Media Center Edition - technical definition

An optional interface in the Windows XP Pro, Vista Home Premium and Vista Ultimate versions of Windows that serves as a digital media server. Designed to organize and hold a multimedia collection of music, videos and photos, the output can be viewed and heard on the PC or sent to a local or remote stereo or home theater. PCs sold as "Media Center PCs" have one or more TV tuners and can function as a digital video recorder (see DVR).

The 10-Foot User Interface
Using the mouse or a handheld remote control, the PC can be instantly switched between standard Windows and the Media Center's "10-foot user interface," which offers a simplified control panel that can be viewed from a distance. In practice, millions of Media Center Edition PCs (MCE PCs) are used like ordinary PCs with the MCE interface never turned on. See 10-foot user interface.

A PC and Digital Media Server
Many MCE PCs are designed for the home theater cabinet and come in horizontal cases like A/V equipment. Vendors may enhance the hardware and software and turn the MCE PC into a more specialized and flexible media server.