New Notebook (Laptop) - Use XP Home or Pro ?

[Steve]

Hi there, can someone please advise.

I am taking delivery of a new HP Pavilion zd8398 Notebook tomorrow.
(Spec = Pentium 4 3.4GHz, 2GB RAM, 100GB HD etc. ... I think it is
really a desktop in a laptop case !)

It is coming with (amongst other programs) Windows XP Home
pre- installed.
I have 2 desktops at home with Win XP Pro on them.

My question is this :- Shall I ypgrade the Notebook to XP Pro as well
i.e. install it over the Home edition (if that' OK ?)
OR.... just leave the Home Version on the Notebook ?

Pro's/Con's please ... and advice from those who know !

Thanks in advance,

Steve

 

[Carey Frisch [MVP]]

Windows XP Home Edition Comparison Guide
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/home/howtobuy/choosing2.mspx

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows Shell/User

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:

| Hi there, can someone please advise.
|
| I am taking delivery of a new HP Pavilion zd8398 Notebook tomorrow.
| (Spec = Pentium 4 3.4GHz, 2GB RAM, 100GB HD etc. ... I think it is
| really a desktop in a laptop case !)
|
| It is coming with (amongst other programs) Windows XP Home
| pre- installed.
| I have 2 desktops at home with Win XP Pro on them.
|
| My question is this :- Shall I ypgrade the Notebook to XP Pro as well
| i.e. install it over the Home edition (if that' OK ?)
| OR.... just leave the Home Version on the Notebook ?
|
| Pro's/Con's please ... and advice from those who know !
|
| Thanks in advance,
|
| Steve

 

[Kerry Brown]

Hi there, can someone please advise.

I am taking delivery of a new HP Pavilion zd8398 Notebook tomorrow.
(Spec = Pentium 4 3.4GHz, 2GB RAM, 100GB HD etc. ... I think it is
really a desktop in a laptop case !)

It is coming with (amongst other programs) Windows XP Home
pre- installed.
I have 2 desktops at home with Win XP Pro on them.

My question is this :- Shall I ypgrade the Notebook to XP Pro as well
i.e. install it over the Home edition (if that' OK ?)
OR.... just leave the Home Version on the Notebook ?

Pro's/Con's please ... and advice from those who know !

Thanks in advance,

Steve

Here's a comparison of the two

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/pro/howtobuy/choosing2.mspx

Most of the differences are to do with networking. Pro can connect to a
domain (Active Directory server) and has finer grained security. For a home
network of three computers XP Home should be fine. Try the notebook with
Home. If you run into any networking problems post back. If the problems
need Pro to solve them you can upgrade at that time.

Kerry