XP Home vs Pro.

[Guest]

I'm getting a new computer and I need to decide whether to go with XP Home
Ed. or Pro. Ed. I have Office Professional already that i can install so is
there any other significant reasons why I should go with Pro. Ed. instead of
Home Ed.?

 

[John Jemerson]

Please read this. Hope this will help.
http://asia.cnet.com/enterprise/apps/0,39035809,39039863-39000221c-1,00.htm

 

[Linda B]

The only major difference is that Pro can join a domain, whereas Home will
work only in workgroups.

 

[Jupiter Jones [MVP]]

Only you can decide.
Windows XP Home and Pro are identical in performance and stability.

Most home users do not need or use the additional features of Pro such as
increased security and networking capabilities:
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/home/howtobuy/choosing2.mspx

 

[Ken Blake]

In

I'm getting a new computer and I need to decide whether to go
with XP
Home Ed. or Pro. Ed. I have Office Professional already that i
can
install so is there any other significant reasons why I should
go
with Pro. Ed. instead of Home Ed.?

You say "any *other* reason," so you may be mistakenly asuming
that Windows XP Professional is required to use Office
Professional. If so, that's not correct, and XP Home will be fine
with Office Professional.

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, even those with a home network, 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.

 

[Bruce Chambers]

I'm getting a new computer and I need to decide whether to go with XP Home
Ed. or Pro. Ed. I have Office Professional already that i can install so is
there any other significant reasons why I should go with Pro. Ed. instead of
Home Ed.?

If you have to ask the question, you very probably have no need to
spend more money for WinXP Pro.

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

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[Steve N.]

I'm getting a new computer and I need to decide whether to go with XP Home
Ed. or Pro. Ed. I have Office Professional already that i can install so
is there any other significant reasons why I should go with Pro. Ed.
instead of Home Ed.?

What is the price difference you're getting for Pro versus Home from the
supplier?

Personally I'd go for Pro over Home if you can afford it, not just because
of the well known networking and security issues but because Home is kind
of crippled in some other lesser known regards when it comes to system
maintenance and utilities.

It may seem on the surface that the security differences wouldn't apply to
you when using Home, but sooner or later you may wind up with some programs
that just won't work for a normal user account and then you'll have to jump
through extra hoops to try and change folder/file permissions to make them
work, either that or make all users computer administrators, which you
might not want to do. Common scenario would be some games and educational
programs you'd want your kids to be able to use with normal ("limited")
accounts.

Steve

 

[Chris Catt]

Hi, try reading here
http://www.winsupersite.com/showcase/windowsxp_home_pro.asp
and here http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/home/howtobuy/choosing2.mspx
ChrisC