whats the diffrence between xp home edition and pro?

Question

whats better and why?

Answer 1

Couple inaccuracies from Answers above.

1. Windows XP Home Edition does support NTFS. What it does not support is the EFS, which is the Encrypting File System.

"
Operating system Supported file systems
-----------------------------------------

MS-DOS FAT
Windows 3.1 FAT
Windows NT FAT, NTFS
Windows 95 FAT
Windows 95 OSR2 FAT, FAT32
Windows 98 FAT, FAT32
Windows Me FAT, FAT32
Windows 2000 FAT, FAT32, NTFS
Windows XP FAT, FAT32, NTFS
"

Source: http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;Q306559

2. Windows XP Professional Edition does not come bundled with Microsoft Access normally.

If you really want to know the difference, go to Microsoft's Comparison Web Page linked below.

Main difference is the Advanced Networking features. Most home users do not use or need these features.

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/pro/howtobuy/choosing2.mspx

Answer 2

From an end user point of view, it's the networking features, which you may or may not need.

However, from a Professional view, Windows XP Pro is the final product from the Microsoft "Whistler" betas. Then they took Pro and ripped/disabled various elements inside, gave it a once over and released it as a "Home" version.

You could say that Home is a crippled version of Pro, on that basis I advise everyone to go for Pro, even if in the short term they do not need Remote Desktop (use your PC remotely) or need to add it to a corporate network.

Also, no one has mentioned the other two versions, Tablet and Media Centre.

Tablet is a touch screen version, installed on tablet laptops, that typically have a swivel screen that folds down with the screen up. You can then use a stylus to write or draw onto the screen.

Media Centre, is pretty much a waste of time in my opinion, especially when done on a laptop. It consumes more memory so there is less for your applications (the same with Home, but more so, leaving Pro as the most efficient of the bunch), basically this version is like Home but with the remote desktop and a big pretty interface for viewing media such as photos, videos and whatever you've recorded off your TV/Sat link into it.

This is pointless as most people use either a DVR or their Sat/Cable box includes it, and if you want to keep items, you'll record them to DVD using a DVD Recorder or if you're behind the times a VHS Recorder, NOT your PC which Microsoft has locked up so you can't transfer recordings.

Answer 3

Very little, Pro has more features considered by Microsoft to be required by business or pro users, for example Internet Information Services (services designed to run a website from your PC) are disabled in Home. If you essentially want to use your computer for games and browsing the web, or even using office applications like Word, then don't bother with Pro even though some PC manufacturers say it's the preferred choice, I imagine they get a better kick back. You can network a Home edition PC too but it doesn't give you everything Pro does.

Answer 4

XP Home is a chopped down version of Pro losing network protocols.

Answer 5

Ok, quoting from my mcsa/mcse exam 70-270 book xp home does not support the following features:

NTFS (windows nt file system)
Print permissions
Dynamic disks
Encrypting file system
Support for dual processors
Internet information services
Remote desktop
Remote installation services

If you want more info on those features you'd obviously wanna check Microsoft.com. Can't say I know that much about this stuff, I'm studying C++ atm so haven't got round to reading to much of this book.

Answer 6

From a user's point of view it depends if you need Access (databases) Pro has it in the bundle, the home edition (XP onwards) does not - this can throw a lot of IT students!

Answer 7

depends on which environment ure using them. based on personal experience, i had the xp home on my work computer. our technician made us get the pro because with the home, i couldn't get onto our network. pro is meant for the office environment. if your computer is just one stand alone and don't need networking, then the home is fine. i personally like the pro better. it has more capabilities and faster.

Answer 8

THE Pro version has much better networking capabilities.

Answer 9

my sister says you are better of getting pro even for home use. just in case at some point you want to network your computers

Answer 10

Unless you want to encrypt your data or use domain management you will probably never notice the difference.

Save your money and get Home edition, it networks up just as well.