Building a HTPC

[overclockingoodness]

I'm building a HTPC and waiting for everything to arrive. Until that point, can someone tell me if I need Microsoft's Windows Media Center Edition OS to get the HTPC to work or will regular Win XP Pro will do?

Thanks.

 

[IamDavid]

normal XP works fine...

Just curious, what are the specs on your new system? What are you using it for? HOw much $$ did you have to spend on it? If I may ask.

 

[Linflas]

You don't have to use MCE but it is probably the easiest route to go.

 

[kpb]

MCE for the 10 foot interface is pretty nice. If you plan to hook it up to your tv and use it only as a HTPC you'll want to get MCE or snapstream or something like it.

 

[overclockingoodness]

When you say it's the easiest route to go, what exactly do you mean by that? Does it mean that configuring a HTPC with standard XP Pro would be troublesome or wouldn't give as impressive results as MCE?

Thanks.

 

[overclockingoodness]

Bump

 

[The Boston Dangler]

There are 3rd party software packages that will add MCE-like stuff to XP SP2. Vid capture, highly integrated pic/vid/music player, all kinds of stuff.

http://www.htpcnews.com/

http://www.pcalchemy.com/index.php