Using Windows XP Home OS for very small business environment?

[badboyeee]

I will be getting a new Dell budget system to replace one of the computers at work. Do I really need to get Windows XP Professional for a really small non-tech business environment? 80% of our 12 computers have WinXP Pro, but I really don't see the need to spend the extra $149 Dell is charging to upgrade from Home to Pro. It will only do basic things and networking (share files/printers)...

 

[MrChad]

I would get Professional. When and if you need a server such as Small Business Server, you'll want Professional licenses on your workstations.

 

[futuristicmonkey]

DO NOT EVER BUY XP HOME.

It's garbage, and soon it won't be supported by Microsoft. I know soon is alittle vague, but I don't feel like researching it.

Oh, and XP Home is complete garbage. You don't want to have a transaction messed up because for some damn reason XP feels like it doesn't want to communicate with the rest of the internet. Do yourself a favour and shell out a bit more for Professional.

 

[Nothinman]

Oh, and XP Home is complete garbage. You don't want to have a transaction messed up because for some damn reason XP feels like it doesn't want to communicate with the rest of the internet. Do yourself a favour and shell out a bit more for Professional.

This is complete crap, the TCP/IP stack is exactly the same in Pro and Home. There is no reason that Home would fail to contact a host that Pro couldn't, unless of course the tool being used puts the artificial limitation that it only works on Pro.

 

[skyking]

The most important reason I can think of is consistency. Home can do most of the things Pro can do, with the exception of remote desktop connection.
I prefer setting up a network with the same configurations and OS's for regular maintenance and upgrade.

 

[Aluvus]

Compare features here, and buy what suits your needs.

 

[Markbnj]

You'll be fine with XP Home.

 

[RebateMonger]

Go with XP Pro. I just finished upgrading two office PCs from XP Home to XP Professional to work with a client's new Windows Server. The upgrade cost/time is FAR higher than the extra $150 to get XP Pro originally. A 12-PC office is due for a Server soon, and you'll save a lot of money by starting wth XP Pro in the first place.

 

[John]

Dell used to charge $60-$70 to go from Home to Pro. You can buy a new Pro OEM for less than $149.

 

[postmortemIA]

If your computers are not in domain, you could use Home.

 

[spherrod]

Originally posted by: futuristicmonkey
DO NOT EVER BUY XP HOME.

It's garbage, and soon it won't be supported by Microsoft. I know soon is alittle vague, but I don't feel like researching it.

Oh, and XP Home is complete garbage. You don't want to have a transaction messed up because for some damn reason XP feels like it doesn't want to communicate with the rest of the internet. Do yourself a favour and shell out a bit more for Professional.

:roll:

XP Home is fine for small, non-domain environments and the 'Home' user.

For the Op, if you know what the future direction of the business is going to be then that might help make your choice. If there's any prospect of a domain being set up then go with XP Pro.

 

[futuristicmonkey]

Originally posted by: Nothinman

Oh, and XP Home is complete garbage. You don't want to have a transaction messed up because for some damn reason XP feels like it doesn't want to communicate with the rest of the internet. Do yourself a favour and shell out a bit more for Professional.

This is complete crap, the TCP/IP stack is exactly the same in Pro and Home. There is no reason that Home would fail to contact a host that Pro couldn't, unless of course the tool being used puts the artificial limitation that it only works on Pro.

I wasn't trying to imply that the background programming was any different - it's just that in my experience XP Pro allows you more control (rather, your instructions seem to be paid more attention) than does Home. The part I bolded is what I wanted to get across - though in my experience XP Pro is more consistent in its fvcking up when you try to connect to a network share.

Hardly a scientific argurment, I grant, but XP Home is a schizophrenic sumbitch compared to Professional.

Originally posted by: spherrod
XP Home is fine for small, non-domain environments and the 'Home' user.

Yes - too bad it's going to be used in a business environment.