Which XP to buy?

[Guest]

Sorry about the VERY basic nature of this question, but I'm about to upgrade to a new PC, and was wondering which version of XP to buy. I understand that Pro has some additional tools that Home doesn't, but I don't know much about Media Center. What are the pros/cons of each?

 

[Frank GoBell]

Sorry about the VERY basic nature of this question, but I'm about to
upgrade to a new PC, and was wondering which version of XP to buy. I
understand that Pro has some additional tools that Home doesn't, but
I don't know much about Media Center. What are the pros/cons of
each?

For a comparison of XP Pro and Home, see
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/pro/howtobuy/choosing2.mspx.

For a comparison of XP Pro and Media Center, go to
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/mediacenter/evaluation/faq.mspx and click
the link comparing the two.

 

[Rick \Nutcase\ Rogers]

Hi,

The media center edition only comes preinstalled on systems designed for it
(outside of an MSDN subscription).

The core operating system is the same in WinXP Pro and Home. Differences
amount to:

- 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. Also, Pro will upgrade 98, 98SE, ME,
NT4, 2000, and XP Home. Home will only upgrade 98, 98SE, and ME. Both will
accept 95 (yes, 95) media as a valid qualifier for a clean installation with
an upgrade disk, but niether will upgrade an existing 95 installation.

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

Sorry about the VERY basic nature of this question, but I'm about to

upgrade to a new PC, and was wondering which version of XP to buy. I
understand that Pro has some additional tools that Home doesn't, but I don't
know much about Media Center. What are the pros/cons of each?

 

[Doug Knox MS-MVP]

Media Center is only available on a new PC, and is a superset of XP Pro.

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

 

[Guest]

Thanks for the quick replies. Since I can't buy XP Media Center, it looks like Home vs. Pro. Not sure if I need everything that Pro offers, but the file encryption and remote desktop sound like nice features.

 

[Rick \Nutcase\ Rogers]

Hi,

Yep, the remote desktop is nice. And it's pretty easy to set up and use.
Encryption? Do you really need it? If so, make sure you read up on exporting
certificates and creating recovery agents before you use it. They are
essential to prevent loss of data in the event of system failure.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

Associate Expert - WindowsXP Expert Zone

Windows help - www.rickrogers.org

Thanks for the quick replies. Since I can't buy XP Media Center, it looks

like Home vs. Pro. Not sure if I need everything that Pro offers, but the
file encryption and remote desktop sound like nice features.

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

In

Sorry about the VERY basic nature of this question, but I'm about to
upgrade to a new PC, and was wondering which version of XP to buy. I
understand that Pro has some additional tools that Home doesn't, but
I don't know much about Media Center. What are the pros/cons of
each?

XP Professional and XP Home are exactly the same in all respects,
except that Professional has a few features (mostly related to
networking and security) missing from Home. For most (but not
all) home users, these features aren't needed, would never be
used, and buying Professional instead of Home is a waste of
money.

For details go to

http://www.winsupersite.com/showcase/windowsxp_home_pro.asp

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/whichxp.asp

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

Also note that Professional allows ten concurrent network
connections, and Home only five.

 

[Jimmie]

In


XP Professional and XP Home are exactly the same in all respects,
except --------------------------

- One is called Professional, and one is Home!
- Pro has more security features, i.e. more folder security and local security policies, Group
Policy Editor, Home does not
- Pro has IIS (Internet Information Services), Home does not
- Pro can join a domain, Home cannot
- Pro allows Remote Desktop connections, Home does not
- Pro allows 10 simultaneous (Bwuce Chumpers says "inbound connections" LOL) network
connections, Home only allows 5
- Pro allows one to logon directly to the built-in administrator account without having to go
into Safe Mode, Home does not
- Pro can support two processors, Home only one

This just to name some, other than that, XP Professional and Home versions are "EXACTLY THE SAME IN ALL RESPECTS" (LOL)!

 

[Bruce Chambers]

Greetings --

The two 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

WinXP Media Center Edition is a _superset_ (iow, it does
_everything_ WinXP Pro can do, plus contains additional multi-media
features) of WinXP Pro. WinXP MCE is available _only_ as on OEM
product on specifically designed systems.

Windows XP Media Center Edition Home
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/ehome/default.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

Sorry about the VERY basic nature of this question, but I'm about to

upgrade to a new PC, and was wondering which version of XP to buy. I
understand that Pro has some additional tools that Home doesn't, but I
don't know much about Media Center. What are the pros/cons of each?

 

[Guest]

I may be throwing a spanner in the works here, but I believe the Professional version to be a much more stable operating system than Home.

 

[Bruce Chambers]

Greetings --

There's absolutely no difference in stability between the two
versions, if everything else (hardware, installed applications, uses)
are the same. I think your perception stems from the fact the WinXP
Home is most commonly distributed as an OEM installation on low-end,
budget PCs sold through many discount retail outlets. The fault
actually lies with the lower-grade hardware, and WinXP Pro would
perform no better under the same circumstances.

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

I may be throwing a spanner in the works here, but I believe the

Professional version to be a much more stable operating system than
Home.

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

In

I may be throwing a spanner in the works here, but I believe the
Professional version to be a much more stable operating system than
Home.

Sorry, that's not true. They are identical in stabilty because
they are running the identical code. The only difference is the
extra functionality in Professional.

 

[Guest]

You're right Ken and Bruce, just looked into it. Someone should tell my old tech MD this

 

[Pat]

For a comparison of XP Pro and Home, see
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/pro/howtobuy/choosing2.mspx.

For a comparison of XP Pro and Media Center, go to
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/mediacenter/evaluation/faq.mspx and click
the link comparing the two.

The first thing that I would ask is do I have children? If yes, then I
would ask do I have work on the computer that I don't want my children
to be able to destroy. The reasoning is the security features that Pro
has over home. The ability to set permission without rebooting into
administrator mode. Less rebooting means work gets done faster. Also,
the benefits of the win 2000 type security is a plus.
If you are into hosting a home ftp server or web server, Pro comes with
IIS, whereas Home does not. I have bought home and pro. This is all I
have to say. Home is collecting dust on the CD. Installed once and took
it out for the Pro. Hope that help a little.

 

[Guest]

The first thing that I would ask is do I have children? If yes, then I
would ask do I have work on the computer that I don't want my children
to be able to destroy. The reasoning is the security features that Pro
has over home. The ability to set permission without rebooting into
administrator mode. Less rebooting means work gets done faster. Also,
the benefits of the win 2000 type security is a plus.
If you are into hosting a home ftp server or web server, Pro comes with
IIS, whereas Home does not. I have bought home and pro. This is all I
have to say. Home is collecting dust on the CD. Installed once and took
it out for the Pro. Hope that help a little.

Additionally, XP Pro's Back up program backs up system settings. XP Home
doesn't arrive with Back up installed (some manufacturers do not even include
it on the installation disk). It can be downloaded, but it doesn't back up
system settings.

 

[Colin Barnhorst]

Media Center is available only on a new pc. Media Center is a version of
Pro.

If you are not buying a new pc, the safe bet is to buy Pro. That way you
will not have any issues cropping up in the future because you economized
now.

Pro is designed as the network client version of XP. This is why Pro, not
Home should be used on a laptop (Most laptops are used with a wireless
adaptor some or all of the time).

The difference between Pro and Home is not what software will run, but what
environment the computer is running in. Except for completely stand-alone
computers that never interact with other local computers, go Pro.

 

[Raymond J. Johnson Jr.]

| Media Center is available only on a new pc. Media Center is a version of
| Pro.


I don't have the URL handy, but I know Tiger Direct is selling OEM MCE now.