Blaise (imported) wrote: Sat Oct 08, 2005 1:42 pm
I justed ordered a new computer. I ordered a Dell XPS 400. I did not, however, get the XP Professional Operating System option. I bought the media center option. I am giving my Dell 2100 to a friend. I may soon buy the Professional Operating System. I have not decided what I want to use.
The question of whether to select WinXP Pro over WinXP Home has been around since the operating system was still in beta. I think Microsoft's description of the two versions says it best, when it explains that XP Pro is for businesses concerned with security of their files, or home users who are interested in networking two or more machines.
I bought XP Pro for my main computer due to two features it has that XP Home does not: Remote Desktop and Remote Assistance. The first allows me to access my office computer from a customer's home, giving me access to files there. The second allows me, while in my office, to take control of a customer's computer, and do what needs to be done. Absent those two functions, I'd spend lots more time driving back and forth, or waste hours of time trying to talk a customer through a procedure.
WinXP Pro also features multiple-processor support and has file-encryption options that are lacking in WinXP Home. Since those two features would undoubtedly be totally unnecessary to most home users, why pay for them?
It's my opinion that the vast majority of home users will never need the added features of XP Pro, and paying the extra money for them would be wasteful. However, if you're still considering the merits of each, this link should be helpful:
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/pro/ ... sing2.mspx