You know the old adage- Microsoft doesn't create anything cool, it's design is uninspired blah blah.  Did you know some of the coolest industrial and interaction designers in the world work at Microsoft?  CA does.  Media Center recently won Communication Arts Interactive Annual Awards- for more see Interactive Annual 11: Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005.

Charlie talks more about the relevance of CA here

Communication Arts is the leading trade journal for visual communications. It's the largest design magazine in the world and showcases the top work in graphic design, advertising, illustration, photography and interactive design.    

Congrats to my friends over in Media Center land.