XP Pro better than XP home?

[D. Carp]

I've been using a "found" copy of Windows XP Pro (yes, I know, I
know). What I'm planning to do is to do a full reformat, repartion my
drives, and install a legit copy of XP. A complete fresh start.

My question is...is there any real-world advantage to sticking with XP
Pro over Home? I've looked at web sites comparing the two but I was
after some real life feedback.

 

[Wesley Vogel]

When I had XP Home I got real tired of seeing post with type: gpedit.msc
into Start | Run.

Which Edition Is Right for You?
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/whichxp.asp

Windows XP Home Edition Comparison Guide
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsXP/home/howtobuy/choosing2.asp

Windows XP Comparison Guide
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/pro/howtobuy/choosing2.asp

Windows XP Home Edition vs. Professional Edition: What's the difference?
http://www.winsupersite.com/showcase/windowsxp_home_pro.asp

--
Hope this helps. Let us know.

Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

In

 

[Guest]

I use Home at home - it's cheaper, and I haven't found anything I can't do on
the Home version. (I work on Pro all day).

 

[Tim Slattery]

I've been using a "found" copy of Windows XP Pro (yes, I know, I
know). What I'm planning to do is to do a full reformat, repartion my
drives, and install a legit copy of XP. A complete fresh start.

My question is...is there any real-world advantage to sticking with XP
Pro over Home? I've looked at web sites comparing the two but I was
after some real life feedback.

The major thing that Pro can do that Home cannot is joining a domain.
That is almost never a factor at home, you're just not going to have a
big enough LAN that you need a domain controller. Pro also has file
protection capabilities that Home does not. Again, this is rarely a
factor in your home computer.

 

[Jone Doe]

If you run a business that you hope will expand, there are advantages to
using pro. If it's just for home, or small business use, the home edition
should cover you.

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

My question is...is there any real-world advantage to sticking with XP
Pro over Home? I've looked at web sites comparing the two but I was
after some real life feedback.

XP Professional and XP Home are 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, even those
with a home network, 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 one other point not mentioned on any of those sites: Professional
allows ten concurrent network connections, and Home only five.

 

[Grok]

D. Carp wrote:
| I've been using a "found" copy of Windows XP Pro (yes, I know, I
| know). What I'm planning to do is to do a full reformat, repartion my
| drives, and install a legit copy of XP. A complete fresh start.
|
| My question is...is there any real-world advantage to sticking with XP
| Pro over Home? I've looked at web sites comparing the two but I was
| after some real life feedback.

Yes, if you use your laptop to join wireless networks, say at a college
campus, then Windows XP Pro (XPP) is the better OS. Windows XP Home (XPH)
probably doesn't make much sense for a networking laptop. For that type of
networking, most likely you will want XPP. I don't even know why they put
XPH on laptops.

As well, XPP, out-of-the-box, enables more granular control over permissions
to files and folders, a capability which could easily be of use, even on a
home/small office computer. You also get Remote Desktop.

XPP lets you set the Administrator password *during* the installation
routine. XPH does not. Instead, with XPH one has to fuss about afterwards
and reboot to Safe Mode etc. etc. to do this.

XPP lets you set the WORKGROUP name *during* the installation routine. XPH
does not, instead with XPH one has to fuss about afterwards.

XPP enables you more control over user accounts, including from "Computer
Management". XPH does not.

XPP has gpedit.msc which might be of some use for configuring a desktop or
laptop even at home/small office. XPH does not.

If you ever decide on a two CPU machine (not likely but .. ), XPP will
support it. XPH will not.

XPP sounds professional. XPH does not.

If you ever wanted to run a little website, XPP comes with IIS5 which will
enable you to do so. XPH does not.

If you ever decided to put your hand to do a little developing, XPP better
supports and fully installs Visual Studio. XPH does not.

XPP does everything XPH does and then much more.

In other words, XPH is a crippled XPP. XPP is easily worth the extra seventy
bucks or so and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it.

