xp media edition or regular xp ?????

[mol3000]

whats does the media edition have it in thats so special???? and if i want to use streaming to other computers on my network or across the net is it a good investment????

[Xylob the Destroyer]

you have to buy a PC to get the media edition
you can't just buy XP Media Edition and install it

[waheed]

For networking, I would stick with Win XP.

[ViRaL1]

you have to buy a PC to get the media edition
you can't just buy XP Media Edition and install it

Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 OEM IS available for sale. That's how I got mine. It has some extra added multimedia features. I'd start here for more info on the advantages. It has some features of XP Pro such as Remote Desktop, as well as being part of a domain (you must join during setup though). Price wise it's between Home and Pro.

[Xylob the Destroyer]

groovy

[ViRaL1]

One place

http://www.newegg.com/app/viewproductdesc.asp?description=32-102-311&DEPA=6

as well as

http://www.pricegrabber.com/p__Microsoft_Windows_XP_Media_Center_Edition_2005,__767556...nter%20edition

I like it.

[BetaMaster]

The whole point of OEM editions is that Microsoft won't support it unless it's installed in its original PC. Don't go calling their support number unless you're willing to suffer some abuse. Only manufacturers are supposed to buy OEM editions. Buying a Microsoft product without customer support is fruitless - who of us has never had to call Microsoft support over some issue?

[ViRaL1]

*raises hand*

[hoyboy]

i hve MCE on my computer- seems to do a good job but haven't been able to compare xp pro with it. i don't think you would be dissapointed with either version

[guns1inger]

Never had to call Microsoft. Would think twice about doing if I had too - not sure I want to wait that long.

[Xylob the Destroyer]

the last time I had to call M$ for support, it only took about 2 minutes to get to a real person and they were incredibly helpful
i was amazed

[shelbyGT]

who of us has never had to call Microsoft support over some issue?

I never have.

[waheed]

who of us has never had to call Microsoft support over some issue?

I never have.

Me neither. I troubleshoot all my problems. Contacting Microsoft is a waste of time (in my opinion).

[rallynavvie]

Google searches of problems tend to yield better results than a call to MS. The last time I called them was to get another copy of my XP Pro CD sent to me after losing mine and that was over a year ago. I don't contact them for technical support. I have a pretty good base of internet forums to get answers from for that.

As for MCE vs other versions of XP:
MCE seems to me the best value. Not only do you get most of the functionality of XP Pro it also has the MCE app built-in. In addition to what ViRaL1 stated it also has IIS and SMP support like XP Pro. With a price generally between that and Home I'd recommend it.

You won't be able to stream video on your home network with MCE though. You'll have to set up a server for that of some sort. The Media Center app itself is meant mostly for dedicated home theater use. When you're not using the MCE app then the computer functions just like XP Pro. Unless you set up an SMP system in which case you can use both the Media Center application while using the Windows OS itself

[mol3000]

thanks

[Darth Paris]

MCE has some very nice features. Although I have had it fail a couple of times to start recording, but I think I have fixed the problem because it hasn't failled in months.

[pfh]

I've never called 'em either. I've found more help thru tech forums like this one only for computer related- + I learn more.

Back to the question- guess it depends on how you use your machine doesn't it? MMC might be more proprietary in nature I would guess. Gonna check those links above............

[reboot]

MCE sucks.
Check it's recording format, and the difficulties people have with burning.

[rallynavvie]

Recording format is MPEG2 in whatever flavor your hardware encoder outputs. Get a crappy encoder you get crappy video, sounds right to me. The only thing MCE adds is the header to make it proprietary but it also encodes the subs with it as well as program information. There are freeware apps out there that strip the header and leave only the MPEG-2 elementary streams. Burning support does suck, but it's meant mostly the author the proprietary MPEG streams for playback in MCE systems only. If you're burning the proprietary format right out of Media Center then you probably shouldn't be complaining about how it doesn't work in your friend's computer or DVD player because you don't know what you're doing to begin with. Just speaking about some MCE users in general on that last part.