Professional Vs.Media Center

  • Thread starter Thread starter Guest
  • Start date Start date
G

Guest

I intend the new PC that I am going to buy to be used for a number of "Media"
applications (say editing a movie with Windows moviemaker,transferring
contents from one CD/VCD/DVD to other) ,VoIP applications,also to keep
connected with my office through remote desktop and for my home based
business (MS Office applications).I also have a wireless network at home.
How do I get the best of both Windows XP Professional and Windows XP Media
Center versions?I couldn't find a combination anywhere,that would satisfy my
needs of "media" uses and networking.Thank you
 
Media Center IS XP Pro + the media apps.
The only caveat is that media center cannot join a domain except during
original install due to media center extenders needing fast user switching
which is not available when joined to a domain.


--
Larry Samuels Associate Expert
MS-MVP (2001-2005)
Unofficial FAQ for Windows Server 2003 at
http://pelos.us/SERVER.htm
Expert Zone-
 
You are getting all your needs met for what you want to do. Windows Media
Center will fill your office, networking and multimedia needs. Media Center
is XP pro with additional multimedia capabilities. There isn't another
windows product filling that role.
 
Thanks Larry.I am not an IT guy and therefore would need a little more help
from you.Will XP Media Center alllow me to acccess the server in my office to
open a program so that I can work on it from home?
 
Thanks Beb.

beb said:
You are getting all your needs met for what you want to do. Windows Media
Center will fill your office, networking and multimedia needs. Media Center
is XP pro with additional multimedia capabilities. There isn't another
windows product filling that role.
Click to expand...
 
What do you mean by "media center cannot join a domain except during
original install" ?
Media center only comes preinstalled.
Are you saying that you have to be installing media center in order to join
a domain?
 
Hi Ron,
That is correct. You can only join a domain during setup, and doing so will
disable the use of media center extenders.

--
Larry Samuels Associate Expert
MS-MVP (2001-2005)
Unofficial FAQ for Windows Server 2003 at
http://pelos.us/SERVER.htm
Expert Zone-
 
Larry said:
Hi Ron,
That is correct. You can only join a domain during setup, and doing
so will disable the use of media center extenders.
Click to expand...

Which effectively becomes a Windows Pro Install. Yep, been there done
that.

--
Peace!
Kurt Kirsch
Self-anointed Moderator
http://microscum.com
"It'll soon shake your Windows
And rattle your walls
For the times they are a-changin'."
 
Since media center only comes on new computers, the computer makers install
the OS.
Do all of the computer makers go through a setup that allows joining a
domain?
 
All manufacturers *can* add MCE to your domain during setup, but very few
will due to the fact they must run a custom install instead of copying their
prebuilt image to the hard drive.

This is why you must insist on getting an actual copy of the OS as opposed
to recovery media only with your purchase. With the OS media you can perform
a clean install yourself and join the domain.

While MCE is supposed to only come preinstalled, it is readily available for
purchase through many etailers. See Kurt's post for details.
Local retailers will tend to be a lot more cautious about selling the OS
without hardware purchase since they are much more likely to be audited by
the BSA and can face huge fines for breaking their agreements with MS.


--
Larry Samuels Associate Expert
MS-MVP (2001-2005)
Unofficial FAQ for Windows Server 2003 at
http://pelos.us/SERVER.htm
Expert Zone-
 
Thanks for clarifying.
If you purchase MCE, you will get an OEM version.
Support for OEM software is provided by the hardware maker.
Seems like it would be hard to get support for MCE that didn't come with a
computer.
--
Ron Sommer

Larry Samuels said:
All manufacturers *can* add MCE to your domain during setup, but very few
will due to the fact they must run a custom install instead of copying
their prebuilt image to the hard drive.

This is why you must insist on getting an actual copy of the OS as opposed
to recovery media only with your purchase. With the OS media you can
perform a clean install yourself and join the domain.

While MCE is supposed to only come preinstalled, it is readily available
for purchase through many etailers. See Kurt's post for details.
Local retailers will tend to be a lot more cautious about selling the OS
without hardware purchase since they are much more likely to be audited by
the BSA and can face huge fines for breaking their agreements with MS.


--
Larry Samuels Associate Expert
MS-MVP (2001-2005)
Unofficial FAQ for Windows Server 2003 at
http://pelos.us/SERVER.htm
Expert Zone-
Click to expand...
 
Ron said:
Thanks for clarifying.
If you purchase MCE, you will get an OEM version.
Support for OEM software is provided by the hardware maker.
Seems like it would be hard to get support for MCE that didn't come
with a computer.
Click to expand...

It's not that bad. When MCE was in its first incarnation, it was very
hard, if near impossible, to get drivers that worked with its special
Media features, if it didn't come preinstall with the purchase of a
computer. But at least since MCE 2005, it is much easier to find
working drivers.

I got MCE 2005 as a Xmas present. While I still use other products for
my multimedia viewing, there is one tool I recently used that I really
liked. Normalizing and converting a whole batch-load of MP3s for use on
an MP3 player. Nothing more annoying than to constantly having to
change the volume on a tiny MP3 player while riding my scooter, or
hiking, or riding my bike.

--
Peace!
Kurt Kirsch
Self-anointed Moderator
http://microscum.com
"It'll soon shake your Windows
And rattle your walls
For the times they are a-changin'."
 
If you purchase and install it, you ARE the OEM and are responsible for
supplying support to yourself. Nice Catch 22 there <G>

--
Larry Samuels Associate Expert
MS-MVP (2001-2005)
Unofficial FAQ for Windows Server 2003 at
http://pelos.us/SERVER.htm
Expert Zone-
 
Larry said:
If you purchase and install it, you ARE the OEM and are responsible
for supplying support to yourself. Nice Catch 22 there <G>
Click to expand...

Actually preferable to buying an OEM computer with OEM software
preinstalled, and then getting the OEM and MS pointing fingers back and
forth when a software problem arises.

My support of my own install: Priceless! ;-)

--
Peace!
Kurt Kirsch
Self-anointed Moderator
http://microscum.com
"It'll soon shake your Windows
And rattle your walls
For the times they are a-changin'."
 
Back
Top