Can Windows XP MCE 2005 be used for a general home OS?

[bupkus]

Usually I use Windows XP pro but I installed MCE to try it out. Other than the Media Center it seems the same. Of course, no Domains are involved.

 

[pcgeek11]

Originally posted by: bupkus
Usually I use Windows XP pro but I installed MCE to try it out. Other than the Media Center it seems the same. Of course, no Domains are involved.

It is basically the same, except for the media PC part. It is built on Win XP Pro.

pcgeek11

 

[bsobel]

It is basically the same, except for the media PC part. It is built on Win XP Pro.

No, it's built from the XP code base. It is not 'built on XP Pro'. It has most of the features of Pro (closer to the Pro feature set than Home). But it's a unique product just like Home, Pro, Tablet, MCE, and embedded are.

The two big differences from Pro are lack of official domain support and no cached network credentials (unless your an upgrade from MCE 2004 where it was actually a Pro superset and the upgrade flag is set in the registry)

Bill

 

[pcgeek11]

Originally posted by: bsobel

It is basically the same, except for the media PC part. It is built on Win XP Pro.

No, it's built from the XP code base. It is not 'built on XP Pro'. It has most of the features of Pro (closer to the Pro feature set than Home). But it's a unique product just like Home, Pro, Tablet, MCE, and embedded are.

The two big differences from Pro are lack of official domain support and no cached network credentials (unless your an upgrade from MCE 2004 where it was actually a Pro superset and the upgrade flag is set in the registry)

Bill

Yeah Basically thats what I said " It is basically the same, except for the media PC part. It is built on Win XP Pro ".

" But it's a unique product "

Sorry, but it isn't unique. Added on some media features and took away some features like domain support etc...etc but BASICALLY the same. Like the OP stated NO Domains are involved, so for him is is the same.

pcgeek11

 

[bsobel]

Sorry, but it isn't unique. Added on some media features and took away some features like domain support etc...etc but BASICALLY the same.

It's as unique as XP Home, XP Pro, and XP Tablet are to the XP line. You are incorrect to say it's 'built on XP Pro'. It's built on the XP code base. Pro is a specific packaging of those features, as is all of the other incarnations. It's not a huge distinction, but when we tell people it's built on Pro the naturally expect ALL of the Pro features to be there, and they are not.

Like the OP stated NO Domains are involved, so for him is is the same.

He also loses cached credentials.

Bill

 

[bupkus]

What's cached credentials?

 

[bsobel]

Originally posted by: bupkus
What's cached credentials?

It's the feature that when you login to a network share you can tell XP to 'remember' your username/password so it reconnects automatically at restart. Usefull if you have a server or other machines in the house (and really stupid feature for them to pull out just to differentiate it against Pro IMHO since it's actually usefull in lots of MCE scenarios)

Bill

 

[pcgeek11]

Originally posted by: bsobel

Sorry, but it isn't unique. Added on some media features and took away some features like domain support etc...etc but BASICALLY the same.

It's as unique as XP Home, XP Pro, and XP Tablet are to the XP line. You are incorrect to say it's 'built on XP Pro'. It's built on the XP code base. Pro is a specific packaging of those features, as is all of the other incarnations. It's not a huge distinction, but when we tell people it's built on Pro the naturally expect ALL of the Pro features to be there, and they are not.

Like the OP stated NO Domains are involved, so for him is is the same.

He also loses cached credentials.

Bill

I guess you have a very valid point... My answer was way too general... I should have stated just based on XP code as you stated..
And you are right about this: " He also loses cached credentials. " That was a really bonehead idea for a lot of the media center PC's are networked with remote shares etc...
MS never ceases to amaze me!

pcgeek11

 

[bsobel]

And you are right about this: " He also loses cached credentials. " That was a really bonehead idea for a lot of the media center PC's are networked with remote shares etc...
MS never ceases to amaze me!

I got the domain issue, since they needed FUS for the extenders. I never got why this decision made sense since MS likes the 'home server' model. I think this definately was a case where marketing won out over engineering (for the wrong reasons).... Hopefully they will realize it is a dumb move and fix it.

Bill