MCE vs. Pro

[Nutdotnet]

If you had a choice between the two, which is the better choice? This would be for someone who needs stability, but uses the computer primarily for music, audio production, watching TV, movies, etc...

Thanks!

 

[Nothinman]

If all you're using the computer for is audio and video stuff you probably don't even need XP Pro unless you have an SMP machine.

As for MCE, I'm not too familiar with MCE but from what I've seen on my friend's MCE box I wasn't too impressed. The main thing is just a little app that plays, records, etc TV, video files, music, etc. From the looks of it MythTV does all of the same stuff, but I don't know if it runs on Windows.

 

[Zugzwang152]

if you're using it with a tv/remote use MCE, if you are using it with a monitor and keyboard/mouse, use the cheapest you can get, usually Home.

 

[dclive]

Originally posted by: Nutdotnet
If you had a choice between the two, which is the better choice? This would be for someone who needs stability, but uses the computer primarily for music, audio production, watching TV, movies, etc...

Thanks!

If you enjoy TV-oriented stuff, MCE's great. No matter what your configuration (TV, monitor, or combo) it's great. I've been using MCE2005/2004/Original for about 2 years now, and I've been pleased.

A ReplayTV does most of what the MCE2005 does, but it's nice you can add things to it - a web-interface (both from MS and "Webguide"), plus it's a full computer.

 

[wexsmith]

Disc 1 of MCE is XP Pro and the 2nd disc is the MCE software. So even if you don't use the MCE software, but put MCE on a computer, you'll still be using Pro. I agree with the comment above that MCE is best with a remote. It's really designed to be a remote controlled DVR instead of a mouse/keyboard controlled one. Not saying the mouse wont navigate correctly...it's just not the same.

 

[bsobel]

Originally posted by: wexsmith
Disc 1 of MCE is XP Pro and the 2nd disc is the MCE software. So even if you don't use the MCE software, but put MCE on a computer, you'll still be using Pro. I agree with the comment above that MCE is best with a remote. It's really designed to be a remote controlled DVR instead of a mouse/keyboard controlled one. Not saying the mouse wont navigate correctly...it's just not the same.

No, you wouldn't 'still be using pro' as the license is indeed difference and shows up in a couple of (annoying) ways. Such as lack of domain support and lack of cache credentials (I can't imagine what MS product manager thought that restriction was a good idea!).

Bill

 

[YetAnotherName]

What is the effect of not having cached credentials when not in a domain setting?
I assume you would have to login more often, but in what situations?

I just bought a new pc, asked for MCE but they installed XP Pro. I am deliberating on whether its worth having them change it.

 

[Brazen]

Originally posted by: YetAnotherName
What is the effect of not having cached credentials when not in a domain setting?
I assume you would have to login more often, but in what situations?

I just bought a new pc, asked for MCE but they installed XP Pro. I am deliberating on whether its worth having them change it.

Consider yourself lucky and put MediaPortal on it instead.

 

[spyordie007]

Such as lack of domain support

That's not entirely true; you can join it to a domain during the setup process (assuming you have network connectivity). Of course doing so means you wont get to use a media center extender, joy! :roll:

 

[bsobel]

Originally posted by: YetAnotherName
What is the effect of not having cached credentials when not in a domain setting?
I assume you would have to login more often, but in what situations?

Whenever you reboot and connect to a server resource that doesn't have an account who's name/password doesn't exactly match your local login name/password.

Bill

 

[YetAnotherName]

I just bought a new pc, asked for MCE but they installed XP Pro. I am deliberating on whether its worth having them change it.



Consider yourself lucky and put MediaPortal on it instead.

Thanks for your input.
What makes me lucky not to have MCE vs XP Pro?

Does Media Portal work better than MCE for handling media?

 

[rbV5]

I'm just using MCE on my new builds now, and its cheaper than Pro. As far as the media center application itself, it's excellent. None of the other media application I've used previous to MCE are close to being as stable and user friendly.

There may be some reason to go with Pro if you are on a domain, but even then, you can still join a domain and give up Media Center extender support at the intial install.

 

[Jhill]

Originally posted by: Brazen

Originally posted by: YetAnotherName
What is the effect of not having cached credentials when not in a domain setting?
I assume you would have to login more often, but in what situations?

I just bought a new pc, asked for MCE but they installed XP Pro. I am deliberating on whether its worth having them change it.

Consider yourself lucky and put MediaPortal on it instead.

will mediaportal work with the 360? and be a media extender?

 

[dclive]

Consider me an MCE fan.

