XP Home vs XP Pro... which one?

  • Thread starter Thread starter 43fan
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43fan

I have XP home installed now, but am looking at the possibility of
installing XP Pro. I haven't even SEEN XP Pro, but another guy here at work
says that it's much "better".

I have been in the computer industry for many years, but most of the jobs
I've held have kept me using "old" technology(eg. still using Foxpro for DOS
here where I work now!), so I'm not sure what XP Pro will do for me.

The PC itself is an Intel board, 2.0 celeron, 256meg RAM, 40gig WD drive.
For this pc, I connect to the net, I do some(very little) word processing
and spreadsheet work, and I do a very slight amount of gaming. I'm in the
process of setting up a few websites, one of which is a fantasy sports site,
and then one may end up being a localized auction site. Any "need" for XP
Pro in this instance? Will it give me more "power" in setting things up the
way I want them, etc.?

Thanks!
Shawn


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http://www.6FantasySports.com
(this site supports the Victory Junction Gang Camp with a portion of all
proceeds)
 
Pro and Home both use the same core code. Pro has some advanced networking &
securities included that home does not, like being able to log to a domain.
Logic dictates that more code = slower operation. If you don't need the
extended functions of Pro, get home it is easy to network.
 
I have XP home installed now, but am looking at the possibility of
installing XP Pro. I haven't even SEEN XP Pro, but another guy here at work
says that it's much "better".

I have been in the computer industry for many years, but most of the jobs
I've held have kept me using "old" technology(eg. still using Foxpro for DOS
here where I work now!), so I'm not sure what XP Pro will do for me.

The PC itself is an Intel board, 2.0 celeron, 256meg RAM, 40gig WD drive.
For this pc, I connect to the net, I do some(very little) word processing
and spreadsheet work, and I do a very slight amount of gaming. I'm in the
process of setting up a few websites, one of which is a fantasy sports site,
and then one may end up being a localized auction site. Any "need" for XP
Pro in this instance? Will it give me more "power" in setting things up the
way I want them, etc.?
Click to expand...

You aren't a big company with multi computers connected together, or
you don't need added software that a big business uses. Also, you
computer is minimal nowadays as far as speed and memory (maybe "Pro"
uses a match-co processor in some of it's programs, or needs more than
256 MB memory, which you ain't got) and also your hard drive size
isn't very big anymore (used to be, but not now) - I don't know how
much more space "Pro" uses.

It sounds to me like you'd be wasting your money on "Pro".
 
XP Pro and Home are *exactly* the same when working. The only
differences are the added "applications" which assist in managing the
system, and in making connections to networks. Details on the
differences are published on Microsoft's web site. Have a read.

From what you explain as your needs, there is no need. Consider them
the same, and not as "newer" or "better". These adjectives make no real
sense for XP vs. home.

Recommendation: save your money and spend your software budget on new
applications, or add a bit more memory to your machine. You'll notice a
performance improvement by moving up to 512 mb memory.

Hope this is useful to you. Let us know.

rms
 
The ONLY reason I can see that you may want XP Pro is the "Internet
Information Services" function, which allows your computer to act like an
HTTP and/or FTP server. But otherwise I _see_ no reason to upgrade, if you
do not like spending money on nothing, or like a computer acting a bit
slower.

Otherwise Windows XP Home and Windows XP Pro are _exactly_ the same. In
fact, I think Windows XP Home was released slightly after Pro...
 
In
43fan said:
I have XP home installed now, but am looking at the possibility of
installing XP Pro. I haven't even SEEN XP Pro, but another guy here
at work says that it's much "better".
Click to expand...


Your other guy at work is misinformed. It is not "much better,"
it is 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, 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.
 
Greetings --

The two 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.

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

"Which is better?" That depends entirely upon the uses to which
you put your computer, the network environment in which you'll operate
it, your specific security needs, and your level of computer
knowledge.


Bruce Chambers
--
Help us help you:



You can have peace. Or you can have freedom. Don't ever count on
having both at once. -- RAH
 
Only tagging on to this message as it's the last in line... but this reply
is for everyone who responded to my post. :) A resounding THANK YOU!! :)

After reading the replies, I see absolutely no reason for me to put Pro on
the PC at home, it would make no sense at all. As I said, I use it
primarily for internet access and a few other things, and may end up using
it more for business related things here in the future, but, I highly doubt
it'll ever be networked, need the security you all have mentioned, etc..

Thank you all so much, you've saved me a nice chunk of change! :)

I am assuming though that bumping the machine I have now from 256meg to
512meg of RAM would probably be a good idea though, yes? I doubt I upgrade
the processor any time soon, but the board is capable of going to a P4 3.0+
processor. Don't really have a need for that right now though.

Thanks again!
Shawn
 
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