Windows XP Pro & Windows XP Media Center Edition

  • Thread starter Thread starter D. Spencer Hines
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D. Spencer Hines

What do folks here see as the merits and limitations of these two OS, as
compared and contrasted with each other.

Has anyone used both?

DSH
 
D. Spencer Hines said:
What do folks here see as the merits and limitations of these two OS,
as compared and contrasted with each other.

Has anyone used both?
Click to expand...


Media Center is a superset of XP Professional (with one exception).
Everything thatis in XP Professional is also in Medai Center, except for the
ability to join a domain. Media Center also has it's extra media-realted
features. If these features are valuable to you you that's what you should
get. Unless you need the ability to join a domain (very few home users do)
there is no downside to choosing Media Center over Professional.
 
D. Spencer Hines said:
What do folks here see as the merits and limitations of these two OS, as
compared and contrasted with each other.
Click to expand...

MC Edition (like Tablet PC edition) is a version of Windows XP targetted
at specific user scenarios and hardware types. If you're not interested
in those, then there is no point in paying the price premium for the
extra features. (Although in the case of TPC edition, retail-users can
only get it preinstalled on suitable hardware).
 
Media Center is a superset of XP Professional (with one exception).
Everything thatis in XP Professional is also in Medai Center, except
for the ability to join a domain. Media Center also has it's extra
media-realted features. If these features are valuable to you you
that's what you should get. Unless you need the ability to join a
domain (very few home users do) there is no downside to choosing
Media Center over Professional.
Click to expand...


An adeendum to the above that I just discovered. Media Center also doesn't
permit connecting to a wireless network. See
http://www.microsoft.com/uk/windows/editions/xp-pro/media.mspx
 
Interesting!

What do you mean by "join a domain"?

Not the same as a network, I presume.

Dell charges about $120 MORE for XP.

I wonder why.

DSH
 
D. Spencer Hines said:
Interesting!

What do you mean by "join a domain"?

Not the same as a network, I presume.
Click to expand...


A domain is a *kind* of network--the kind where you have a server. Many
large companies and universities have such networks. Home networks and small
companies more typically have workgroups (peer-to-peer networks), which can
be used by any version of Windows XP

Dell charges about $120 MORE for XP.
Click to expand...


They are *both* Windows XP. See
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/evaluation/compare.mspx
 
D. Spencer Hines said:
Interesting!

What do you mean by "join a domain"?

Not the same as a network, I presume.

Dell charges about $120 MORE for XP.

I wonder why.

DSH
Click to expand...

A difference in the hardware also, perhaps?
 
Yves said:
I dispute the claims that Microsoft makes for XP Pro. You can connect your PC
to LCDs/Plasma screen, record and watch TV on XP Pro. However, you need to
install third party drivers and programs which give you these feature. MCE
has all this built-in by MS.
Click to expand...

So...which claims are you disputing?
 
O.K.

Thanks.

But no, XP and XP Media Center Edition obviously do NOT have the same
capabilities -- as you yourself have pointed out.

Media Center Edition does not include the wireless network option.

While XP Home and MC Edition have marked differences.

Dell charges $120 more for XP Pro than it does for XP Media Center
Edition -- at least on some models.

DSH
 
D. Spencer Hines said:
Interesting!

What do you mean by "join a domain"?

Not the same as a network, I presume.
Click to expand...

See this XP Resource Kit definition:
http://tinyurl.com/99vvn

Brief quote: "A domain is a logical grouping of networked computers that
share a central directory database that contains user account and
security information for resources within the domain."

In order to have a domain, you must have at least one computer that is
running a real server operating system. In the XP family, Windows XP
Home and Media Center Editions cannot become members of a domain; only
XP Pro can join a domain.

It is extremely unlikely that a home user would want a domain. If a
business has more than around 10-12 computers, a domain would be
desirable.

Malke
 
So...which claims are you disputing?
Click to expand...

Microsoft is stating that XP Professional:

1) Can not connect to LCDs or Pkasma screens. Most newer video card from ATi
or nVidia have DVI interfaces, which can connect to these type of screens.

2) With TV tuner add-on card, you can record and watch TV.


Microsoft just makes this easier with MCE.
 
Yves said:
Microsoft is stating that XP Professional:

1) Can not connect to LCDs or Pkasma screens. Most newer video card from ATi
or nVidia have DVI interfaces, which can connect to these type of screens.

2) With TV tuner add-on card, you can record and watch TV.
Click to expand...

1) Where does it state this?
2) This is not a limitation.
 
NOT if they cannot:

"Encrypt sensitive files and data"

"Restrict access to selected files and folders".

What A Scam!

DSH
 
D. Spencer Hines said:
NOT if they cannot:

"Encrypt sensitive files and data"
Click to expand...

Marginally useful to most. Can be done by other means anyway.
"Restrict access to selected files and folders".
Click to expand...

Actually you can.
What A Scam!
Click to expand...

Your opinion. It is a cheaper edition. My intuition (after reading
probably 20000 NG posts) is that home users would typically shoot
themselves in the foot with such features.
 
D. Spencer Hines said:
NOT if they cannot:

"Encrypt sensitive files and data"

"Restrict access to selected files and folders".

What A Scam!
Click to expand...


A scam? Why is it a scam? Some people want those features. Others, including
many--if not most--home users, don't. Why shouldn't those who don't want the
features be able to buy a version without them for less money?
 
Even "Home Users" should be able to:

"Encrypt sensitive files and data"

And:

"Restrict access to selected files and folders".
--------------------------------------------------------------

Financial Data for example -- Parents and Children.

THINK!
---------------------------------------------------------------

I realize Microsoft is going for Market Segmentation and Maximum Revenue
Generation.

Which doesn't bother me -- I own MS stock and wish them well.

But to tell "Home" Users they don't need those capabilities and then to sell
them a deficient OS is wrong.

Again, that silly-buggers Anti-Trust Suit is the Root Of The Evil.

Microsoft, understandably, had to fight back and change its Corporate
Strategy.

Most of us are losers as a result -- except for the fly-by-night plug-in and
add-on scam artists.

DSH

Lux et Veritas et Libertas
 
D. Spencer Hines said:
What do folks here see as the merits and limitations of these two OS, as
compared and contrasted with each other.

Has anyone used both?

DSH
Click to expand...


WinXP Media Center Edition is a _superset_ (iow, it does
_everything_ WinXP Pro can do (except join a domain), plus contains
additional multi-media features) of WinXP Pro.

Windows XP Media Center Edition Home
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/ehome/default.asp


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