XP Home and XP Media Center Editions

  • Thread starter Thread starter WupDeeDoo
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WupDeeDoo

I'm looking at laptops for general computing including music and video
playback. Some of the units have XP Home installed, and some have
Media Center.
Is there any significant difference between the two OS's and which might
be a better choice or my intended purpose. As always, TIA.
BTW, thoroughly enjoy this group.
 
FreeComputerConsultant.com said:
Unfortunately, neither is a solid operating system in my experience.
Go XP Professional if you can find it; you might consider waiting for
Vista. Windows XP Home has been VERY troublesome; Media Center is
better but not by a lot.
Click to expand...


Sorry, but this is nonsense. All three are equally solid, and none of them
has been any more troublesome than the others.

The reason they are equally solid and trouble-free is that they are all the
same operating system. They differ only in that Professional and MCE add
additional features. XP Professional is exactly the same as XP Home, but
with extra features (mostly related to networking and security) added. XP
MCE is exactly the same as XP Professional with extra media-related features
(and minus the ability to join a domain).

XP Professional costs significantly more than XP Home. Recommending that
somebody buy Professional instead of Home, unless you *know* that he needs
its extra features, is simply irresponsible. Very few home users (even those
with home networks) need XP Professional's extra features.
 
Your experience is flawed.
All three are identical in performance and stability since they are rooted
in the same code.
If you experienced problems with one and not the others, there is something
else outside the operating system causing your troubles.
 
I stand by my comments, via my experience and that of several colleagues.

Would you also stand behind Windows ME?

Cost depends upon how you buy it. Just because Dell or Best Buy socks it
to you to upgrade doesn't mean that it is that much more expensive
purchased through other channels.
 
Let's hope not.

But I'm surprised anyone is happy with XP Home.

My files are filled with dozens and dozens of happy upgraders who
upgraded from XP Home to XP Pro. Naturally, they wish they would have
bought Pro to begin with... - and NO, I did not profit on their upgrade;
in many cases I volunteered my time to help them do the upgrade.

So many problems just went away, never to return.

How many people had a brand new MCE PC and found out it only shut down
about half the time, right out of the box?

On another note: How many people buy a PC with Home or MCE and find out
it won't connect to their domain (yes, lots of small businesses buy from
big box stores)? Or how many found out that Home did NOT have a
Terminal Services license built in (for accessing work from home) and
required their company to buy another $85 CAL? (Ya, I know, it's the
company's money so who cares, right?)

Sorry for the rant; I guess I've lost too much of my life volunteering
my time to help people put XP Home behind them.
 
You really don't know what you are talking about. Tell us which version
of Vista should the original poster buy? I'm sure you will be advising
users that anything but the Ultimate version will be a bad choice.
There is little to support your claim, it seems that your logic is that
the most expensive is better so maybe we should all be running Server
2003 Datacenter Edition...

John
 
Ken,

One of my co-workers just reminded me of something:

If XP Home & Pro are the same operating system as you say, then why did
the Microsoft Presenter at a recent TS2 even highlighting Vista make a
BIG DEAL out of the fact that Vista, unlike XP, IS the same code for all
versions - the keycode is what unlocks the features?

He expressly mentioned that this would hopefully AVOID the issues with
XP Home vs Pro.

If you want the details of the event - Place and Date of TS2 event,
contact me at:

http://www.freecomputerconsultant.com/contact-us.html

and I will provide those details. Unfortunately I no longer have his
card, but I'm sure you could find out who was there if you so desired.
 
FreeComputerConsultant.com said:
I stand by my comments, via my experience and that of several
colleagues.
Would you also stand behind Windows ME?
Click to expand...


Certainly not. My point was that all versions of Windows XP are the same at
heart, and the only differences between them are in their feature sets.

Your question about Windows Me is simply a red herring. It is *not* the same
as any other version of Windows, and almost everyone (including me) agrees
that it was the worst version of Windows ever produced.
 
Either you misunderstood the presenter or the presenter is wrong,
The code for all Windows Vista versions is the same in the same way as the
code for all Windows XP versions is the same.
A major difference now is the 4 versions of Vista are on a single DVD where
with Windows XP, each had its own unique CD.
With windows XP, you needed the correct CD to match your Product Key.
With Windows Vista, the key installs the version appropriate to that key.

"...this would hopefully AVOID the issues with XP Home vs Pro."
What issues are you referring?
Needing a different CD for each?
This does nothing to suggest there is different code for Home and Pro.

What you thought you heard:
"Vista, unlike XP, IS the same code for all versions - the keycode is what
unlocks the features?"
Perhaps what was meant:
"Vista, unlike XP, IS the same DVD for all versions - the keycode is what
unlocks the features?"
Remember, additional features do not change the original code, Vista as in
XP, the code is the same just with more features in the different versions.
 
The discussion is about the versions of Windows XP?
What is the relevance to Windows ME?

"doesn't mean that it is that much more expensive purchased through other
channels."
compare the prices through the same channel.
Find one at a place and price the others at the same place.
In most cases, the price difference is significant.

A Person not needing the features of Pro is probably wasting their money if
they purchase Pro when Home does all they need.
Since performance and stability are identical, there is no reason to
purchase Pro if Home does all that it needs.

