Different M$ OS's

Felix The Assassin · 10-22-2005, 08:55 PM

Hear ye, all Ironworkers.
I start my Uh-hum, retraining next month, and must go out and purchase a PC THAT meets the requirements of my rehabilitation program. So, this 'frankenstein' I have slaved over for the last years, faithfully keeping it clean, updated, and for the most part, modernized, does not meet the standard. Therefore I must go to the local shop and purchase a machine that does, along with a set of other peripherals, and certain machine requirements and mandatory software.

This is where you wonderful folks come into this bundle of decisions.
Does anybody have M$ Media Center Edition?
Can you smack it down into usable terms?
I have much experience with 2K, XP-Pro-2, and some x-over Linux, but two of the machines that strike my fancy are M$-MCE rigs. The documentation says they are just as (de)-liable as any M$ OS, and can handle all other functions. My interest is not really focused to this OS, but to the machine, and as a side bar, only has that OS (pre-jacked up) installed on them. To answer the first thing that pops into your mind, No. If I were to install 'my' copy of XP-PRO-2, then the 'mandatory' warranty will probably be invalid.

What I'm really wanting to get straight is:
Will and MCE rig handle M$ Office 2003? (Mainly Word, and Powerpoint, possibly Excel).
Play background noise whilst I whittle away at the keyboard?
Have less updates, and more uptime than XP-Pro-2?

[ 10-22-2005, 11:45 PM: Message edited by: Felix The Assassin ]

shamrock_uk · 10-22-2005, 09:03 PM

IIRC from some promotion literature I read, I think MCE is mostly a gimmick - it's basically XP with some custom-looking media browsing folders and a few programmes tacked on. I see no reason why it wouldn't run all the programmes that your normal copy of XP does...

[ 10-22-2005, 09:04 PM: Message edited by: shamrock_uk ]

Sir Degrader · 10-22-2005, 09:12 PM

I have MCE and I really don't see it making much of a difference except for audio/visual stuff (tv recording and such).

[ 10-22-2005, 09:13 PM: Message edited by: Sir Degrader ]

Sever · 10-22-2005, 11:01 PM

It sounds like you have a specific store in mind to purchase your rig. Unless there's a prectical reason, or you owe them some allegiance i'd recommend hunting around and getting a pre-bundled system and the OS you're looking for. Possibly for cheaper. There's no shortage of places to get a comp these days and most of 'em are gonna want your business...

[Edit: bracket fix]

[ 10-22-2005, 11:04 PM: Message edited by: Sever ]

Felix The Assassin · 10-22-2005, 11:49 PM

Ok, cool beans. ~~Tanks~~ Thank You.

You are spot on Sever! That leaves me with another choice, but a choice that is not even considered. If I change stores, then the purchase comes from my wallet, so, MCE sounds pretty good.

Sever · 10-23-2005, 12:37 AM

Haha! I knew there was a reason.

I was gonna suggest that you walk in there wearing your combat boots and fatigues to get a better deal. Or have you already?

Thoran · 10-23-2005, 09:18 PM

MCE is XP Pro with some multimedia gadgets added in and Advanced Networking turned off. I use it on my Home Theater PC. The multimedia gadgets are useful and generally well done... but not what I would call mature (of course none of the HTPC market is at this point). The networking that's disabled is domain authentication... not a problem for 99.9% of users, and if you're part of the .1% (like me) who's running a domain at home, we'll you should know enough about the OS to turn it back on. The reason the Networking stuff is disabled is so that some of the MCE networking stuff will work right (like being able to set up a media server that streams to other computers in your house).

