The Notebook Review forums were hosted by TechTarget, who shut down them down on January 31, 2022. This static read-only archive was pulled by NBR forum users between January 20 and January 31, 2022, in an effort to make sure that the valuable technical information that had been posted on the forums is preserved. For current discussions, many NBR forum users moved over to NotebookTalk.net after the shutdown.
Problems? See this thread at archive.org.

    Windows Media Center 2005

    Discussion in 'Windows OS and Software' started by madroxinide, Nov 3, 2006.

  1. madroxinide

    madroxinide Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    33
    Messages:
    744
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    Is there a big difference between XP Home/Pro and MCE? I heard somewhere that MCE crashes more often, takes up more RAM, and can't do some of the things Home/Pro can do. I am scheduled to receive my notebook this Monday, and just want to know what to expect.

    I'm also planning to get the TV Tuner for X-Mas and was wondering how that worked too, I've only seen screenshots of the small card that slides into the notebook, where do you plug the TV cord into? If you can think of anything else that is good to know about MCE please include it. Thanks
     
    madroxinide, Nov 3, 2006
    #1
  2. iza

    iza Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    449
    Messages:
    647
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    MCE is just like Pro, only without the ability to join a domain (though there's a hack available to enable the option). It is better than Home in every way.
     
    iza, Nov 3, 2006
    #2
  3. darth_laidher

    darth_laidher Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    21
    Messages:
    446
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    ive got mce and it looks pretty much like xp home and pro the task bar is alittle more glossy but thats it, and it gives you options to install home entertainment systems and such, the media center is basically just a icon on the desktop that you push and it comes up like quick play but looks different, i use it more than quick play cause i think it looks nicer. but for aslong as ive been using it, it hasnt crashed or done anything weird. i dont know if it takes up more ram or whatever and but what i seen from other posts its like xp pro.
     
    darth_laidher, Nov 3, 2006
    #3
  4. madroxinide

    madroxinide Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    33
    Messages:
    744
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    Okay, does it use up more RAM than Pro? If so is it a noticable ammount more? I mainly want to know if it crashes more often. Thanks for the fast reply.
     
    madroxinide, Nov 3, 2006
    #4
  5. pfbmgd

    pfbmgd Notebook Guru

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    60
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    15
    For what ever reason my PVR crashes every few months .I don`t now if it`s because of Media XP or some other problem .
     
    pfbmgd, Nov 3, 2006
    #5
  6. iza

    iza Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    449
    Messages:
    647
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    I don't think so; it's basically the same thing with the added media center program, don't see why it would. I don't know first-hand though.
     
    iza, Nov 3, 2006
    #6
  7. darth_laidher

    darth_laidher Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    21
    Messages:
    446
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    hasnt crashed on me or done anything weird yet.
     
    darth_laidher, Nov 3, 2006
    #7
  8. madroxinide

    madroxinide Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    33
    Messages:
    744
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    Ok Thanks Iza and Pfb. Anyone know about the TV Tuner?
     
    madroxinide, Nov 3, 2006
    #8
  9. darth_laidher

    darth_laidher Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    21
    Messages:
    446
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    no thanks for me thanks lol
     
    darth_laidher, Nov 3, 2006
    #9
  10. pfbmgd

    pfbmgd Notebook Guru

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    60
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    15
    Make sure the TV tuner is Media XP compatible .Otherwise it will not work .You will also need a MPG decoder to make it the XP work .
     
    pfbmgd, Nov 3, 2006
    #10
  11. Sam

    Sam Notebook Virtuoso

    Reputations:
    3,661
    Messages:
    9,249
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    205
    Media Center is better. It has all the multimedia functions, AND you get a free upgrade to Vista Home Premium when it arrives :D.
     
    Sam, Nov 3, 2006
    #11