Comments

GlennChan wrote on 1/11/2006, 3:02 PM
It doesn't matter. The Windows Server editions add functions for server use (i.e. WMP streaming, Windows domain), which is probably not what you want.
fldave wrote on 1/11/2006, 3:16 PM
If you have 2 physical processors, then XP Pro.
Otherwise, it shouldn't matter. XP Home will not support more than one physical processor, not sure about Media Center.

All handle single processor, Hyperthreading and multi-core cpus.

You can search this forum for the most recent discussions on this.
dmakogon wrote on 1/11/2006, 3:35 PM
The CPU aspect is important - if you have multiple CPU's, you should go with Pro.

Media Center edition is mainly for folks integrating with a TV tuner. It has a DVR-like interface overlayed on top of the typical Windows interface.

If you're on a network domain, go Pro, as you can then join a domain, and if you access network drives, Pro caches your credentials (whereas with Media Center and Home edition, you have to reenter your credentials after rebooting or logging out / in.

If you want to access your desktop remotely, either go Pro or simply install VNC. The two remote-desktop techniques differ a bit (Pro uses a true remote session, whereas VNC is more like a desktop-sharing app, where you see the desktop in use both at the local and remote computer).

There... did I confuse anyone???

David
richard-courtney wrote on 1/11/2006, 4:49 PM
XP home is also limited to around 5 network connections.
Go with XP Pro.
Chienworks wrote on 1/11/2006, 5:24 PM
Has anyone ever seen any proof that XP home is limited to 5 network connections? We have it on at least 25 machines at work and they all show up in each others' network neighborhoods. Everyone is able to communicate with all the other machines with no problems.
dmakogon wrote on 1/12/2006, 11:12 AM
Yes, this is true - 5 simultaneous connections in Home, 10 in Pro. Connections time out after a while (15 minutes, I believe, is the default). So, unless you're actively using more than 5 connections simultaneously, you probably won't run into this.

See http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;314882 for more details, and a way to shrink the connection timeout time.

Oh - one more thing: regarding Pro vs. Home: Pro supports Encrypting File System (EFS), and Home doesn't. So if you want to encrypt anything on disk, you need to either go Pro or install some other solution.

David
Helo wrote on 1/14/2006, 6:16 AM
Home only allows 5 simultaneous file access connections at a time. There are also other very irritating issues with Home including no domain support and for some reason the socket communcations stack in Home is different from Pro and even Win98. This is an issue if you have a program that looks from dropped connection over the network because Home will not report a drop connection correctly and could result in file corruption.
Steve Mann wrote on 1/14/2006, 1:22 PM
But, to the original question - If you are setting up a machine dedicated to NLE and only have one processor, then XP home is sufficient.

The net access issue is highly unlikely to affect the average home or home office user. It is a limitation on simultaneous access - that is, for example, if you have a drive on one computer mapped to a drive letter in another computer, then you have used up one of your five connections.

If you share and can see each other's files in "My Network Places", you are good to go and you aren't using any of the five connections.


Steve
johnmeyer wrote on 1/14/2006, 1:29 PM
I got the Media Center edition on a Dell Laptop. Totally underwhelming. Most of the underpinnings, however, are XP Pro, although I can't tell you with 100% certainty whether it handles the same number of network users.

If money is no object, between the three I would definitely get XP Pro. There is nothing in Media Center that you need for video editing, and the few features it adds can be had with MUCH better features and performance through third-party products. XP Home, as n19093 said, is perfectly adequate for a single user editing station.
TheHappyFriar wrote on 1/14/2006, 6:46 PM
you can get XP Pro OEM for ~$100. That's the same price as Win2kPro OWM (which I prefer). so, cuz it's cheap & there's some minor agraviting diferences, go with pro.
dibbkd wrote on 1/15/2006, 7:15 AM
"Has anyone ever seen any proof that XP home is limited to 5 network connections? We have it on at least 25 machines at work and they all show up in each others' network neighborhoods. Everyone is able to communicate with all the other machines with no problems."

I have a small business that has grown from 2 computers to 13 computers and a 2003 Server.

I used XP Home until I had about 6 or 7 computers, it worked unless they all were accessing files at the same time, then they'd start losing connections. I then switched to XP Pro which can handle 10 connections, and finally broke down and bought a real server with Windows 2003 Server edition.

As far as the OP's question goes, I would recommend as fast a CPU as you can afford and at least 512MB RAM or 1GB or more if you can afford that.

I prefer AMD Athlon 64 chips, have rendered with the 3400+ and 3500+ models, work fine. And I'm running Windows Media Center on my PC, which is what I think you meant originally vs "server".