XP Home versus XP pro

[Mike]

Hi all,

Am trying to buy 3 computers for a very small business (3
employees)and need to have them all on a network for the
Business software.

My question is what is the big difference between Home and
Pro versions and why would one be better than other for a
network that wiil not be connected to the internet? Is it
really a big deal or is someone trying to just make an
extra $150.00 on each machine?

Thanks
Mike

 

[Dajo Rybski]

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

Dajo

 

[Will Denny]

Hi Mike

For business purposes, you would have to go for XP Pro. Having said that, what kind of security level are you thinking of, regarding the other two PCs - presumably one PC would be used by yourself and only by yourself?

Even if your PCs are not connected to the Internet, a router would be the easiest way to set up your Network. Why wouldn't your business be connected to the Internet?

 

[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.

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

"Which is better?" That depends entirely upon the uses to which
you put your computer, the network environment in which you'll operate
it, your specific security needs, and your level of computer
knowledge.


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

 

[Rick \Nutcase\ Rogers]

Hi,

If htey are creating a domain, they will need Pro, otherwise see:
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/home/howtobuy/choosing2.asp

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers aka "Nutcase" MS-MVP - Win9x
Windows isn't rocket science! That's my other hobby!

Associate Expert - WinXP - Expert Zone

 

[Ken Blake]

In

Am trying to buy 3 computers for a very small business (3
employees)and need to have them all on a network for the
Business software.

My question is what is the big difference between Home and
Pro versions and why would one be better than other for a
network that wiil not be connected to the internet? Is it
really a big deal or is someone trying to just make an
extra $150.00 on each machine?

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 your small business, my guess is that Home is probable
satisfactory, but 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.

 

[Guest]

What if one comp. has xp pro and the others running xp
home is that a problem?
Thanks
Mike

 

[Mike]

Not to sound to stupid but what is a domain? All I want is
one comp upstairs running the software and the others to
be able to also run the same program(Business software)
downstairs and save to the main one upstairs.
Thanks
Mike

 

[Bruce Chambers]

Greetings --

It certainly shouldn't be. I'm using WinXP Pro, and my son's PC
is running WinXP Home, and we have no trouble sharing files or
printers over my network.

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

 

[Bruce Chambers]

Greetings --

A "domain" is Microsoft's enterprise-level, server-centric
networking model that is probably much more involved than you
currently need.

From Microsoft's Encyclopedia of Networking:

A network security model for grouping computers together. Computers on
a network based on Microsoft Windows NT or Windows 2000 that are in
the same domain share a common directory database of security
information such as user accounts, passwords, and password policies.
Domain-based networks have the following features:

a..
Centralized administration:
The entire network can be administered from a single location.

b..
Single-user logon:
Users need only one user account to access any workstation on the
network.

c..
Universal resource access:
Users can access any network resource for which they have the
appropriate permissions.
Typically, the following computers are members of the domain:

a.. Domain controllers, which maintain the database of directory
information for the domain. On Windows NT servers, this database is
called the Security Accounts Manager (SAM) database, while in Windows
2000 domains, this information is stored in Active Directory. Domain
controllers periodically exchange directory information using
directory replication so that the information in any given domain
controller is kept up to date. (If the information stored in a domain
controller is out of date, users might have trouble logging on with
that particular domain controller or finding recently shared resources
on the network.)

b.. Member servers, which are stand-alone servers typically used for
file and print services, Web services, or running applications such as
Microsoft SQL Server. Member servers cannot authenticate users like
domain controllers can.

c.. Workstations or client computers, which participate in the
security policies of the domain and are members of the domain, but are
used as desktop machines for users instead of as network servers.

A Windows NT or Windows 2000 network can be installed as either a
domain or a workgroup. The domain model is preferable because it
allows computers to share a common security policy and a common domain
directory database. Machines running Windows 98 and legacy Windows
machines can also participate in domain security on Windows NT and
Windows 2000 networks but are not considered full members of the
domain because they have no computer accounts within the domain
directory database.

A Windows NT domain requires only one primary domain controller (PDC)
and can have a number of backup domain controllers (BDCs). By creating
a PDC, you create a new domain. Windows NT member servers and
workstations can join a domain. Other systems, such as computers
running Windows 95 and Windows 98, can participate in a domain but are
not considered members of the domain because they have no computer
accounts in the domain directory database.

Windows 2000 domains use peer domain controllers, which are all equal
in status. In Windows 2000, domains are core entities within Active
Directory and act as a boundary for network security and for the
replication of directory information over the network. If you
establish a security policy in one domain, the settings, rights, and
discretionary access control lists (DACLs) of that policy are limited
to that domain. Domains are also the fundamental containers for all
network objects within them. Domains contain users, groups, computers,
and other directory objects. These objects can be grouped together
using a hierarchy of organizational units (OUs).


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

 

[Ken Blake]

In (e-mail address removed)

What if one comp. has xp pro and the others running xp
home is that a problem?

Are you asking whether a network can include both XP Home and XP
Professional computers? Yes, it can.

--
Ken Blake - Microsoft MVP Windows: Shell/User
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