User friendliness/Consistency: XP Pro & XP Media

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I'm considering XP Media for our home computer. My wife uses XP Pro at work
and runs accounting applications. How easy (or difficult) will it be for her
to run the same applications using XP Media? In other words are the desktop
and menu choices identical or does she need to navigate through video/music
options in order to access an income statement she might be working on? (I
was going to run a demo but I don't have broadband yet)
Thanks
 
I'm not sure of all the cosmetic differences and as I recall there aren't
many though some manufacturer's may include some proprietary things that
might have an effect.

Nonetheless, XP Media Center is an extension of XP Pro and most such
differences would be in what additional functions it offers along with
various additional applets.

Access to applications should be identical assuming the same installed
applications and default shortcut locations as established by a default
install of such applications.
 
Michael,
Clarification please. I am aware that previous issues of the XP Media
Edition were built over XP Professional; however, about everywhere I
have seen mention of the new one [2005] state that it is built on XP
Home. Which is correct?
I would imagine his wifes business would work well with either; however,
the Media Center Computers I have seen tend to come with high end
hardware [DVD Readers/Writers, Video Adapters, Sound Cards, etc.] plus
high end software to make use of those features. Some of that could
create problems but there is no way to know for certain without trail
and error [maybe].
Gene K
 
Gene, it is and has been my understanding that all versions of XP Media
Center Computers are an extension of XP Pro; if that has changed in 2005
edition, I'm unaware of it. XP Home Edition is a subset of Pro. There may
be some networking options available in Pro that you might not find in Media
Center though, offhand, I can't tell you which those might be. As to the
hardware and applications for use with various features, I agree, the
systems tend to be high end with high end hardware.

While there's the possibility of conflicts of the type you describe on any
system, the OP seemed to be most concerned about where various shortcuts to
access applications would be located and for the most part, those should not
differ from the environment in which the individual is used to working. The
OEM may install some wallpaper and some create some additional groups and
groupings on the Start menu that may be a bit confusing but I would think
those would not require the user to drill down any further to find shortcuts
to applications, especially those installed by the user.

--
Michael Solomon MS-MVP
Windows Shell/User
Backup is a PC User's Best Friend
DTS-L.Org: http://www.dts-l.org/

Not Me said:
Michael,
Clarification please. I am aware that previous issues of the XP Media
Edition were built over XP Professional; however, about everywhere I have
seen mention of the new one [2005] state that it is built on XP Home.
Which is correct?
I would imagine his wifes business would work well with either; however,
the Media Center Computers I have seen tend to come with high end hardware
[DVD Readers/Writers, Video Adapters, Sound Cards, etc.] plus high end
software to make use of those features. Some of that could create problems
but there is no way to know for certain without trail and error [maybe].
Gene K
I'm not sure of all the cosmetic differences and as I recall there aren't
many though some manufacturer's may include some proprietary things that
might have an effect.

Nonetheless, XP Media Center is an extension of XP Pro and most such
differences would be in what additional functions it offers along with
various additional applets.

Access to applications should be identical assuming the same installed
applications and default shortcut locations as established by a default
install of such applications.
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
Gene, I just did some checking and MCE 2005 is definitely built on XP Pro.
It can do anything XP Pro can do except join a domain.

--
Michael Solomon MS-MVP
Windows Shell/User
Backup is a PC User's Best Friend
DTS-L.Org: http://www.dts-l.org/

Not Me said:
Michael,
Clarification please. I am aware that previous issues of the XP Media
Edition were built over XP Professional; however, about everywhere I have
seen mention of the new one [2005] state that it is built on XP Home.
Which is correct?
I would imagine his wifes business would work well with either; however,
the Media Center Computers I have seen tend to come with high end hardware
[DVD Readers/Writers, Video Adapters, Sound Cards, etc.] plus high end
software to make use of those features. Some of that could create problems
but there is no way to know for certain without trail and error [maybe].
Gene K
I'm not sure of all the cosmetic differences and as I recall there aren't
many though some manufacturer's may include some proprietary things that
might have an effect.

Nonetheless, XP Media Center is an extension of XP Pro and most such
differences would be in what additional functions it offers along with
various additional applets.

Access to applications should be identical assuming the same installed
applications and default shortcut locations as established by a default
install of such applications.
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
Here's some additional confirmation:
http://www.winnetmag.com/Article/ArticleID/44658/44658.html

--
Michael Solomon MS-MVP
Windows Shell/User
Backup is a PC User's Best Friend
DTS-L.Org: http://www.dts-l.org/

Not Me said:
Michael,
Clarification please. I am aware that previous issues of the XP Media
Edition were built over XP Professional; however, about everywhere I have
seen mention of the new one [2005] state that it is built on XP Home.
Which is correct?
I would imagine his wifes business would work well with either; however,
the Media Center Computers I have seen tend to come with high end hardware
[DVD Readers/Writers, Video Adapters, Sound Cards, etc.] plus high end
software to make use of those features. Some of that could create problems
but there is no way to know for certain without trail and error [maybe].
Gene K
I'm not sure of all the cosmetic differences and as I recall there aren't
many though some manufacturer's may include some proprietary things that
might have an effect.

Nonetheless, XP Media Center is an extension of XP Pro and most such
differences would be in what additional functions it offers along with
various additional applets.

Access to applications should be identical assuming the same installed
applications and default shortcut locations as established by a default
install of such applications.
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
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