Which windows to run?

Post by **bitWISE** » Tue Dec 27, 2005 7:32 pm

I just installed Media Center 2005 and it looks like it would function just fine as the primary OS on a system.

So should I stick with Professional or just migrate to Media Center?

Post by **+JuggerNaut+** » Tue Dec 27, 2005 8:03 pm

well, first question is, what was the reasoning for the installation of MC2005?

Post by **bitWISE** » Tue Dec 27, 2005 8:10 pm

Because I had it and wanted to try it out. I've been playing with it for an hour now and it's fucking awesome.

My favorite feature so far is the ability to search my music in real-time. I could type death and by the time I hit h I would have a list of all the songs/genres/artists/albums that contained the word death.

Post by **+JuggerNaut+** » Tue Dec 27, 2005 8:15 pm

i wasn't sure if you wanted to use it for an HTPC is why i asked. my buddy uses it as his main OS and is very happy with it. i've considered going this route just to try it out at my next reformat. from what i understand, it's laid on top of XP Pro (SP1). i think you'll digg it.

Post by **+JuggerNaut+** » Tue Dec 27, 2005 8:16 pm

do you notice any perfomance hits?

Post by **bitWISE** » Tue Dec 27, 2005 9:04 pm

No performance hits so far. If anything its faster because once you load up the media center app you have instant access to all your media. You hit play and the clip starts. Oh and the theme that comes with it looks amazing-it's like a cross between XP and Vista.

It's my main PC but I might set it up to be an HTPC when I need it to be. Which brings up another question...can TV tuner cards work with digital cable?

Post by **shadd_** » Tue Dec 27, 2005 9:07 pm

i don't see why not. the signal is decoded by your cable box first.

Post by **bitWISE** » Tue Dec 27, 2005 9:17 pm

shadd_ wrote:i don't see why not. the signal is decoded by your cable box first.

So then what's the point of a TV tuner in an HTPC if I have to go through the cable box?

Post by **shadd_** » Tue Dec 27, 2005 9:25 pm

good question but i'm sure any recent tv tuner can do decode as well.

Post by **+JuggerNaut+** » Tue Dec 27, 2005 11:40 pm

you have to go through your cable box because you have digital cable. this is not the case with analog signals.

Post by **bitWISE** » Wed Dec 28, 2005 6:03 am

Fucking sweet.

I got the nvidia dvd decoder setup and I can use my mobile phone as a remote control for MCE.