XP Pro or MCE?

[jfm]

If one is starting from scratch, would it be better to install XP Pro or MCE, and why?

Is there a reason to not install MCE? Wouldn't I have more flexibility and options with MCE, or would it cause more problems than it is worth?

All suggestions appreciated.

JFM

Case: Antec Sonata
MB: MSI P6NG Neo-Digital
CPU: P4 dual core 2.5 ghz
Mem: 2 gb
HD: 500 gb
Video: EVGA GeForce 8600 GT w/512mb

[sub]

There isnt really much difference from a GB-PVR perspective. Either should be ok.

[zed]

If you install MCE you can try it out and see how crappy it is compared to GB-PVR. Then you'll never run it again and wish you had saved the extra $.

[SLR_65]

Yeah, with GBPVR you wont really use any of the MCE features. If I recall correctly you will have to do a little registry editing to make the remote control work right, if you don't then when you push the green windows button on your remote it's going to pull up media center even if you are in GBPVR. It's not hard, but it's a pain.

Bottom line, if you have it already I would install it rather than buy a copy of XP Pro as there's no real difference.

If you're buying it though then I would save my money and buy XP Pro.

The only thing would be if you want to try out other HTPC programs (perish the thought!). I think Media Portal requires MCE, as do a couple others who's names escape me (isn't there a movie database program people like too that needs MCE?). Personally GBPVR does everything I want all in one nice, neat little package.

On another note . . . I haven't played with networking for years, I'm talking back in the Novell and Lantastic days! I decided to try and network my main pc to the htpc so I could move files on and off of it easier. WOW! I couldn't believe how bloody EASY it was with XP Pro! M$ finally got something right! I'm seriously thinking about some client pcs now!!!

[stustunz]

the plus of using xp pro is you dont have to disable all the mce crap from starting when you dont want it to or press the wrong button
that said i use both and there is no real difference once you set it all up

[jfm]

Thanks.

JFM

[Reddwarf]

[quote=SLR_65]
The only thing would be if you want to try out other HTPC programs (perish the thought!). I think Media Portal requires MCE, as do a couple others who's names escape me (isn't there a movie database program people like too that needs MCE?). Personally GBPVR does everything I want all in one nice, neat little package.
QUOTE]

NOT to promote MediaPortal (God forbid anyone from prefering that over GBPVR) but it does not require MCE to run... the only good thing about MP is tha easy way to configure its xmltv

[BTJustice]

I just went through this process and I can tell you Pro is the way to go. You will wind up having approximately 20 fewer running processes with Pro than you would with MCE. The fewer processes the better. I had ~65 processes running with MCE. With Pro, I have ~45 processes running.

MCE 2005 sucks in terms of file sizes, what you are allowed to record, etc. It reocrds everything as .DVR-MS files. It won't record anything on HBO and some other channels due to protection. It does have a nice GUI though.

You can use an MCE 2004 or MCE 2005 CD Key to install Pro with. I did .

[gazoo]

I know Vista wasn't mentioned, but it seemed to make a bunch of stuff easier renderer, codec, and driver-wise. EVR + hardware acceleration with a range of video cards seems to go off smoother. Just my 2 cents.

[SLR_65]

I tried Vista Ultimate and it was pretty easy but I'm running a Nvidea graphics board and I had a problem with the onscreen graphics flickering. It was like the refresh rate wasn't right but I couldn't adjust it. I loaded XP Pro and the problem went away.