Microsoft Windows XP Media Center 2005 SP2B for System Builders - OEM

Pros: ITS XP

Cons: ITS NOT W7 OR SNOW LEOPARD

Pros: Newegg's RMA policy.

Cons: Microsoft.

Other Thoughts: I recieved one Windows XP Media Edition disk and one XP PRO disk with a 2 disk installation set. When I contacted Microsoft I was told 3 times in a row to "Contact the original equipment manufacturer" even after I explained that the OEM was me and I had the wrong disks. I called Newegg (getting someone that spoke English) and they were more than happy to help, sending me RMA instructions and a prepaid UPS shipping label immediately. Microsoft could learn a thing or two about customer satisfaction from Newegg.
I wouldn't have written a review for an operating system, but after spending thousands of dollars with them I've never had to RMA anything from Newegg before. After getting myself ready for a fight, I was extremely suprised how well they handled it. Thank you Newegg.

Pros: Great user interface as well as proprietary video codecs that XP home or pro don't come with. Combines the simplicity and low memory draw of XP with media features that Vista offers.

Cons: Extremely driver sensitive, and buggy beyond all belief. Will go "Blue Screen" just when you've thought you had everything figured out (runs great for a couple days, then.... blammo - crash). I used an ASUS Radeon 4870 and this OS did not like any of the 1/2 dozen driver configurations I tried. Disc firmware, video card drivers, SP3; I tried it all.

It also liked to do a surprise crash once in a while whenever I had to access user folders and files.

Other Thoughts: I moved this to another machine I built with some older parts I had accumulated (Socket 939 M/B, single core Athlon FX, 3850 AGP video card) and it seems to be running without a hitch. Perhaps a seven year old operating system only likes eight year old parts?

Absent the intermittent crashes, I would give it 5 eggs. Again, I love XP, and the added features make XP better. But the unreliability that it seems to have with certain hardware/driver configurations - which have been noted in other reviews here - make it only so/so. Given the approach of Windows 7, I'd recommend holding off on this one and buy Vista w/ an upgrade coupon.

Pros: Great product. No crashes. Works extremely well (just like the version that came with another MCE PC I'm running.

Cons: Agree that the price should be cheaper since this Vista is out and 7 is coming.

Other Thoughts: Like another review, I want to thank Octavean (look for his review dated 04/14/2007). He provided clear directions on installing. I followed his directions and everything went smoothly. Suggest having all of your drivers handy and ready to install too.

Pros: Vista & 7 are both much better than this, but I need it for a client's quickbooks machine.

Cons: expensive (grrrr quickbooks). kinda of a PITA to install. read prior reviews for tips.

Pros: great operating system, like the media center and themes. Placed on Pavilion dv9500.

Cons: Does not have any sata driver on installation disk. Had to use nlite to tailor to fit my needs.

Other Thoughts: Alot, i mean alot of upates waiting for you, think like 5/6 reboots worth.

Pros: None!

Cons: I bought this and installed on two systems. Both had more than enough hardware. First of all there's limited, peer-to-peer networking only with this edition. There is also limited administrative abilities within the system itself. I contacted Microsoft, and they indicated that it was designed as a "stand-alone" operating system. It was also very buggy - frequent crashes.

Other Thoughts: Overall. . . spend your money on Vista Home Premium or wait for Windows 7 to be released . . . or buy a couple of tickets to the ball park and a hot dog - more wisely spent!

Pros: none

Cons: stay away from this "OEM" version of windows xp media center edition 2005. My copy is very buggy and blue screens constantly! It will not install most programs and i receive various "memory errors" and random reboots. Someone gave me a motherboard that doesnt support vista so i decided to buy this version of xp. Microsoft will only help me troubleshoot this product if i give them a credit card number with the threat of $80.00 charge. This is a brand new copy and Microsoft wont support OEM copies? Do yourself a favor and stay away from it!!!

Other Thoughts: Just dont buy it unless you want to flush $109.99 down the drain.Also it took about 3 hours to install and there is 3 disks involved. I am very computer literate and install and maintain computer networks for a living!!

Pros: At the time before Vista was released it was the best Media Center on the market. and I tried them all and I mean all of them

Cons: Before Media Center 2005 was released Windows ME was the (Worst) operating system ever.What made Media Center 2005 worst then ME was Media Center 2005 are all (OEM) they never made a retail version of Media Center 2005 never. Because 2005 was so full of bugs Microsoft used it as a beta for Vista media center.what made Windows ME better? Even though ME was junk you had microsoft tech support you have nothing with MC 2005 because it's OEM

Other Thoughts: Now I will say this after Microsoft released the service packs for MC2005 it was better but still buggy.I will never got back to MC2005 Vista is so much better and windows7 is better the XP and Vista. thats what I'm waiting for. No problems from Windows7 yet.

Pros: It's a simple nice OS that my customers tend to like whether they have a media machine or a gaming machine. It's SP2 add's clarity to most of the graphics drivers. Giving it that new age cleanish look.

Cons: The biggest con I've seen in dealing with newegg in the past 5 or 6 years is that NewEgg is a con. I order retail they send me something that has the seal already opened. I'm not going to install an already registered copy of windows on my machines, ever.

Other Thoughts: Take note people the last 2 grand I've spent on these people got me mostly used materials. I'm not happy with it and I recommend anyone who is serious into building to starting heading back to the manufactures for retail items. I don't build used machines and call them custom retail. Used is Used I don't care what RMA associate says it's still functional. It came back for a reason. Don't turn around and retail it again.