....winston wrote:

Yes wrote:

@jerryab, at present, I haven't decided if I want, need or would use
Media Player if I had it. Under WinXP, the same security settings
were shared by both Windows Media Player and Internet Explorer. I
couldn't stand that because I wanted to use different security
settings; the IE settings being considerably more restrictive. One
size does not fit all. If I changed security settings in one app,
I had to go back and reset them when I used the other - a very big
hassle. So I chose to use a third party app for media and lock
down IE. I will be going with 64-bit OS for the reasons you gave -
increase the amount of RAM I can use and to use hard drives larger
than 2TB.


Media Player is included with Windows 8.
Media Center is not included with Windows 8.

Media Center plays DVD's, Media Player does not.

Media Center is an update and only available for Win8 Pro at a cost
of $10.

Installing Media Center (on an OEM or Retail Windows 8 Pro) will
change the license to a retail Windows 8 Pro with Media Center. It
will also change the product key. - if the system is ever returned
via a clean install (or recovery media) to Win8 Pro pre Media Center
and then desired to be updated to Win8 Pro with Media Center then
both product keys may be necessary to facilitate the clean install
(Win 8 Pro) and update (Media Center). The exception may be OEM
recovery media which may or may not require the original product key.

Since Media Center changes the license...if installing on an OEM
machine and still in warranty...check with them if it nullifies o/s
support during the warranty period.

Was not aware about the DVD playback problem - that sucks AFAIC. My
needs to play a DVD are very basic - play and watch. It sounds like
the Media Center is just an extra hassle and may be just another way
for Microsoft to increase its overall revenue. I can probably find
alternatives in the open-source community.