Are you the one selling Pro to these customers?
 
FreeComputerConsultant.com said:
Ken,

One of my co-workers just reminded me of something:

If XP Home & Pro are the same operating system as you say, then why
did the Microsoft Presenter at a recent TS2 even highlighting Vista
make a BIG DEAL out of the fact that Vista, unlike XP, IS the same
code for all versions - the keycode is what unlocks the features?
Click to expand...



No, you're mixing up two very different things. The above doesn't relate to
differences between the versions of Vista as opposed to differences between
the vesrions of Windows XP. It relates to the *packaging* of the various
versions.

Read, for example, http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20060925-7820.html,
which explains that, unlike Windows XP, Vista will be sold as a single DVD,
with a specific product key used to unlock the version you paid for

Note, however, that that is an old article, and I don't personally know
whether that is still the plan.
 
FreeComputerConsultant.com said:
I stand by my comments, via my experience and that of several colleagues.
Click to expand...

Experience with what? Cheap drugs? No one with any amount of first
hand experience with WinXP's variants could possibly make such an absurd
claim.

Would you also stand behind Windows ME?
Click to expand...

What has that to do with the subject of WinXP?


--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:



They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. -Benjamin Franklin

Many people would rather die than think; in fact, most do. -Bertrand Russell
 
He was pretty clear that it was the same code, not just the same CD. But
perhaps he was confused, it wouldn't be the first time.

I do know that when he made those comments there was a cheer throughout
the room, so I'm not the only one who has experienced "flakiness" in XP
Home and Media Center as well.

If you guys haven't had those problems then I can only say I'm jealous -
because I am dead serious, I have wasted way too many hours of my life
troubleshooting XP Home and the problems simply vanish when these people
upgrade to Pro.

As for price? When the difference in an OEM version of Home to Pro is
typically $40 - $50 online (or less at times), I am very confident that
Dell or Best Buy or whoever could offer the upgrade far, far cheaper
than they do.

But as for buying cheap PC's,

"A cheap price is a shortcut to being cheated."
- Chinese proverb

and I firmly believe this. After over 20 years in this business, that
hasn't changed.

Best Regards.
 
Bruce,

I like the quotes in your signature - that one from Franklin is one of
my favorites.

However, no drug experience here; just a lot of XP.

Actually, it is possible for someone with any amount, in fact a large
amount, to make such a claim. I did, and I stand behind it.

I only wish I could have some of you guys stop by the next time I have
one of these cases on my workbench. Or when a brand new machine factory
loaded with MCE hangs shutting down.

BTW, the question on WinME is relevant. If someone had said "yes", WinME
was just fine, then I know who I'm talking to. I was relieved that this
wasn't the case. There are some out there who feel Microsoft can do no
wrong. And with those folks, no debate is of any value.

I just voiced my honest opinion in my original post based on years of
experience, and a lot of late nights. Sad to see this has gotten
somewhat heated. Perhaps we can all agree to disagree. I'm looking
forward to Vista and hoping for the best.

Best Regards.
 
I'm going to recommend Home Premium and above. Why have Vista without Aero?

And no, I do not sell operating systems. What I have seen is people buy
a "cheap" PC loaded with Home or MCE, take it to their office and find
out it won't connect to their domain.

Then I help them find the cheapest source of an upgrade and they spend
almost $200 to upgrade - when an OEM copy bought online is only $140.
Plus an hour or so to do the upgrade. How "cheap" is that PC now? They
throw away the copy of XP Home and buy XP Pro for something short of $200.

And am I at fault for having told them, ahead of time, to make SURE they
get XP Pro?

You guys say that my comments are going overboard or not relevant, and
now you're talking about DataCenter?

Come on guys. My experience is apparently different from yours - I'm
very happy for you; perhaps jealous. Last I knew I still had the right
to voice my opinion - though maybe not for long.

I'm holding out great hope for Vista, but I think people are going to
want Aero - so Vista Home Basic is out, right?

Don't be so sure about what I will and won't be recommending.

Sheesh.
 
FreeComputerConsultant.com said:
I'm going to recommend Home Premium and above. Why have Vista without
Aero?

And no, I do not sell operating systems. What I have seen is people buy a
"cheap" PC loaded with Home or MCE, take it to their office and find out
it won't connect to their domain.

Then I help them find the cheapest source of an upgrade and they spend
almost $200 to upgrade - when an OEM copy bought online is only $140. Plus
an hour or so to do the upgrade. How "cheap" is that PC now? They throw
away the copy of XP Home and buy XP Pro for something short of $200.

And am I at fault for having told them, ahead of time, to make SURE they
get XP Pro?

You guys say that my comments are going overboard or not relevant, and now
you're talking about DataCenter?

Come on guys. My experience is apparently different from yours - I'm very
happy for you; perhaps jealous. Last I knew I still had the right to voice
my opinion - though maybe not for long.

I'm holding out great hope for Vista, but I think people are going to want
Aero - so Vista Home Basic is out, right?

Don't be so sure about what I will and won't be recommending.
Click to expand...


What good is Aero besides eye candy? That's a real question, not a
rhetorical nasty comment.
 
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