What is the different between XP Home and XP Pro?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Stuart Livingston
  • Start date Start date
S

Stuart Livingston

Hello

The other day someone asked me why I have XP Pro. I have it because I wanted
it, but could not supply the person with a real answer.I always have a
tendency to go for stuff with a lot of bells and whistles.

I really want to give that person a real answer. What does XP pro give one.?

Thanks

Stu
 
Stuart said:
Hello

The other day someone asked me why I have XP Pro. I have it because I wanted
it, but could not supply the person with a real answer.I always have a
tendency to go for stuff with a lot of bells and whistles.

I really want to give that person a real answer. What does XP pro give one.?

Thanks

Stu
Click to expand...


The fact that you have to ask this question means that the honest
answer to your acquaintance's question would be: "Because I like paying
extra for features that I don't even know exist and will probably never
use."

The WinXP Home and WinXP Pro versions are _identical_ when it
comes to performance, stability, and device driver and software
application compatibility, but are intended to meet different
functionality, networking, security, and ease-of-use needs, in
different environments. The most significant differences are that
WinXP Pro allows up to 10 simultaneous inbound network connections
while WinXP Home only allows only 5, WinXP Pro is designed to join a
Microsoft domain while WinXP Home cannot, and only WinXP Pro supports
file encryption and IIS. (Oh, and WinXP Pro usually costs roughly $100
USD more than WinXP Home.)

Windows XP Comparison Guide
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/home/howtobuy/choosing2.asp

Which Edition Is Right for You
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/whichxp.asp

Windows XP Home Edition vs. Professional Edition
http://www.winsupersite.com/showcase/windowsxp_home_pro.asp


--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:



You can have peace. Or you can have freedom. Don't ever count on having
both at once. - RAH
 
Hi Stuart,

The core operating system is the same. Differences:

- WinXP Pro will allow 10 inbound connections, Home only 5
- Pro has policy editors (useful in a corporate environment)
- Pro has IIS (useful if you build server apps)
- Pro can become part of a domain (another corporate use)
- Both use simple file sharing by default, but it can only be disabled in
Pro
- Firewall and file security between users is the same
- Encrypted file system is only available in Pro

If you need any of the benefits of a Pro system, then go with it. Otherwise,
most home users are happy with XP Home.

More details:
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/home/howtobuy/choosing2.asp

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

Associate Expert - WindowsXP Expert Zone

Windows help - www.rickrogers.org
 
Back
Top