win media center and xp pro

[tomyrush]

Getting conflicting stories from "orange coated experts" at Best Buy (BB)and Circuit City(CC) - need someone who knows.

After losing several productive years off my life span (this past week) due to a virus, I decided it is time to upgrade box and win2k. Several friends who manage and maintain business systems for a living recommended going to XP-Pro for the OS. I have been shopping for a box - both CC and BB only have new boxes with the windows media center installed. I don't need or want the media center so I suspect I will order box over internet and build what I want. One of the orange coated experts said media center requires xp-pro, another said xp-pro does not run with media center??????

Does XP-Pro run without media center or is that what makes it "PRO"?

I have a home office and can see no reason for having media center installed - is that correct? I need laser printer support, USB Scanner support, Label printer support (asynch), USB external hard drive, mouse, keyboard, skinny display(LCD), and cable modem support.

Thanks - I just don't keep up with all of the home entertainment stuff and would like to know if I am missing the boat in not wanting media center.

Tom

[bigaldoc]

The only thing I can tell you is that when I bought this new Dell several months ago, it came pre-installed with Windows Media Center Edition and whatever it is, I don't need it or use it! <img src=/S/grin.gif border=0 alt=grin width=15 height=15>

From the attached crop of a corner of a Microsoft web page, you can see that MCE is one of the several versions of the OS available, (the red box is from me) presumably to make "entertainment" easier for the comman man! Now, if I were in YOUR shoes, since you say you have a home office, I would buy a copy of XP Pro and let the orange coated guys keep making their pitches to other folks. Where you buy is obviously another question and there are plenty of choices for that, in addition to the two examples you mentioned...

[DocWatson]

Media Center and XP Pro are two completely different animals. Pro has been an XP operating system option (Home or Pro) since the beginning. Media Center was introduced last year. My personal opinion on Media Center is that it's not ready for Prime Time yet.

I'm wondering if you might not be better served to wait for Vista's release at the end of the year. If you're running Win2K and can live with it a few more months or so, Vista will be available and since you are upgrading the PC as well as the OS you might want to start out with Vista and a Vista-Ready box rather than try to upgrade inferior hardware later.

Edited by Doc to add... Vista is a 64 bit OS, so if you do get a new PC, make sure it's a 64 bit, Vista ready amchine.

[DaveA]

Vista will have about the same flavors and even a couple more <img src=/S/evilgrin.gif border=0 alt=evilgrin width=15 height=15> to satisfy "The Courts" around the World.

[kaplinb]

Windows XP Media Center edition is entertainment-oriented version of Home Edition. All limitations of Home edition in comparison with Professional apply to Media Center edition.

For more information, see
Five editions of Windows XP compared

Short summary from CNET editors' review :
The good: Attractive, easy-to-navigate interface; HDTV and dual-tuner support; works with set-top and mobile devices.
The bad: TV still looks second-rate on large screens.
The bottom line: Media Center Edition 2005 is the best desktop DVR app out there, but it's not yet ready to play hub for your digital home.

---------Later addition-----------------

Windows XP Home or Media Center editions perfectly fit all your requirements.
Limitations are mostly concern domain networks, user groups, security policies etc. necessary for large company's networks.

[IMNetUser]

Agreed - You can see Microsoft Windows Vista Editions which currently lists 5 different Editions. However, a local PC Shop Manager went to a Microsoft seminar recently and was told to expect at least 7 Editions with "Formal" release. Notably, He could not get a solid answer of what the Editions will be or exactly when they will be released (1st Quarter 2007 still being touted).

[DaveA]

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsvista/getr...ns/default.mspx

This listing does not include what the different overseas OEM's will get, as they are being determined by the courts. The courts are asking for NO browser, media player and a few other items.