XP Media Center OEM is 30 Euros cheaper than Professional OEM?

[shiyan]

It seems strange that at my local shop XP Media Center OEM is 120 Euros while XP Professional is 150 Euros....

I thought Media Center was Professional with some additional software? :shrug:

Weird MS pricing policy or is Media Center missing some of Professional's features?

Just saw a comparison of Home and Professional here: http://www.wown.com/articles_tutorials/wxpdifs.html

[Mr.Guvernment]

media cernter is home i thought with the purdy media interface.

Pro just has the extra security feature and administration tools in it.

[shiyan]

I popped in the first installation CD (of 2)

and the installer says "Windows XP Professional Setup"

more software for less money weeeee :santa:

edit:

I needed to purchase a lot of copies of XP Professional for my parents' company and the only English copies of XP that the shop had was Media Center. I bought one to find out if it is actually Pro with more stuff as I'll need a copy of Media Center myself. This is working out perfectly - a lot of savings as I'll need another 4 copies :D

edit 2:

I guess we'll find out if it really is Professional with additional stuff once the install finishes :o

[shiyan]

No option for joining a domain :(

guess Microsoft disabled some of the functionalities of Professional

oh well I guess it makes sense after all

very nice default theme though :D

[Mr.Guvernment]

:(

[gorilly]

what happens if you want windows media centre AND want it on a domain? for example in a staff lounge in a company?

[Mr.Guvernment]

then your SOL

[shiyan]

what happens if you want windows media centre AND want it on a domain? for example in a staff lounge in a company?
I just reinstalled again and it does seem possible to join a domain, but only during the installation process, assuming you use a network card (or onboard network chip) that is old enough to be recognised by Windows XP SP2.

Once the installation process is complete it becomes impossible to join a domain.

Media Center is based on Professional, but MS somehow hacked some of the functionality out of it.

[jajmon]

Here is a free alternative to Media Center,,,,,,,,http://mediaportal.sourceforge.net/