuff:
http://lifehacker.com/298408/turn-your-windows-pc-into-a-media-center-powerhouse-on-the-cheap

http://lifehacker.com/software/router/hack-attack-turn-your-60-router-into-a-600-router-178132.php

http://lifehacker.com/software/dvds/hack-attack-burn-almost-any-video-file-to-a-playable-dvd-232322.php

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/mediacenter/using/setup/default.mspx

And even more great resources:
42 keboard shortcuts for Media Center:
http://www.simplehelp.net/2008/06/18/42-keyboard-shortcuts-for-controlling-windows-media-center/

Review of media center apps:
http://lifehacker.com/5130610/hive-five-winner-for-best-dvr-app-windows-media-center

Saying goodby to cable and satallite tv using online services:
http://news.cnet.com/8301-1035_3-10125962-94.html?tag=newsLeadStoriesArea.1

http://lifehacker.com/5115183/ditch-satellite-tv-for-online-alternatives-and-save

Some of my favorite sites:
http://www.hulu.com/

http://www.fancast.com/

http://www.cbs.com/classics/