MCE vs XP

tommot82 · 14 Feb 2006 at 22:22

i am just about to buy a laptop to do some basic desktop work and i have been offered MCE2005. Do i want this? Should i take it as it is just the same as XP Home? (i believe that i can minimise/close down the MCE interface and use the normal XP desktop).

OR should i front up £20 more and get pro???

Conrad11 · 14 Feb 2006 at 22:34

MCE....is Windows XP Pro Version with the Media Center Program Addon on it....

So you get XP Pro...

...I believe

Energize · 14 Feb 2006 at 22:35

Apparently mce is faster because theyve had time to optimize the code more.

TriedandTested · 14 Feb 2006 at 22:38

I've always wondered this...so, MCE isn't just a media front end? It has XP Pro (which can be used as normal) but then, what, you start up the MCE bit through the Start menu?

Energize · 14 Feb 2006 at 22:50

Tried&Tested said:
I've always wondered this...so, MCE isn't just a media front end? It has XP Pro (which can be used as normal) but then, what, you start up the MCE bit through the Start menu?

Correct.

antc · 14 Feb 2006 at 23:47

i would take mce as its xp pro plus the media centre add on. best of both worlds. does the laptop come with all the relevant kit you need for media centre like a tv tuner??

Phil99 · 15 Feb 2006 at 00:36

If you don't open the Media Centre program you don't ever have to see it. It's just another program that runs on Windows.

XP itself seems to be a mix of Home/Pro, only notable thing missing is that you're unable to join a domain (without hacks/patches) after the initial install.

You also get a new theme which IMO looks better than the standard XP one.

therubble · 15 Feb 2006 at 08:49

is the web server included?

tommot82 · 15 Feb 2006 at 09:54

nice one! looks like i will go for MCE then. Cheers Guys!!!!

tommot82 · 15 Feb 2006 at 10:46

one last question:
When you download patches/updates/software. What platform do you download for, XP or MCE???

Energize · 15 Feb 2006 at 17:31

tommot82 said:
one last question:
When you download patches/updates/software. What platform do you download for, XP or MCE???

Either which ever one is avalible, for graphics drivers though you must download the mce versions. Windows update autopatches the system anyway.

Otacon · 15 Feb 2006 at 17:46

Energize said:
Apparently mce is faster because theyve had time to optimize the code more.

Incorrect. The kernel is the same.