XP Home vs. XP Pro - for home network

  • Thread starter Thread starter R Harris
  • Start date Start date
R

R Harris

I'm new to the XP OS and don't know too much about it. My question relates
to whether one version is better than another for a home network. The home
network application is primarily to share DSL access. In this case does it
matter whether I have XP Home Edition or XP Pro? A friend said when ordering
a computer from the leading direct PC distributor he was told that he needed
XP Pro. Is this correct? I can't believe that all machines sharing DSL must
have XP Pro.

Is anyone aware of a comprehensive resource that provides clear
overviews/comparisons of these products?

Thanks in advance.

rdh
 
There is a site on the Microsoft Website that shows the difference between
XP Home and XP Pro, but I don't have it with me. To sum up your question,
however, There are a few extra security features for networking in XP Pro,
but they apply mainly to connecting to a coroporate network that has a
domain. Of course, home networks don't. So, unless you or your friend is
going to connect remotely to a network at your job that has a domain, XP
Home is sufficient.
 
Greetings --

The two versions are identical when it comes to stability,
functionality, and device driver and software application
compatibility, but are intended to meet different networking,
security, and ease-of-use needs, in different environments. One
difference not usually mentioned is that WinXP Pro allows up to 10
simultaneous inbound network connections, while WinXP Home only allows
a maximum of 5.

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

For your stated purposes, WinXP Home should be more than adequate.

Bruce Chambers

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R said:
I'm new to the XP OS and don't know too much about it. My question relates
to whether one version is better than another for a home network. The home
network application is primarily to share DSL access. In this case does it
matter whether I have XP Home Edition or XP Pro? A friend said when ordering
a computer from the leading direct PC distributor he was told that he needed
XP Pro. Is this correct? I can't believe that all machines sharing DSL must
have XP Pro.
Click to expand...

I see no reason to have Pro in such a setup. The internet connection
sharing works fine through Home, or you can set up a more sophisticated
network between the machines, using 'peer to peer' Workgroup methods.
Where Pro comes in is if you want to join properly to an NT domain,
which you won't. or provide for more sophisticated file security between
users than the 'simple file sharing' which just keeps each users My
Documents private.

More detail on the differences at
http://www.winsupersite.com/showcase/windowsxp_home_pro.asp
 
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