Replacing x64

[stash]

The only things that MCE doesn't have that x64 does (since x64 is Pro only) are:

* Ability to join a domain (and this can actually be done, but it will break media extenders)
* Credman, which the component that allows you to save credentials, say if you map a drive and want it to persist across logons or reboots.

Otherwise, they are essentially identical, except for the obvious x86/x64 architectural differences and the addition of the MCE bits in the MCE SKU.

 

[RebateMonger]

XP Professional and MCE 2005 are virtually identical except as noted by stash. For most home users, especially those with MCE 2005-compatible video tuner cards, MCE is a good deal.

 

[stash]

Yeah MCE is closer to Pro than to Home. For example, its license allows two sockets, where Home only allows one. Both allow multiple cores, but obviously you can have more cores with two sockets.

MCE also includes IIS and EFS which are not in Home.

What is Recovery Manager? Do you mean the recovery console?

 

[stash]

No you should be fine with the 150 (I'm 99% sure it works, I know that the PVR500 works for sure) and a software decoder (I used the Nvidia one before I went to Vista, which has a built-in decoder).

All versions of MCE should be SP2. I don't think you can get MCE2005 without SP2.

 

[stash]

I'm not sure what all the different numbers mean, but I suspect it has to do with the rollups. The most recent (I think) is Update Rollup 2 (UR2), but there was a UR1 as well.

If in doubt, Newegg should have the most current version.

You may also want to hold off a few weeks for Vista.

 

[stash]

Yes...the rollups include hotfixes and new functionality.

I'm using the x86 version of Vista on my MCE box at the moment. It has 2GB of RAM, so there's no real reason to go to x64 for me. Vista will RTM very soon now, but you are correct that you probably won't be able to buy it off the shelf or with a new machine until the end of this year or begining of 07 due to the lag with getting the product into the OEM and retail channels.

 

[Seekermeister]

Is there any compelling advantage of Vista over MCE? I really do not care about cosmetics, nor do I care about any changes in IE, Outlook Express and such, because I never use them anyway.

 

[stash]

The MCE UI in Vista is somewhat different, but not a radical change. It is much better at handling huge music libraries, something that is a common complaint with MCE2005. I believe this also applies to large picture libraries.

The most visible new feature is not something you can't build yourself though. Vista will support Open Cable Unidirectional Receiver (OCUR) devices, which are devices that allow you to receive and record digital cable (including HD), something you can't do with any previous versions of MCE. However, these devices will only be included with new computers from certain OEMs (like Dell, etc), you will not be able to build your own MCE with OCUR.

One thing to keep in mind is that Vista MCE is the one that will be getting all the attention going forward. The eHome team has a history of releasing updates (like the rollups) on a fairly regular basis, and they have some very cool things planned for Vista post-RTM. In other words, there will be future updates to MCE in Vista that add new features, so you won't have to wait for the next version of the OS.

 

[Seekermeister]

The music and picture libraries sounds good, but I couldn't care less about any features relating to cable, because I will never use my local cable service. Your last point sounds the most important to me, but then considering the fashion that MS has dealt with support issues in the past, I don't know just how to weigh that.

Going back to the hardware decoder aspect, is that something that I could install with MCE 2005? I'm getting so tired of x64 that I don't know if I can wait until January.

 

[stash]

Not sure what you mean. You can install your PVR150 and a software decoder and be done.

Although if you don't care about TV, what do you a TV tuner for? In that case you just need the software decoder for DVD playback.

 

[tdawg]

Originally posted by: Seekermeister
The music and picture libraries sounds good, but I couldn't care less about any features relating to cable, because I will never use my local cable service. Your last point sounds the most important to me, but then considering the fashion that MS has dealt with support issues in the past, I don't know just how to weigh that.

Going back to the hardware decoder aspect, is that something that I could install with MCE 2005? I'm getting so tired of x64 that I don't know if I can wait until January.

Just curious, you want it so you can record just local antenna channels?

You don't need an additional hardware decoder of any kind installed along with your Hauppage TV tuner card. What you do need in MCE2005 is a software MPEG2 decoder, which is basically some DVD playing software, i.e. WinDVD or PowerDVD, which usually come with video cards and dvd drives these days, so hopefully you'd have a version laying around.

This is one of the nice things with Vista, no additional MPEG2 decoding software is needed; it's built in to the OS, as was previously stated. This means one less extraneous piece of software that has to be installed. I installed the Vista RC2 x86 version and the best thing was my two ATI theatre 550 cards were all set to go from the beginning. All that had to be done was to setup the cable connection and I was set.

If you need a new OS now, just get the MCE2005 OEM with some sort of hardware purchase and you're set. Then when Vista comes out, you can legitimately get the upgrade version, which is of course cheaper than the full version. Either that or get the RC2 of Vista which is good til June or July of 2007, if you want to deal with beta software.

 

[SynthDude2001]

This is slightly off-topic but since you guys are talking about MCE...

How do you play HDTV MPEG2 transport stream files (.ts) in Vista MCE? I've tried different decoders, filters/splitters/demultiplexers, and nothing seems to work. I can play them in WMP11 if I install the Nvidia Purevideo decoder, but only in the 32-bit WMP executable - the 64-bit is a no-go. Am I correct in assuming that I'm basically out of luck for MCE since it's 64-bit and I (seemingly) have no such compatible decoders/filters installed....?

 

[Seekermeister]

Originally posted by: stash
Not sure what you mean. You can install your PVR150 and a software decoder and be done.

Although if you don't care about TV, what do you a TV tuner for? In that case you just need the software decoder for DVD playback.

I have been going round and around with Hauppauge for about a month now, because the PVR150 stopped working after about 3 weeks. Everything that I have gotten from their tech support is jumbled and makes no sense. Therefore, I may not make any sense either.

I don't have a problem playing DVDs now, I use Cyberlink. What I have been trying to solve, is the best, easiest and cheapest way to make the PVR150 work as it's supposed to. Apparently the card is okay, but WinTV is the part that stopped working.

Originally, Hauppauge had me download a decoder, but it would not install. I never got an answer to my question about why that happened. Now they are telling me that the card is not compatable with x64, even though it specifically stated that it was on the box. They claim that if I use a third party viewer, that it would work. But I did install a couple of viewer that was on their CD and they did not work.

I now have both an analog and a digital tuner from Hauppauge, and neither work on x64. I was under the impression that the PVR150 had a hardware encoder, but I guess that I'm wrong. In any case, among other things, I want to make one of these cards work...preferably the PVR150.

 

[Seekermeister]

tdawg,

I want the card to play TV normally from the antenna, because I do not have, nor will I get cable. Recording is good, but not as important as playing. Your comment about software decoders interests me, because according to Hauppauge, that is the reason that it failed on my system. Apparently, third party viewers, such as Sage or BeyondTV have these built in, but WinTV doesn't (how it worked for 3 weeks, they still haven't explained to me). Is there a decoder that I can download and install, without having to pay for it?

 

[Seekermeister]

One last questions on this (I think), I understand that Windows OS have to be installed in a certain order sometimes to be able to multiboot them. If I leave x64 installed and then install MCE, will both systems work properly?