XP "Corporate" Q?

[rampel]

One of my friends offered to buy me - as a present - Win XP Corporate with SP1 included for the event of getting my new (and 1st) PC.

I've only heard of "Home" and "Pro" so far.

In what way/s is "Corp" different? is it better than "Pro" ?

TIA

 

[EeyoreX]

Corporate is essential Pro minus activation. Even if he is actually going to buy it it would be illegal for you to use it. As the name implies, it is for use in a corporate setting, where the company buys hundreds or thousands of licenses for the OS. And does not require activation. Home users have this as a pirated version usually.

\Dan

 

[Doh!]

Nah...your friend is not buying it. He's probably downloading it from ******. If he's really buying it for you, that's like buying a stolen car as a present (with the full knowledge that the car has been stolen).

 

[rampel]

Now I'm learning something new: What's this Activation? I've heard of registering your copy with a SN, but whats activation? is it done on line?

 

[CTho9305]

Originally posted by: rampel
Now I'm learning something new: What's this Activation? I've heard of registering your copy with a SN, but whats activation? is it done on line?

Normally yea. When you first install XP, or change a lot of the hardware, you have to let microsoft know, so they can attempt to reduce piracy. Generally it's done over the net (you just click 1 or 2 buttons), but sometimes you have to call them on the phone and talk to a rep and say why you have to reactivate.

 

[rampel]

What happens if I don't activate or reactivate? will my system not work, or what?

 

[dragonic]

after 30 days your system will stop working until you activate it

 

[ProviaFan]

If anybody wants to install a "Corporate" XP on your computer, and if said computer is not owned by the corporation, then they're giving you an illegal (pirated) Operating System. Activation is less of a PITA than some people make it out to be, but if you have moral objections to it, use Win2k Pro + SP4, or switch to Linux (fwiw, I'm shutting up and putting up where absolutely necessary, and using Windows 2000 Pro where not, until I can replace Linux-incompatible but critical hardware).

 

[rampel]

Well,
I've seen Win2KPro and quite liked the interface, actually liked it better (the gui) than what I've seen of XP, although I've also seen XP made to look like it's 2K.

What's in SP4 that's not in the original install of 2K?

TIA

 

[rampel]

And,

Linux is a different story, I played with it a bit but I happen to need a Non Latin language support which is far better on Windows than on Linux

 

[dawks]

Originally posted by: rampel
Well,
I've seen Win2KPro and quite liked the interface, actually liked it better (the gui) than what I've seen of XP, although I've also seen XP made to look like it's 2K.

What's in SP4 that's not in the original install of 2K?

TIA

Service Packs contain mostly under the hood fixes. Bugs, Security Patches and such... There is almost never any new features introduced unless there is a need due to compatibility issues with new OS's or if the 'law' forces changes in the software. (ie msft added 'Set Program Access And Defaults' to Windows XP with SP1.

 

[rampel]

I think I have my problem solved. My computer will be registered as one of that corporation (or office, or org. or com.) and that's OK with me, I'll even get tech support from the IT techies.