 

[shaverbgod]

First-The main difference between XP Home and XP Pro (or Corporate) is
the validation key life. The Pro comes with forever keys and support
for much longer than the Home versio. In about 2 years MS will
determine they need more money and cut ott support for the home version
(businesses who actually paid for the liscense WILL NOT PUT UP WITH THIS
and they have continuing support). For reference, just try and get help
with anything pre-dating Win98SE and see how far you get. It is all
about money for Big Brother (Which is now Microsoft not Duhb) and how
they can work you over for more.

 

[Guest]

XP Pro
-Can join a domain(server environment where you can centrally manage users
and objects)
-Security features, like adding permissions to folders for certain users
-Remote connectivity

XP Home
-Cannot join a domain environment(if using at home, this is probably ok)
-Don't have much for securing files and folders
-Cannot remote connect from outside to your xp home computer
-Does not come installed with programs like ntbackup, but you can install
manually from CD.

I think there are some other things that are different, those are just the
main ones I can think of.

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

Yes, if you use your laptop to join wireless networks, say at a
college campus, then Windows XP Pro (XPP) is the better OS. Windows
XP Home (XPH) probably doesn't make much sense for a networking
laptop. For that type of networking, most likely you will want XPP. I
don't even know why they put XPH on laptops.

Not true. As far as peer-to-peer (workgroup) networking, whether wireless or
wired, XP Home and XP Professional are identical. The only networking
difference is that Professional can join a domain and Home can not.

Many college campuses requireyou to join a domain, and that can be a
significant reason to prefer Professional. But that has nothing to do with
its being wioreless.

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

First-The main difference between XP Home and XP Pro (or Corporate) is
the validation key life. The Pro comes with forever keys and support
for much longer than the Home versio. In about 2 years MS will
determine they need more money and cut ott support for the home

This is completely untrue. First, there is no version of XP that goes by the
name
"corporate." That term is used only to refer to a cracked copy of a
volume-licensed vserion of XP Professional.

Second, the life of the Product Key is froever, regardless of version.

 

[Grok]

Ken Blake, MVP wrote:
| that can be a
| significant reason to prefer Professional.

Yup. Agreed. So true. Why even bother with Pro on a wireless capable laptop
these Centrino days? The operator probably will want to join a domain out
there in their wanderings sometime - for whatever reason - and Home will not
cut it.

 

[James H. Hansen]

I would add two observations to what others have said:

First, Pro will allow you to connect to your computer from somewhere else
via RDP, Remote Desktop Protocol, to run programs and view and transfer
files. This CAN be useful if you are away from your computer a lot and may
need to access it from afar. It is also DANGEROUS to enable this feature
without knowing what you are doing as it opens you up to security breaches
if you aren't knowlegable and careful. Home can connect out with RDP, but
cannot be connected to via RDP.

Second, has to do with file sharing. (I don't deal much with Home, so I may
be wrong here, but I am sure I will be corrected if so. ;-) From my casual
observations: Home's file sharing has no security. A file/folder is either
shared or not; you cannot specify WHO has access to a particular shared file
compared to another shared file nor who has any access vs. no access. ALL
shared files/folders are either read-only or read-write; you can't set one
file/folder to be read only and another to be read-write. The whole "simple
file sharing" thing is a lot less sophisticated and a lot less controlable
in Home than what is optionally available in Pro. All of this is also true
of Pro if "simple file sharing" is enabled, but you have the option of
changing that in Pro. Home only has an option of "simple file sharing" or
no sharing. This is not a big issue in a wired home network, but can be on
a public wireless network or a campus network if you want to share files.
If you never want to share files/folders over the network, then it is not an
issue for you.

....Jim Hansen
Canyon Country Consulting

 

[PopS]

When you figure out what your'e talking about, come back and try
again; for now, you're AFU and apparently the victim of a lot of
misinformation. Or, a guesser, which approaches being a troll
IMO.

Pop

 

[PopS]

The major differences are that Pro is designed to be used with a
network, possibly consisting of many machines. It has a lot of
power added all aimed in that general direction.

