Vista vs XP with newest Media Center Edition?

[patd95yrg]

I have heard that if you only use an XP(WMC) laptop mainly as a 'notebook' (with the occasional song, film etc.), it isn't worth buying Vista. Is there much difference between the WMC edition & Vista?

[bankythehat]

Probably not a great deal to begin with. I have been testing Vista for a number of weeks for my job and although its a good operating system, you have to ask yourself what you actually use your laptop for?
I have recently built myself a new desktop PC and despite having Vista to hand, installed XP Media Centre instead.
Vista is secure, sure, but it requires a lot of power to run it (particularly the 3D graphics feature) and I haven't yet found a single useful feature that I couldn't do in some way, shape or form on XP.

Bottom line: If you are getting a new computer then Vista is ok but I wouldn't recommend it as a upgrade at the moment (wait a few months after everyone else has tested it first!)

[KiwiTechDude]

Good advice. I'd only add that if you are a hard core gamer then Vista will be a must when Direct X 10 games come out later this year. XP will not allow Direct X 10.

[The Mack]

i can remember people saying the same with 2000 and xp years ago. Moaning that it slower and requires more cpu etc. Vista is better looking (aero display) the vista button is novel the preview of the items in the task bar is sometimes handy. The overall feel is quite nice and gives you a general feeling of quality when using your machine. I dont know about anyone else but after using a new os for sometime its only when you go back to the old one that you realy appreciate the new style. I never realy used mce2005 so i dont know if it does this but vista has a feature where you can calibrate your monitor and this has helped me improve my display

[The Mack]

I can remember people saying the same with 2000 and xp years ago. Moaning that it slower and requires more cpu and they couldnt tell the difference etc.
Vista is better looking (aero display need graphic card score of 3 or higher)
The vista button is novel
The preview of the items in the task bar is sometimes handy.
The overall feel is quite nice and gives you a general feeling of quality when using your machine.
I dont know about anyone else but after using a new os for sometime its only when you go back to the old one that you realy appreciate the new style.
I never realy used mce2005 so i dont know if it does this but vista has a feature where you can calibrate your monitor and this has helped me improve my display.
If you enjoy computers i would get it as it will be needed at some point why not have it when its new and cool?
or if your a casual user that uses it under protest simply dont bother.,

[The Mack]

oopps looks like AB posts when you think it hasnt