WinXP home or Media Center?

gwilks98 · 12-01-2005, 07:44 PM

If you had to recommend one to someone buying a computer, which one would you recommend? Pro is the only one I've used and it's $119 more than either. (It might be an overkill upgrade.)

Is there any reason not to pick one or the other?

bachviet · 12-01-2005, 08:05 PM

Home since you don't need Media Center unless you want to build an HTPC.

Jeffbx · 12-02-2005, 05:47 AM

At the same price, I'd pick Media Center since it's just XP Home with some extra goodies thrown in. However, you'll probably never make use of those things unless you're hooking this up to your home theater.

I wouldn't pay extra for it, tho, unless you know for sure you'll use it.

thekidrocks · 12-02-2005, 08:05 AM

I have used a PC with Media Center 2005, and liked it. I was surprised at how similar the interface it to Dell's "Dell Media Experience" that they used to have on their PCs.

Since I do use my PC for music in particular, I really liked it and would pay the extra. The one I used had a tuner card in it, and the Tivo-like function is nice.

However like everyone else says above, if you won't use those extras, there is no need for it. IMHO if it was pretty much a freebie upgrade, or part of a killer deal on a PC, I'd still take it.

tupacboy · 12-02-2005, 10:23 AM

i like my media center....

12-01-2005, 07:44 PM	#1
gwilks98 Vice Admiral Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: StL Posts: 4,300	WinXP home or Media Center? If you had to recommend one to someone buying a computer, which one would you recommend? Pro is the only one I've used and it's $119 more than either. (It might be an overkill upgrade.) Is there any reason not to pick one or the other? __________________ "I know the pieces fit, cause I watched them fall away." "Cold silence has A tendancy to Atrophy any Sense of compassion." MJK

12-01-2005, 08:05 PM	#2
bachviet What's Da Pho*? Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: SoCal (714) Posts: 13,296	Home since you don't need Media Center unless you want to build an HTPC. __________________ Dell Dimension 9200 \| Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 (2.4GHz) \| 4x1GB DDR2 \| 256MB nVidia GeForce 8800GT Dell Studio 17 \| Intel Core i7-720QM (1.6GHz) \| 2x2GB DDR3 1066MHz \| 1GHz ATI Mobility Radeon HD 4650 Intel P4-C 3.0GHz \| ECS 865PE-A \| 3x512MB PC3200 \| 128MB PNY GeForce 6600GT

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12-02-2005, 05:47 AM	#3
Jeffbx Fleet Admiral Join Date: Mar 2000 Location: Michigan Posts: 9,390	At the same price, I'd pick Media Center since it's just XP Home with some extra goodies thrown in. However, you'll probably never make use of those things unless you're hooking this up to your home theater. I wouldn't pay extra for it, tho, unless you know for sure you'll use it.

12-02-2005, 08:05 AM	#4
thekidrocks Lieutenant Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Northen Indiana Posts: 357	I have used a PC with Media Center 2005, and liked it. I was surprised at how similar the interface it to Dell's "Dell Media Experience" that they used to have on their PCs. Since I do use my PC for music in particular, I really liked it and would pay the extra. The one I used had a tuner card in it, and the Tivo-like function is nice. However like everyone else says above, if you won't use those extras, there is no need for it. IMHO if it was pretty much a freebie upgrade, or part of a killer deal on a PC, I'd still take it.

12-02-2005, 10:23 AM	#5
tupacboy Rear Admiral Lower Half Join Date: May 2000 Location: border of oc and la Posts: 2,382	i like my media center....

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