XP Pro vs Media Center

[myth]

I have been wondering about this for quite some time but never wanted to ask since I feel as if its a dumb question... But whats the difference between the two? Are the desktops the same? how about the kernals? Does it use the same explore as XP? What about performance? Can Media center do the same as XP? Does it have all of the features?

Well thanks for awnsering my stupid question... I have been wondering since I might upgrade to Media Center....

Edit: ok so as far as I can tell its XP home with a Media center app... So whats the point? Does microsoft expect me to pay $125 just for that app? I already own windows XP....

[Skeps]

Its xp professional with extra media centre apps

[Lee H]

I installed Media Centre last night and was like a kid with a new toy

Functionality is absolutely awesome and with the nvidia DVD decoder software and a 6800GT the hardware decoding is excellent. The only issue I have had is a driver problem with the nforce4 motherboard but hopefully I'll be chatting to nvidia later about a fix for this

Other than that, the remote is awesome ( and If people msn me while I'm watching TV/DVD/Eric Pryz - call on me via Music Brigade on loop and in FULL SCREEN I can use the remote to tell folks to bugger off

News is average as its reuters, but I already have an RSS reader and a weather plugin and the new drivers @ hauppauge allow the Nova-T (freeview digital card) to be used with MCE so I now can watch Monkey Dust and record them to my vast raid array for viewing at a later date.

Overall, I'm impressed with MCE as the interface is somewhat nicer than XP and the blue is a darker blue and more calming.

[Howard]

Its xp Home with extra media centre apps

Fixed

[directhex]

it's between the two.

Q. Can I connect a new PC running Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 to a work network or domain?
A.

While you can access network resources on a work network or a domain, you cannot join a Windows XP Media Center 2005 PC to the domain. PCs running Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 are designed specifically for home use. Professional features, specifically Domain Join and Cached Credentials (Credentials Manager for logins) are not included. As a result, you will be prompted for your login username/password to access network resources after a reboot or logging back into the PC. In addition, file shares or network resources set to require a domain-joined PC for access will not be available. Remote Desktop and Encrypting File System support are still included.

remote desktop is certainly a pro-only feature.

[Lee H]

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/m.../whatsnew.mspx

The link aboves to the list of features some are not found in windows XP but some of them are such as WP10

[Lee H]

Update : Found a site that a great resource check for media centre and also has a few extra plugins that allow you to get extra functionality. Want to use your system as an alarm clock - you can , want an RSS reader for MCE : you can have it.

Pop along to www.thegreenbutton.com and you'll see quite a few nice plugins

[myth]

"After install and just before the first logon attempt Windows Xp Media Center Edition requires product activation. Logon is not allowed otherwise."


Is this true?

[Lee H]

"After install and just before the first logon attempt Windows Xp Media Center Edition requires product activation. Logon is not allowed otherwise."


Is this true?

I activated it as soon as I installed it as the icons in the taskbar were annoying me

[mrpete]

Doesnt the media version *only* come with some pc's?

[myth]

Doesnt the media version *only* come with some pc's?

nope it can be bought....

[mrpete]

oh right. ok. :/

[Lee H]

Its only worth buying if you have hardware such as a TV card or a PVR card that is supported by windows media centre and buy the hardware remote kit as well.

Using media centre with a mouse is like driving using joysticks - Different but not ideal plus its great for lounging in bed watching TV/DVD/Vids and flicking between them with the remote ( plus... you can tell people to bugger off with the remote if they MSN you while in media centre by typing the message mobile phone style )