MCE2005 is currently the top of the heap in the television / media sharing software niche, IMHO. I've yet to see anything that even comes close to what it offers, and I've tried its competitors (snapstream and a few others) quite a bit before settling on MCE2004 and later, MCE2005. Add a MPEG2 tuner card, and even a low-end PC (albeit with a DirectX 9 compliant card) is a flawless media center PC. The remote works flawlessly and easily and quickly does all the functions I need from a clean, consistent 10'-away interface.

 

[YetAnotherName]

I have read that overclocking and MCE do not mix well.
Anyone using MCE and doing some OCing?

Would some adjustments be more likely to work and others to cause problems?

 

[spyordie007]

Anyone using MCE and doing some OCing?

For a while there I had been running it on a 2.0a OCd to 2.5 and didnt have MCE issues.

Besides if you have OC issues it's more of a hardware thing than a software thing; perhaps MCE is just more likely to take a dump on unstable systems than less-intensive applications.

 

[fire400]

dude, with Pro, you can actually program your own MCE interface if you're extreme. but with MCE you get stuff in your OS you'd normally use if you have it right in front of your TV.

I would go Pro anyday

 

[rbV5]

Originally posted by: fire400
dude, with Pro, you can actually program your own MCE interface if you're extreme. but with MCE you get stuff in your OS you'd normally use if you have it right in front of your TV.

I would go Pro anyday

Thats nonsense.

 

[spyordie007]

dude, with Pro, you can actually program your own MCE interface if you're extreme.

What?

 

[homestarmy]

Originally posted by: rbV5
I'm just using MCE on my new builds now, and its cheaper than Pro. As far as the media center application itself, it's excellent. None of the other media application I've used previous to MCE are close to being as stable and user friendly.

I wholly agree. MCE is really great! If your computer is in a home environment, and you do not deal with any of the domain stuff mentioned above, then I do not see any reason NOT to go with MCE 2005.

 

[kc8flb]

I would definately reccommencd MCE 2005 over xp pro anyday. Generally speaking it is cheaper that xp pro and has all the same functionality (99%) but it has the added MCE features. Even if you dont need the MCE features, get it because it is cheaper. You wouldnt even know its a mce machine unless you started the MCE program. Its 99% identical to XP pro and the difference only applies if you are using the computer in a big corporation (domain), and even that can be sorted out.

Now if you are gonna use the mce features, then it is sweet!. Its a fully functioning tivo without any monthly subscription fees. I built a MCE/HTPC/SERVER 2 tuner box for the living room and it works a treat! THe wife uses it everyday to watch TV and she is computer illiterate. It uses a regular remote control that has volume, channel changing, etc. You dont need a keyboard and mouse at all (when in MCE mode). I did however buy a wireless (infared) small keyboard that has a "joystick" mouse controller in case someone wanted to surf the internet in the family room. We can also burn our recorded tv shows to a regular DVD format that can play in any stand alone TV DVD player.

I have 3 MCE machines on the home network. only one is a HTPC/used to watch TV. tHe other two are just XP boxes (MCE install) that just have never started the MCE program.

If you decide to go with XP PRO and then want to "upgrade" to MCE later it is not easily done. You basically have to buy a fresh copy of MCE and do a fresh install.

All in all I would highly reccommend going with MCE over XP pro for a normal home system. If you arent using MCE, you wouldnt know the difference and you always have the option of adding hardware and using those features in the future. Its cheaper on newegg as well.

 

[Seeruk]

In a home environment, I am inclined to agree that there really isnt any reason NOT to use MCE2005. Cheaper & yet more features... as long as you don't run a domain (I am yet to visit a home apart from my own that does!).

Of course with a XB360 as an extender to the living room - it's really taken on a huge advantage over XP Pro. I thought its biggest (media) use would be streaming video, but as it turns out 3 nights consecutively we have had guests round and been streaming some xmas playlist whilst going through photos (their choice!!

 

[Brazen]

Originally posted by: Jhill

Originally posted by: Brazen

Originally posted by: YetAnotherName
What is the effect of not having cached credentials when not in a domain setting?
I assume you would have to login more often, but in what situations?

I just bought a new pc, asked for MCE but they installed XP Pro. I am deliberating on whether its worth having them change it.

Consider yourself lucky and put MediaPortal on it instead.

will mediaportal work with the 360? and be a media extender?

Unfortunately, MediaPortal does not have any sort of "extender" functionality. I've been anxiously awaiting this. Other than that, I believe it has a LOT more features than MCE. But I have not really checked out MCE for quite a while. I'm actually kinda of dissappointed since they have moved away from coding in C and are now using the .Net framework.

I meant "lucky" because he got the additional functionality with the Pro version of XP and can get all the functionality of MCE by installing MediaPortal.

Personally, though I use VLC. It's simple, and it can stream television to any computer I want.