Windows XP Media Center Edition vs. Home

Post by **Transient** » Sat Jan 14, 2006 8:18 pm

Is there any significant difference between the 2 OSes if I plan on using the computer it's on as a regular desktop PC?

Post by **Transient** » Sat Jan 14, 2006 8:29 pm

Thanks. From what I gather, MCE is a step up.

Post by **Transient** » Sat Jan 14, 2006 8:43 pm

Yea but Pro will end up costing me a ton more. I'm either getting a PC with no OS, or one with MCE for $30 more. I was curious if it was worth it, since I already have a Home CD I can use if it's not worth it.

What kind of features would piss me off? Things I can disable?

Post by **BlueGene** » Sat Jan 14, 2006 8:45 pm

Media Center Edition provides an interface to watch tv/play dvds/listen to music from your computer.

[lvlshot]http://www.winsupersite.com/images/reviews/xpmce_review_54.gif[/lvlshot]

[lvlshot]http://www.winsupersite.com/images/reviews/xpmce_review_013.gif[/lvlshot]

Despite that there are no real significant changes between Home/Pro/MCE, they are pretty much the same. Pro has more network related services, but most of which regular users wouldn't need.

riddla wrote:Home today is the equivalent of Windows ME back in the 98 days. In a nutshell, it sucks.

That’s an understatement, Home is extremely stable as much or the same as Pro/MCE if not more stable since it has less services starting up.

If you want a media pc and have the hardware then get MCE, if you want to use your computer like a PC then Home or Pro is fine.

Post by **BlueGene** » Sat Jan 14, 2006 8:54 pm

riddla wrote:Home has no file system security, hence it sucks.

That’s a stupid and completely useless services because it doesn’t work over a network. Basicly if someone steals your harddrive they wont be able to access the data if you decide to encrypt it. :icon29:

Encrypting File System - Windows XP Professional supports the Encrypting File System (EFS), which allows you encrypt individual files or folders for local security (EFS is not enabled over a network). EFS-protected files and folders allows users to protect sensitive documents from other users.

So unless your worried about someone at your house hacking in to your user account or stealing your harddrive, I highly doubt you need this useless service.

Post by **BlueGene** » Sat Jan 14, 2006 9:06 pm

riddla wrote:Little more complicated than that. I wasn't talking about encrypting file system, I was talking about file-level security. If you have home, fire it up and try to set user permissions on a file. Guess what, you cant because it isnt there.

p.s. the internet is a great big ol network.

That has nothing to do with the internet, you are talking about Access Control? Why would a regular user not on a network need it? He is admin anyways he can access anything he wants and he is able to restrict access to file with user accounts anyways in case his family needs to use the computer.

Here is a list of differences between Home & Pro. Trust me you don't need Pro unless you are running a network with a lot of different users. Not just 2 or 3 computer from your home, since simple filesharing exists. Remote Desktop is something else but again why would a regular user need that? There are better opensource software if you really need to use it.

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/home ... sing2.mspx

Post by **Scourge** » Sat Jan 14, 2006 9:10 pm

riddla wrote:Little more complicated than that. I wasn't talking about encrypting file system, I was talking about file-level security. If you have home, fire it up and try to set user permissions on a file. Guess what, you cant because it isnt there.

p.s. the internet is a great big ol network.

You can do it logging in as Admin in safe mode.

Post by **BlueGene** » Sat Jan 14, 2006 9:14 pm

The internet isn’t like a regular network, people are not users on your computer. They have no access to your computer unless you make a server.

Restricting files/documents using Access Control/Group Policy settings is only needed on a network where you want to restrict certain users from running certain files or viewing certain documents. It can be managed with user accounts anyways, and if you are using simple file sharing you can simply not share a file on a home network if you don’t want someone to access it.

Post by **bitWISE** » Sat Jan 14, 2006 11:32 pm

MCE 2005 is an excellent OS. I'm not going to write up a review but it gets my seal of approval. I'd be running it right now but I'm too lazy to reinstall all my software.

Post by **sliver** » Sun Jan 15, 2006 12:21 am

BlueGene wrote:Despite that there are no real significant changes between Home/Pro/MCE, they are pretty much the same.

:0

Post by **Transient** » Sun Jan 15, 2006 12:21 am

Thanks for the info, guys.

Post by **BlueGene** » Sun Jan 15, 2006 2:19 am

riddla wrote:
BlueGene wrote:That has nothing to do with the internet
say that all you want, it simply isn't true. File-level security has alot to do with a shit-ton of current malware exploits. I can't believe you'd be so thick-headed as to argue that an OS (home) which allows all users to run as Admin without the ability to restrict user-level access to individual files/directories is somehow immune to such exploits over the internet - which again IS A NETWORK.

Of all the home PCs I've fixed, the overwhelming majority of them which are hosed out the ass and zombified are running guess what OS? Windows XP Home. This wouldn't be the case if they had sprung for the extra security of Pro and ran their session as a user instead of full-on admin.

Also, I wouldn't assume Transient is just a 'regular user' either.

The problem with your argument is that you are backtracking, first you said that Windows XP Home is similar to Windows ME, so it sucks. Windows XP Home cannot be compared to Windows ME, ME was unstable and crashed a lot. Home is as stable as any other NT based system.

Then you said "file system security", by saying file system you obviously meant THE FILE SYSTEM not ACCESS CONTROL/GROUP POLICY CONTROLS.

Now you are saying that it's because of malware that Windows XP Home sucks, you can create user accounts with different types and control user's rights on the computer. YOU DO NOT HAVE TO BE RUNNING ADMIN ON WINDOWS XP HOME, YOU ARE MISSINFORMED!!!

Post by **BlueGene** » Sun Jan 15, 2006 3:43 am

Analogy? Jeez talk about thick..You have your head so far up your ass that your own shit is going straight into your head. Backtracking like a little cunt after being completely obliterated by facts. Why fucking argue when you don't know what the fuck you are talking about?

Post by **+JuggerNaut+** » Sun Jan 15, 2006 3:44 am

riddla wrote:
BlueGene wrote:The problem with your argument is that you are backtracking, first you said that Windows XP Home is similar to Windows ME, so it sucks. Windows XP Home cannot be compared to Windows ME, ME was unstable and crashed a lot. Home is as stable as any other NT based system.

just fuck off already, you thick cunt.

:icon23:

Post by **BlueGene** » Sun Jan 15, 2006 3:46 am

Nice quote there, your too stupid to see he's making fun of you.

Post by **Scourge** » Sun Jan 15, 2006 3:47 am

Going down one floor. ALL ABOARD!!

Post by **BlueGene** » Sun Jan 15, 2006 3:49 am

You obviously care enough to post.

Post by **eepberries** » Sun Jan 15, 2006 3:50 am

Just get PRO you jewish fuck

Post by **BlueGene** » Sun Jan 15, 2006 3:52 am

More caring with grammer corrections, pathetic.

Post by **Scourge** » Sun Jan 15, 2006 3:53 am

Post by **BlueGene** » Sun Jan 15, 2006 3:54 am

You got me, but your still an idiot.

Post by **BlueGene** » Sun Jan 15, 2006 3:56 am

Your really good with grammer and spelling, good work.

Post by **Scourge** » Sun Jan 15, 2006 3:57 am

Third times the charm. You're.

Post by **BlueGene** » Sun Jan 15, 2006 4:01 am

You showed that so clearly today, with all the backtracking and misinformation.

Post by **Transient** » Sun Jan 15, 2006 4:06 am

Holy shit, this thread ended about 2 dozen posts ago. Why the hell are you all still talking?