The first of I fear many Windows 7 EWs....

[RichS]

I'm doing media center stuff that shows what one can do using Windows 7 (and a PC) as an home theater PC.

Quick Q - Do you know if there is any difference between the Windows 7 Media Center and Windows XP Media Center?

I'm doing with XP MCE 2005 what you're doing with 7 MC, and my HTPC is powerful enough to run Windows 7. I'm just wondering about the differences if I upgrade.

[sld72382]

A CW of mine tested W7 on a 5 year old single-core PC with 1GB of ram and it seemed faster than XP, whereas Vista ran like crap.

I can't wait to put it on my dual-core.

[EmiOfBrie]

I tested V7 on my 2006-model 2.13GHz Celeron lappy (2GB RAM) a while back. No sound drivers for my lappy under Vista or 7, and even if it did, I wouldn't be able to use my iMic at the same time (I need this ability as my cue channel for DJing), as Vista disabled the abiity to use 2 sound cards at once in order to plug "analog holes".

I will admit V7 ran faster, but lack of sound, and lack of multiple sound card use are dealbreakers to me.

Thus why I am sticking with XP.

[Broomjockey]

I will admit V7 ran faster, but lack of sound, and lack of multiple sound card use are dealbreakers to me.

Err, what? I use two sound cards. I just have to start one program, then switch my default out to the other, and start the second program. Since I put a shortcut to the sound panel on my desktop, takes about 30 seconds. And that's only for programs that don't let me specify what output to use IN the program.

[EmiOfBrie]

Err, what? I use two sound cards. I just have to start one program, then switch my default out to the other, and start the second program.

I need to use them both with the same program.

[Eric the Grey]

The Windows 7 Launch Party isn't the same thing as the college discounted edition of Windows 7. The Launch Party is where you invite people over to show off Windows 7... and you get a free copy of Windows 7 Ultimate along with various party things as well.

I'm excited to host mine. I'm doing media center stuff that shows what one can do using Windows 7 (and a PC) as an home theater PC.

I filled in the information and got an email from them saying I qualified.

Great deal on getting a free copy and hosting an event. Sounds like fun.


Eric the Grey

[TheSHAD0W]

Hey, I happen to agree with the EWs on this one. Microsoft forced Vista onto computer manufacturers, making it difficult if not impossible to sell machines with XP as an alternative. The older machines don't function well with Vista and their owners will be more pressed to upgrade to W7, while the newer machines with the free upgrade won't need it as badly.

Considering how aggressively Microsoft pushed out Vista, yes, I do think they should offer upgrades for free or for a very small sum.

[Broomjockey]

I need to use them both with the same program.

What program needs two sound cards, but isn't coded to allow you to do so without the drivers being set up in some odd-ball configuration?

[lordlundar]

Quick Q - Do you know if there is any difference between the Windows 7 Media Center and Windows XP Media Center?

There is no Win 7 Media Center edition. All versions of Windows 7 has the media center components as part of it.

As for the media center components, apart from some routine upgrades, not much, though I can't speak too much because I haven't had much experience in the XP Media Center.

[Demolition Man]

Hey, I happen to agree with the EWs on this one. Microsoft forced Vista onto computer manufacturers, making it difficult if not impossible to sell machines with XP as an alternative. The older machines don't function well with Vista and their owners will be more pressed to upgrade to W7, while the newer machines with the free upgrade won't need it as badly.

Considering how aggressively Microsoft pushed out Vista, yes, I do think they should offer upgrades for free or for a very small sum.

While you make a good point I have to say that the EW that complained to sld72382 should really be taking that complaint to the manufacturer and Microsoft instead of a retail store employee. Not to mention MS has offered discounted preorders not that long ago alongside discounts for students/teachers and various ways to even get Windows 7 for free.

[MergedLoki]

wow i want free software too when my comp is 2 yrs old lol.

I've got a laptop running with vista and never had an issue with it. My only annoyance with vista would be the resources it automatically uses to run itself :P kinda is sucky.

But all the 'complaints' you hear about i've never had one and my friends who use it never have had one.

biggest thing i've found... you have to click a 2ND confirmation/allow button when deleting something/installing something. (and you can disable this feature if you want so it's not a huge issue!).

had a few programs freeze on me, but no more often then with XP so no complaints there.

[Nohbody]

wow i want free software too when my comp is 2 yrs old lol.

So what would I get with a computer that's going on 5 years old? Oral sex?

(I don't do modern games, really, and nothing I do use is limited by my hardware.)

[MergedLoki]

So what would I get with a computer that's going on 5 years old? Oral sex?

(I don't do modern games, really, and nothing I do use is limited by my hardware.)

yea i dont either. well on my pc. i got my 360 for games.

mostly just use my laptop for 'net and music.

[Demolition Man]

Well I need a fast computer for HTPC stuff. Oh, and World Of Warcrack.

[EricKei]

I've had the same experience with Win7 (whichever pre-release version was current as of June or so) -- I like it, I find it to be less of a system hog than Vista, too.

If your CPU supports it, the Virtual XP mode is an option (most modern processors should allow it); however, it's a "do your homework" sort of thing -- All I really know about it so far is that "most" XP-era programs that Vista/7 won't work with "should" cooperate with XP Mode. Caveat user, I suppose ^_^