Which windows?

Ok, as some of you know by now, i'm putting scorpion back together in the coming week. Was just thinking, about which version of windows to put on it? This is what I have availible -

-Windows XP Professional
-Windows XP Home
-Windows XP Media Center 2005
-Windows 2000 Professional
-Windows 2000 Server

The rig will be used for gaming, internet, photochopping, music, and college work (basically just about everything), so I put this poll out to the community, to see which version of windows I should use...

 

I'd go for XP Pro, because of the advanced control over the pagefile compared to Home. Media Center is just a boil off from Pro, with Media Center stuff.

Never really used 2000, but if I'd have to chose between the 2, 2000 Pro

 

Windows Fista 4tw!!!!!

 

Windows XP Professional > Windows XP Media Center 2005 > Windows 2000 Professional > Windows XP Home > Windows 2000 Server

IMO

I would definately avoid 2000 Server as it doesn't fit in with your needs in the slightest!!

 

Personaly go with media center, as the larger interface is great when on the sofa, and you have all the features that any normal user would use any way.

 

Other than remote desktop server, hard disk encryption and the ability to join a domain, which Pro features does MCE lack?

ch424

 

Windows XP Professional is deffinately the smarter choice. The extra features in Windows Media Centre just aren't worth it, there is an open-source Media Centre extension to add onto Windows XP called Media Portal and to be honest I prefer it to Media Centre as it can run on a low spec system.

Thanks,
Tek-Guru

 

I am using server 2k3 atm as a workstation and its great - used to use it on my old rig as it was less resource hungry than XP Pro and liked it so much that I have just put it on this rig...

 

Tek-Guru, you know that MCE is far cheaper than XP Pro, right?

ch424

 

I have access to all the versions in the poll tho, so whatever comes on top when i put it back together, goes on there....my computer is in your hands...

 

well looking at ur specs.. its a fairly high powered unit anyway... have you thought about putting windows xp 64 bit on it?

 

considered putting 64bit up there, but i made another thread asking if it was worth using XPx64, and the results were less than encoraging...unless ou can sway me otherwise...

 

Don't see what's wrong with Home if you want to save a little cash. Unless you're interested in advanced networking features and RDP control (which realVNC is more than capable of anyway) then it's an easy way to shave a bit off the budget.

 

After you put service pack 2 on the Home/PRO logo vanishes. IIRC there is no a huge difference between the two anyway.

 

I would throw xp pro on it just because its a little better than 2k for what you want it for. If it was an older computer I would say 2k pro over anything else in an instant, or if gaming wasnt nesscary go linux.

 

And dont forget, MCE is about as stable as a mental patient with a gun, whose girl friend dumped him... not very stable AT ALL.

 

There r really people using XP Home?? people plz, get the update to make it pro...even 'obtain' the update...plz.

 

Err... what's wrong with Home? Do you use any features specific to Pro?

 

yes i use features that arnt avalible in home, mostly making use of remote desktop....but my windows is my own slipstreamed version with lots of the content altered and removed. Thanks tot he likes of Nlite and XPlite and some clever hackery and alot of my own hard work.

Now when i format all my drivers, tools and apps (and there user information/registery) install completely on their own...