XP MCE 2004 vs XP Pro...No AIW/TV Card?

[RollWave]

Do you NEED to have an AIW card to use the OS or do you just lose some of the features? I have a 9800 pro 256mb, and dont need the TV features yet, but I can get MCE 2004 at same price as Pro. What should I do?

 

[EeyoreX]

but I can get MCE 2004 at same price as Pro. What should I do?

Where can you get a Media PC for the same price as XP Pro? I want one too. Seriously. You can not buy Windows XP MCE without buying a Media Center PC. Period. Anyplace you are getting it from is either not selling XP MCE, or is somehow selling an OEM copy. Or, you are getting an illegal copy of XP Pro from file sharers and therefore MCE will be at the "same price". In any event, it's illegal. Microsoft has not (and probably will not) release this version of the Windows XP operating system for "general consumption" by consumers.

No. Windows XP Media Center Edition 2004 is available only on new Media Center PCs. These PCs, built by partner PC manufacturers, provide the hardware configurations necessary to enjoy the home computing and enhanced digital entertainment made possible with Windows XP Media Center Edition 2004.

Source

\Dan

 

[RollWave]

I believe that cyberpowerinc will upgrade me to either for about the same price...the price difference would be negligible.

Their service is incredible.

 

[RollWave]

Also I'd like to add that I use a Receiver and a HT Setup to listen to music/watch movies/play games. Would this be an upgrade?

 

[rbV5]

cyberpowerinc

It looks like AIW isn't an option with their media center PC's anyway. Theirs are standard Media center 2 card solutions, meaning it has the hardware PCI tuner/encoder card plus an AGP graphics card (Probably any ATI or NV board would work fine). Adding an AIW would be pointless because there are no public drivers available, and the "encode" wdm drivers that support the MS codec aren't compatable with MMC anyway.

If you want an AIW Media Center PC, you pretty much have to get one from the vendor that offers them.

 

[RollWave]

ok, i didnt want to have to get an AIW anyways....so what PCI Tuner/encoder would I need to get? If i Just want to buy it to have the remote and ease of use is that doable? I see that some remotes will be sold in march if the OEM copy of windows doesnt come with one.

It starts just like normal windows but then you open the media center yourself right? So for all intensive purposes (drivers/games) its windows XP pro correct?

 

[RollWave]

actually they're already for sale at newegg (the remotes)

 

[rbV5]

ok, i didnt want to have to get an AIW anyways....so what PCI Tuner/encoder would I need to get?

Its in the configurator, with or without FM. You are talking about a prebuilt media center PC right?

 

[RollWave]

No no, I already have a system from Cyberpower... I can have them send me an OEM copy of MCE i'm just wondering how I need to change my system to make this work better.

 

[RollWave]

Or if I just use it to play movies and music off my computer, all I need is a remote right?

 

[rbV5]

Or if I just use it to play movies and music off my computer, all I need is a remote right?

Adding XP media Center to an existing system not originally intended for media center might not be trivial, as it requires specific hardware to match the software. Seems like there are forums dedicated to doing what you want, so you might want to google it.

 

[EeyoreX]

I can have them send me an OEM copy of MCE i'm just wondering how I need to change my system to make this work better.

I do not think this is legal. I may be wrong, but I'm pretty sure it's not. Microsoft seems very clear on the issue, that you must buy a Media Center PC in order to get and use Windows XP MCE. As was mentioned, MCE requires very specific hardware in order to run properly.

\Dan

 

[RollWave]

Any more specific info on system specs? Also I think I might just get the OEM from a Microsoft subscription...

 

[RollWave]

So anyone have any more advice before I take the plunge?

 

[CQuinn]

System specs:

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/mediacenter/evaluation/hardware.asp

 

[Joony]

Newegg has this new ATI E-Home wonder, apparently it is MCE 2004 compatible

Any thoughts?