Turge:
HT Slider: This latest MCE 2005 includes an express upgrade to the "equivalent Vista version" when it becomes available. My primary purpose for purchasing it was actually to purchase the equivalent Vista version. My intention is, when it arrives, to install Vista on the main HTPC - the one that I remote desktop into the most by far. Now I find out that the express upgrade only gets you Vista Home Premium - which does not include any remote desktop functionality at all.
Did you perform an actual upgrade from MCE2005? The reason I ask if because when users upgraded from MCE2004 to 2005, they were able to keep domain joining functionality and remembering passwords to network shares even though MS had said MCE2005 didn't support this. A registry hack (IsLegacyMce) enabled this for a clean install.
Anyways, I'm sure that's not the case here, but it's worth noting. I'm sure it's just a matter of time before someone gets it hacked to run on Premium. If people are going to buy Home Premium for their Media Center PCs, how the hell are they supposed to manage it? With a MCE keyboard at 10'? I don't think so! The only alternative would be to use something like UltraVNC which is crap compared to RDP and doesn't offer the same functionality (ie. concurrent sessions)
I would also like to take the time to thank the people who made this hack happen. Kudos to you!
I haven't upgraded to Vista yet, but I did buy a wireless keyboard for it a couple of years ago. Its not the most friendly way to maintain the system as the HTPC is essentially just an over-sized, overzealous DVD player/PVR (machined aluminum faceplate, hard anodized black box with a VFD display, and a DVD slot) plugged into the audio/video equipment and it doesn't even have a monitor connected to it. Its much easier to sit down in the study and remotely connect to the HTPC. I even often do this for when adding new DVDs to the on-line collection and other media maintenance.
So I agree with you - "how the hell are they supposed to manage it?"
I guess I could buy Vista Ultimate, but I've already paid $180 Canadian for an equivalent Vista and would then have to upgrade this for another $200 US (unless I'm missing something). This works out to over $400 just for the OS "upgrade"!!!
When we designed the home theater room I considered building in a hutch/desk into the entertainment system with a monitor and keyboard, but my wife vetoed it (didn't want it to look like a computer desk).
The more I think about this the more out of whack this seems. My father was just about to buy a turn key media system that uses MCE 2005 and comes with an "express upgrade" to Vista Premium. This system is a silver box that you plug into your audio/video equipment and it doesn't come with, nor was he planning to buy a keyboard, mouse, nor a monitor. At the moment he doesn't have a high definition TV either and it would be very difficult to read text on his regular low resolution 30" TV.
Anyone willing to start working on a hack to get remote login working for Vista Premium?
STB w/R5000HD USB I/O, Gigabyte GA-P35-DS4, Quad Q6600, 4.0 GB RAM, ATI HD 3870 512MB, Ultra XVS 600W PSU, 3x SATA 500GB, 2x SATA 300GB, LG GGC-H20L, PVR-250, Toshiba 51H83 (51" HDTV), Yamaha RX-V2400 Amp, 5x Energy Speakers, SVS Sub, Harmony 880 Remote