Home VS Pro

[K15]

What are the ACTUAL differences between XP home and XP pro. If someone knows, or has a link to a site listing ALL the differences (down to the tiniest detail) I would love to know.
I want to know what ACTUALLY makes pro better than home, aside from the fact computer nerds won't insult me so much if I run pro.

[redduc900]

Here's links to a couple of MS articles explaining the differences between the two...

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

[Bios24]

On the less technical side: Home is great for average home use, ie- internet, games, applications, whatever. I would suggest Pro for anyone that uses certain applications, or does certain things: ie- Programming. Pro is also needed for anyone on a large Domain or in a work enviroment. It has options and takes use of things you wouldn't need at home.

In short most people have no need for Pro, but have it anyway. I wouldn't bash you for having Home edition.

[K15]

Thanks. I think the only thing I may actually use in Pro is the ability to encrypt files. Does this mean I can set passwords to individual files on my computer? So that no one can open them unless they know my password?
That would be SWEET. I wouldn't have to worry about "hiding" my "questionable" software (not porn or illegal, but highly embaressing :p

Worth the extra price? Probably not though :bang head

[Ebola]

No. Encryption is based on your Windows login. If someone takes your computer and doesn't have your login/password and is not the domain administrator then they should not be able to access the encrypted files on your hard drive. I've only spent a minimal time messing with this. Unless you have sensitive company data on your laptop, then I wouldn't worry about it.

For most people Home edition is fine. Pro is really built for the office and has a lot of networking features built in.

[rseven]

I have run both on my home computers and for me there is nothing on Pro that I need or use that isn't on the Home Edition.

[mtb856]

I agree, I have Pro (it was on sale so it was actually cheaper than Home at the time I bought it), and there is absolutely nothing on it that I've used that Home doesn't have...... I've never used the Remote Desktop feature, most of the time I can't access it from school or work anyway, so there's really no point.

I'd save the money and just buy Home.

[speed bump]

I think pro is more robust personally and anything anything networking related on XP home has been like trying to pull tiger teeth with tweezers.

[Shelnutt2]

Pro is easier to setup on a network.

In the case that Home does not do what is supose to and be difficult connecting to a network and useing all resources, pro is much easier becuse it has the added security features that you can change instead of going into the registry.