For the average user, with up to 5 machines networked, if at all,
most users will not find any differences. If you just want to
use the web, MSOffice and general programs available all over the
place, you'll do fine with Home.

Perhaps posting a new thread and describing what you're planning
to use it for would likely get you a more definitive answer, but
most non-experts see no difference between them. Pro is,
logically, more for the "PROfessional".
I'm going to predict that you will be quite happy with the
less expensive Home addition.

 

[D. Carp]

I want to thank all who responded to my question. As my needs are
basic home use, I'll most likely opt for the Home version.

Thanks again for your time.

 

[Grok]

Reply inline:

shaverbgod wrote:
| First-The main difference between XP Home and XP Pro (or Corporate) is


There is no "corporate" version of Windows XP Professional per se ..
although there is a set of copies with a WPA scheme designed for
corporations i.e. it doesn't require activation.


| the validation key life. The Pro comes with forever keys and support
| for much longer than the Home versio.


Absolutely incorrect. The licences are perpetual for Home, Tablet, Media
Center and Prosfessional versions if bought retail, and for the life of the
PC if bought OEM.


|In about 2 years MS will
| determine they need more money and cut ott support for the home version


Planned support for any OS is full for a while and then reduced as the years
go by.


| (businesses who actually paid for the liscense WILL NOT PUT UP WITH THIS
| and they have continuing support).


Microsoft is actually quite good at long term support. For instance, they
continue offering downloads and informationing partially supporting Windows
95 for everyone. That's an eleven year old client operating system.


|For reference, just try and get help
| with anything pre-dating Win98SE and see how far you get. It is all
| about money for Big Brother (Which is now Microsoft not Duhb) and how
| they can work you over for more.
| melissa Wrote:
|| I use Home at home - it's cheaper, and I haven't found anything I can't
|| do on
|| the Home version. (I work on Pro all day).
||
|| "D. Carp" wrote:
||
|| I've been using a "found" copy of Windows XP Pro (yes, I know, I
|| know). What I'm planning to do is to do a full reformat, repartion my
|| drives, and install a legit copy of XP. A complete fresh start.
||
|| My question is...is there any real-world advantage to sticking with
|| XP
|| Pro over Home? I've looked at web sites comparing the two but I was
|| after some real life feedback.

 

[Bruce Chambers]

I've been using a "found" copy of Windows XP Pro (yes, I know, I
know). What I'm planning to do is to do a full reformat, repartion my
drives, and install a legit copy of XP. A complete fresh start.

My question is...is there any real-world advantage to sticking with XP
Pro over Home? I've looked at web sites comparing the two but I was
after some real life feedback.

The answer depends entirely upon the specific network environment in
which you operate, and upon the specific uses to which you put your
computer. For most home users, there's no real need for them to pay the
higher price for WinXP Pro.

The WinXP Home and WinXP Pro 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 (a crucial
capability at most universities) while WinXP Home cannot, and only WinXP
Pro supports file encryption and IIS. (Oh, and WinXP Pro usually costs
roughly $100 USD more than WinXP Home.)

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


--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:



They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. -Benjamin Franklin

Is life so dear or peace so sweet as to be purchased at the price of
chains and slavery? .... I know not what course others may take, but as
for me, give me liberty, or give me death! -Patrick Henry

 

[Bruce Chambers]

First-The main difference between XP Home and XP Pro (or Corporate) is
the validation key life.

Actually, there is no such thing as WinXP "Corporate Edition." That is
a term applied exclusively to pirated (iow, stolen) copies of the Volume
Licensed WinXP Pro by the "warez" aficionados.

The Pro comes with forever keys and support
for much longer than the Home versio.

That's completely untrue.





--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:



They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. -Benjamin Franklin

Is life so dear or peace so sweet as to be purchased at the price of
chains and slavery? .... I know not what course others may take, but as
for me, give me liberty, or give me death! -Patrick Henry