xp home and media centre

seretide · 23 Aug 2006 at 12:30

Can somebody who has actually used both media centre and xp home tell me if its worth me getting media centre on my new build or for sopme reason stick to xp home?
thanks
S.

Larnica · 23 Aug 2006 at 12:55

XP Media Center is just XP Home with Media Center abilities. So I've been told!

Update: I take its XP Pro then

Thrash · 23 Aug 2006 at 13:05

XP MCE is XP Pro with a couple of features disabled such as being able to join a domain. It is worth getting if you intend to use the PC as media centre.

leaskovski · 23 Aug 2006 at 13:06

What ive always wanted to know about MCE, is when you turn the computer on, do you still have to login before you can watch the TV?? :confused:

I am gonna buy a TV card for my PC so i can watch TV from bed and the card i am gonna get has a power up feature (hooks into the atx switch) so i can turn it on via the remote. This is all fine and dandy doing it from my bed, put if the PC then asks for my password before giving me the option of watching TV then tahts gonna be a pain.

How does it work?

Thrash · 23 Aug 2006 at 13:16

If you set up the PC with a non password protected user then it will not ask for a password and boot straight into windows. MCE thereafter gives you the option to load itself automatically when Windows has loaded.

leaskovski · 23 Aug 2006 at 13:18

Thrash said:
If you set up the PC with a non password protected user then it will not ask for a password and boot straight into windows. MCE thereafter gives you the option to load itself automatically when Windows has loaded.

Ah, thats a bit carp. I don't want to leave my user password free. Hmm, i suppose i would have to create a new limited user that has now password and can be selected from the user menu. No point in MCE then. I can set that user up to start the TV program on lanuch. :rolleyes:

Larnica · 23 Aug 2006 at 13:30

leaskovski said:
Ah, thats a bit carp. I don't want to leave my user password free. Hmm, i suppose i would have to create a new limited user that has now password and can be selected from the user menu. No point in MCE then. I can set that user up to start the TV program on lanuch.

what you hiding?

leaskovski · 23 Aug 2006 at 13:41

Larnica said:
what you hiding?

My pr0n stash

. Plus, my account is an admin account so i don't want mates using the pc and getting nasty stuff all over it.

Vicar · 23 Aug 2006 at 14:28

Just use a program like PowerCinema, gives me the option to view TV via my USB TV Stick, and its excellent. No need for MCE at all, and using XP Pro here.

seretide · 23 Aug 2006 at 14:31

2 things;--

what is "joinging a domain"-just incase i do want to!?!?!?!

and if i just get xp pro and use power cinema-can i still pause/record live tv, and can i still plug my sky (ntl) into the pc ?????

thanks
S.

Vicar · 23 Aug 2006 at 14:37

seretide said:
2 things;--

what is "joinging a domain"-just incase i do want to!?!?!?!

and if i just get xp pro and use power cinema-can i still pause/record live tv, and can i still plug my sky (ntl) into the pc ?????

thanks
S.

Yes to pausing tv and recording with PowerCinema, its a powerful piece of software for that. I use a freeview USB stick, so i aint sure about your NTL/ Sky, i suppose thats up to the TV card you use....

seretide · 23 Aug 2006 at 14:39

ok, so i know have 2 prob's! getting powercinema, and getting a tv card that accepts ntl????

is it really worth doing though-should i just stick to mce???

stoofa · 23 Aug 2006 at 14:44

seretide said:
2 things;--

what is "joinging a domain"-just incase i do want to!?!?!?!

I'm not trying to be smart - however if you're not sure what a Domain is or if you have the need to join one then the chances are you don't and will not miss the ability to do so.
Think that made sense - just

Larnica · 23 Aug 2006 at 14:47

leaskovski said:
My pr0n stash . Plus, my account is an admin account so i don't want mates using the pc and getting nasty stuff all over it.

Poor screen

seretide · 23 Aug 2006 at 14:48

You certainly made sense- but i dont know what half the things i do on my pc are named/called/described as!, never heard of joining a domain, but i thought A domain was was like if you own it i.e. a web domain?????

(must be sounding thick by now) :confused:

Belly · 23 Aug 2006 at 16:45

seretide said:
You certainly made sense- but i dont know what half the things i do on my pc are named/called/described as!, never heard of joining a domain, but i thought A domain was...............

Stick at it mate and you might find someone who is really helpful and realizes we all have to learn sometime. Who knows maybe someone will talk you through it?

I was told that the only stupid question is the one which is never asked. And as they say the longest journey in the world begins with a single step!

I'd certainly like to know the answer to your original post too!

You take the Flak and I'll keep my head down behind the parapet (and parados) and watch from the sidelines!

seretide · 29 Aug 2006 at 01:04

(check the date!) sticking at it hasnt worked!!