WindowsXP MediaCenter Edition 2005 OEM

[Viffer5]

I'm building a HTPC and I'm wondering if it's worth buying the OEM WindowsXP MCE or using XP Pro with a 10' front end?

I'd like to know if anyone has experience with either and if they have any feedback.

Thanks.

[ricercar]

If you already have a TV tuner, TiVO-like recording software, and WinXP, then you probably don't need MCE. But if you're buying from scratch for a HTPC, I recommend MCE for its smooth integration. As a longtime TiVo fanatic, I'm surprised to be pleased with the simple and easy TV recording offered by MCE.

The Media Center user interface is virtually a requirement for HTPCs with low-resolution (640×480) or small size displays (like my 5" TV). If your display's resolution is limited to 640×480, 480i, or 480p I strongly suggest MCE, regardless of the display's physical measurements. If your display's max resolution is 720p or 800×600, then it's sort of a toss up between XP MCE and XP Pro.

However, If that 10 foot screen is not a typo, you proably can display 1048×768 or 1080i, and that means you won't need to worry about size of menu text. You'd be able to read normal menus in WinXP Pro if you drive it at 1024×768 or 1080i resolutions.

[Viffer5]

Thanks for the feedback. First off, let me clarify what I mean by "10' front end". Pinnacle, WinTV, ATI, and others offer a MCE look and feel application that provides a gui to the PVR and other media capabilities of the PC with fonts that can be read from a distance of 10'. This is the common term used to display such applications that mimic the look and feel of MCE.

I have an spare parts bin with enough parts to build another PC. I plan to use a 6600GT oc'd that would drip 720p at least or maybe better. For the TV, I'm looking at a 34" CRT widescreen, either Toshiba or Panasonic. Both of these have DVI and I believe the Panasonic has HDMI. My new house is small and I want to use a nice set of PC speakers for home theater as they take up much less space than my current HT system.

I do not have a TV tuner card and I would like analog + OTA HDTV so I'm undecided there too. Not sure what's the best route to take.