Windows XP Pro Corporate?Media Center

[Needalittleinfo]

Am I correct in my belief that Win XP CORPORATE is the same as MEDIA CENTER? I know with corp. you can use the same key for multiple computers. I have it on my computer. But i read about media center and all it talks about is the difference in multimedia. Any feedback on this topic would be appreciated.

[Needalittleinfo]

So, I'm guessing that no one knows about corporate or what?

[Dooin' it]

No.......not the same.

Media edition is rather pricey. It's Microsoft's attempt to get into the TiVo side of things. I imagine that eventually they'll put up a hard fight, but I don't think that this current version threatens TiVo/DVR in any way just yet.

XP corporate edition is simply a version that doesn't require activation via Microsoft & is usually paid for up front by larger corporations whose IT dept simply needs 1 copy that they can put on hundreds of computers & don't need to be calling MS every time they fire up a new system.

I have every edition of XP except the media edition.........(maybe I need to add that to my collection??) Funny enough, however, I still have XP-home on my 2 Dells only 'cuz I'm lazy. XP's a good o/s any way you slice it. If you want Media edition, just be prepared to pay heavily for it.

Bill Gates wants *your* money................

[roley]

Yeah, but professional is definitely the way to go.

I do not know exactly why this is...I mean I have some ideas...

All I know is that Home produces more glitches and problems than XP Pro...particularly in networking.

Other than that...who knows...

OEM versions are not that much cheaper than XP Pro anyway...I do not package any of my systems with XP Home anymore and Dell recommends Pro even though its standard operating environment is still Home.

Anyway....

Roley
Black Frog Tech

[eminem_rh25]

you can get Media Center from http://oem.microsoft.com ...im not sure the prices but the evaluation is $60

[johnnyis42]

well, actually you ae correct in assuming that the same stuff that goes into the media center install for kernel modules, services and all the goodness of windows xp is the same as professional. the "corporate" version is merely a volume license copy, also known as "enterprise".

the difference is the windows setup program, that installs all the media center components. the media center components comprise of your media center desktop GUI, all the software for tv tunner support, and a jet database tailored for the media center desktop for easily searchable media content.

try as you may, there is no way to take a vanilla windows xp professional disk and make it into a windows xp media center install. you would have to actually create the windows setup program mostly from scratch in order to do that. therein lies the difference between linux and windows as far as GNU and propriatary software, that is the closely guarded secret of MS.