[Middie042]

Hello

Am buying new laptop for work/sales reasons. I prefer XP Pro, as will be using in soho network setting, with peer to peer network preference. DSL or cable access.

Most of my first choices in Toshiba laptops seem to come with Media Center. Given my experience and expectations with Pro, are there functional differences between the two, ie as there are between Home and Pro?
Working on a HOME system does frustrate me when I am setting up or trouble shooting one for friends. I have gone as far as doing a Pro upgrade on one system, but would like to avoid that for this purchase.

Comments and suggestions welcome! TIA

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think I need to know why it frustrates you

Media Center is based on Home XP--it is intended for the home and cannot join a domain (can join a workgroup, though)

The big difference to me between Home and Media Center is that media center allows remote desktop, meaning in xp home, you can not log into your machine remotely with the built in software (3rd party apps will allow it), but on media center and pro you can

[gerryf]

think I need to know why it frustrates you

Media Center is based on Home XP--it is intended for the home and cannot join a domain (can join a workgroup, though)

The big difference to me between Home and Media Center is that media center allows remote desktop, meaning in xp home, you can not log into your machine remotely with the built in software (3rd party apps will allow it), but on media center and pro you can

[jmoney3457]

hi mid, dunno if these will help any or not but heres some comparisons i found--> http://www.neowin.ne...#entry586914001

http://www.microsoft...on/compare.mspx

http://www.neowin.ne...#entry587167016

[Middie042]

Hi Gerryf and jmoney3457

Thank you, and thanks to jmoney too for his links.

Maybe frustration is a bit strong of a word, but I am used to setting network settings, and soho-p2p networking up with certain steps/processes. Just what I am accustomed/used to doing. Some of those functions are 'not functional' in that manner with HOME. Perhaps after selecting a few icons I can get to it, but slower process not faster. I dunno if that explains it.

jmoney your links did provide good info, thanks for those. I will try to define further, but I have felt, and have seen other validation, that HOME is more user 'dumbed' down, so that would frustrate some methinks. Anyone else ever think that?

[gerryf]

Home and XP pro are practically identical

they behave the same and with the exception of a few features, they are the same

something I wrote a long time ago

http://www.thecomput...les/ProHome.php

[Middie042]

Thanks gerryf

got it on home vs pro. just wondering vs MCE2005 thank you.