I developed a tool for Windows Media Center in 2008 in Redmond, and I got a very cool Windows Media Center remote controller. Since then I became a fun of it. Windows Media Center + remote controller makes my Alienware M17x into a powerful home theatre.

The volume control feature might cause a usability issue because:

• it is synchronized with Windows volume;
• its degrees are inconsistent with Windows. In Windows, the full volume is 100, while in Windows Media Center it is 50.

So consider the following scenarios:

• User need to remember: when seeing 50 in Windows volume, it means half of full volume, while 50 means full volume in Windows Media Center;
• When user change Windows volume into X, the Windows Media Center volume is synchronized and displays the value X / 2.

I am wondering why it is necessary to design like this?