10-22-2005, 08:55 PM	#1
Felix The Assassin The Dreadnoks Join Date: September 27, 2001 Location: Orlando, FL Age: 62 Posts: 3,608	Hear ye, all Ironworkers. I start my Uh-hum, retraining next month, and must go out and purchase a PC THAT meets the requirements of my rehabilitation program. So, this 'frankenstein' I have slaved over for the last years, faithfully keeping it clean, updated, and for the most part, modernized, does not meet the standard. Therefore I must go to the local shop and purchase a machine that does, along with a set of other peripherals, and certain machine requirements and mandatory software. This is where you wonderful folks come into this bundle of decisions. Does anybody have M$ Media Center Edition? Can you smack it down into usable terms? I have much experience with 2K, XP-Pro-2, and some x-over Linux, but two of the machines that strike my fancy are M$-MCE rigs. The documentation says they are just as (de)-liable as any M$ OS, and can handle all other functions. My interest is not really focused to this OS, but to the machine, and as a side bar, only has that OS (pre-jacked up) installed on them. To answer the first thing that pops into your mind, No. If I were to install 'my' copy of XP-PRO-2, then the 'mandatory' warranty will probably be invalid. What I'm really wanting to get straight is: Will and MCE rig handle M$ Office 2003? (Mainly Word, and Powerpoint, possibly Excel). Play background noise whilst I whittle away at the keyboard? Have less updates, and more uptime than XP-Pro-2? [ 10-22-2005, 11:45 PM: Message edited by: Felix The Assassin ] __________________ The Lizzie Palmer Tribute Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe to assure the survival and the success of liberty. John F. Kennedy 35th President of The United States The Last Shot Honor The Fallen Jesus died for our sins, and American Soldiers died for our freedom. If you don't stand behind our Soldiers, please feel free to stand in front of them.

10-22-2005, 11:01 PM	#4
Sever Ma'at - Goddess of Truth & Justice Join Date: October 31, 2002 Location: Western Australia Age: 44 Posts: 3,293	It sounds like you have a specific store in mind to purchase your rig. Unless there's a prectical reason, or you owe them some allegiance i'd recommend hunting around and getting a pre-bundled system and the OS you're looking for. Possibly for cheaper. There's no shortage of places to get a comp these days and most of 'em are gonna want your business... [Edit: bracket fix] [ 10-22-2005, 11:04 PM: Message edited by: Sever ] __________________ Say say, oh playmate i cannot play with you my dolly's got the flu boo hoo hoo hoo hoo hoo

10-22-2005, 11:49 PM	#5
Felix The Assassin The Dreadnoks Join Date: September 27, 2001 Location: Orlando, FL Age: 62 Posts: 3,608	Ok, cool beans. ~~Tanks~~ Thank You. You are spot on Sever! That leaves me with another choice, but a choice that is not even considered. If I change stores, then the purchase comes from my wallet, so, MCE sounds pretty good. __________________ The Lizzie Palmer Tribute Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe to assure the survival and the success of liberty. John F. Kennedy 35th President of The United States The Last Shot Honor The Fallen Jesus died for our sins, and American Soldiers died for our freedom. If you don't stand behind our Soldiers, please feel free to stand in front of them.

10-23-2005, 12:37 AM	#6
Sever Ma'at - Goddess of Truth & Justice Join Date: October 31, 2002 Location: Western Australia Age: 44 Posts: 3,293	Haha! I knew there was a reason. I was gonna suggest that you walk in there wearing your combat boots and fatigues to get a better deal. Or have you already? __________________ Say say, oh playmate i cannot play with you my dolly's got the flu boo hoo hoo hoo hoo hoo

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10-22-2005, 09:03 PM	#2
shamrock_uk Dracolich Join Date: January 24, 2004 Location: UK Age: 42 Posts: 3,092	IIRC from some promotion literature I read, I think MCE is mostly a gimmick - it's basically XP with some custom-looking media browsing folders and a few programmes tacked on. I see no reason why it wouldn't run all the programmes that your normal copy of XP does... [ 10-22-2005, 09:04 PM: Message edited by: shamrock_uk ]

10-22-2005, 09:12 PM	#3
Sir Degrader Thoth - Egyptian God of Wisdom Join Date: November 3, 2001 Location: Canada Age: 64 Posts: 2,871	I have MCE and I really don't see it making much of a difference except for audio/visual stuff (tv recording and such). [ 10-22-2005, 09:13 PM: Message edited by: Sir Degrader ]

10-23-2005, 09:18 PM	#7
Thoran Galvatron Join Date: January 10, 2002 Location: Upstate NY Age: 57 Posts: 2,109	MCE is XP Pro with some multimedia gadgets added in and Advanced Networking turned off. I use it on my Home Theater PC. The multimedia gadgets are useful and generally well done... but not what I would call mature (of course none of the HTPC market is at this point). The networking that's disabled is domain authentication... not a problem for 99.9% of users, and if you're part of the .1% (like me) who's running a domain at home, we'll you should know enough about the OS to turn it back on. The reason the Networking stuff is disabled is so that some of the MCE networking stuff will work right (like being able to set up a media server that streams to other computers in your house).

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