which version of XP to buy - Home or Pro?

[RabeaticSquirrel]

I bought the upgrade to the Home edition last night, but seems most of you are talking about the Pro edition. What's the difference, should I return the Home and get the Pro upgrade? Money is tight, so if there close, I'd like to go the cheaper route. I game mostly, wife surfs, basic extent of the PC's use....thoughts?

 

[UncleBastard]

According to this page:

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

Windows XP HOME does NOT have any of the following:

Remote Desktop ? remotely access your Windows XP Professional PC, from another Windows PC, so you can work with all of your data and applications while away from your office.


Offline Files and Folders - access to files & folders on a network share when disconnected from the server.

Scalable processor support ? up to two-way multi-processor support.

Encrypting File System - protects sensitive data in files that are stored on disk using the NTFS file system.

Access Control ? restrict access to selected files, applications, and other resources.

Centralized administration - join Windows XP Professional systems to a Windows Server domain to take advantage of the full range of powerful management and security tools.

Group Policy - simplifies the administration of groups of users or computers.

Software Installation and Maintenance ? automatically install, configure, repair, or remove software applications.

Roaming User Profiles - access to all your documents and settings no matter where you log on.

Remote Installation Service (RIS) ? support for remote operating system installations where desktops can be installed across the network.

Multi-lingual User Interface (MUI) add-on - change the user interface language to get localized dialog boxes, menus, help files, dictionaries, and proofing tools etc.


If you need any of those then get the pro version. If you don't need any of those things why pay money for features you won't use.

 

[Sorcerer]

For basic home use, Home should be more than sufficient.

 

[corkyg]

Uncle Bastard has a good list there. You are fine with the "Home" edition. Most all of that stuff listed by U.B. gets in the way of the typical home user. If there's one thing I hate to be bothered with it is passwords, administrators and all that old NT garbage.

 

[tydas]

<< For basic home use, Home should be more than sufficient. >>



Brilliant quote!!