Windows XP Professional with SP2 or XP Media Center

[euphoriant]

What is the difference between these two operating
systems (Windows XP Professional with SP2 vs. Windows XP
Media Center)?

Thank you!

 

[Jupiter Jones [MVP]]

The different editions are listed on the left side:
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/default.mspx

 

[Barry Watzman]

Windows XP Professional and Windows XP Media center are two different
versions of Windows XP.

Service Pack 2 (SP2) can be applied to either one of them. The master
270 megabyte service pack is the same for both, but different files will
be installed for the two different versions, thus the much smaller
"subset" service packs (about 70 to 90 megabytes) for the the two are
different and not interchangeable.

 

[Guest]

I obviously wasn't clear. Please let me try again....

I'm considering purchasing a new computer. I have narrowed it down to two
computers. Based on all the specifications that I have read the hardware is
idential. The difference is $50 in price and...operating system.

One of them comes with Windows XP Proessional with SP2 installed the other
comes with Windows XP Media Center Edition installed.

Is there a reason I would want one and not the other? If I were to buy one
of them would I be missing out on features that the other has?

Thank you!

 

[Barry Watzman]

It's very unlkely that the computer are all that similar in terms of
hardware.

Windows XP Media Center edition is normally only supplied on PCs that
have internal "media center" functions, including TV tuners, wireless
remote control and [usually] wireless keyboards and pointing devices.

It's VERY unlikely that the PC with XP Pro on it would have any of those
features.

So, the normal expectation would be that these are two very different
computers, with the differences not at all limited to just the operating
systems.

 

[Guest]

Thanks Barry,

So if I get the one with the Windows XP Media Center (since I'm trying to
get the media hardware) would I be "out" anything operating system wise?

Thanks again,
e

It's very unlkely that the computer are all that similar in terms of
hardware.

Windows XP Media Center edition is normally only supplied on PCs that
have internal "media center" functions, including TV tuners, wireless
remote control and [usually] wireless keyboards and pointing devices.

It's VERY unlikely that the PC with XP Pro on it would have any of those
features.

So, the normal expectation would be that these are two very different
computers, with the differences not at all limited to just the operating
systems.

I obviously wasn't clear. Please let me try again....

I'm considering purchasing a new computer. I have narrowed it down to two
computers. Based on all the specifications that I have read the hardware is
idential. The difference is $50 in price and...operating system.

One of them comes with Windows XP Proessional with SP2 installed the other
comes with Windows XP Media Center Edition installed.

Is there a reason I would want one and not the other? If I were to buy one
of them would I be missing out on features that the other has?

Thank you!

 

[Barry Watzman]

I'm not sure if media center XP is based on Home or Pro, but I think
it's "home", so you might be out a few features. But I don't know for sure.

Thanks Barry,

So if I get the one with the Windows XP Media Center (since I'm trying to
get the media hardware) would I be "out" anything operating system wise?

Thanks again,
e

:

It's very unlkely that the computer are all that similar in terms of
hardware.

Windows XP Media Center edition is normally only supplied on PCs that
have internal "media center" functions, including TV tuners, wireless
remote control and [usually] wireless keyboards and pointing devices.

It's VERY unlikely that the PC with XP Pro on it would have any of those
features.

So, the normal expectation would be that these are two very different
computers, with the differences not at all limited to just the operating
systems.


euphoriant wrote:

I obviously wasn't clear. Please let me try again....

I'm considering purchasing a new computer. I have narrowed it down to two
computers. Based on all the specifications that I have read the hardware is
idential. The difference is $50 in price and...operating system.

One of them comes with Windows XP Proessional with SP2 installed the other
comes with Windows XP Media Center Edition installed.

Is there a reason I would want one and not the other? If I were to buy one
of them would I be missing out on features that the other has?

Thank you!

 

[Alex Nichol]

What is the difference between these two operating
systems (Windows XP Professional with SP2 vs. Windows XP
Media Center)?

Media Center is an XP Pro that has some additional items for going with
specific Media Center hardware - it can only be obtained along with a
purchase of a package machine from an authorised maker. For such things
as TV tuner, remote control. SP2 can (and should) be run on a MC
machine and will update the specific MC items in the process