Any compelling reason to get XP Pro over Home?

I'm planning to upgrade from Vista to XP within the next two months, and was wondering what could justify the higher price of XP Pro. I know it has more advanced security features, and better connectivity options, but it doesn't seem like there would be anything I, a regular consumer, would use. I've had XP Home on a now-old desktop since 2003 and it always worked fine. So, is there any reason for a home user to buy Pro instead of Home?

 

No.
There isn't, so get home. Home is perfectly fine for most users out there.

Have a look at the Windows XP Home Edition Comparison Guide.
You get a few more options that most users will never need. So don't waste your money on the Pro version that won't give you anything extra for your money.

 

Great! Thanks for the link. Looks like I'll be saving some $$$ and going with Home.

 

Anyways...., if you have Vista Ultimate or Business then there is a chance that you might be able to get a XP Pro license for free (however I'm not sure how it works with OEM versions). Google and see.

 

Nope . Vista Home Premium.

I know Microsoft wouldn't agree it's an upgrade, but when programs aren't working well in Vista that were in XP, it is in effect an upgrade.

 

Wich programms?

Have you done the usual XP SP2 compatibility mode + run as administrator?

 

Wait, dosen't home have no support for dual core ???

 

There are quite a few differences between the two. If you plan on connecting to a network, you need Pro. If you plan on sharing files or printers between PCs, I recommend going Pro (XP Home has no way to disable simple file sharing).

I have a mixture of Home and Pro machines on my local network, and I would rather have all running Pro, because the Home PC does not have any true ability to join a network.

Although this is a bit dated, it's still a great source of info:

http://www.winsupersite.com/showcase/windowsxp_home_pro.asp

 

Explain more kegobeer?

I frequently transfer files between my XP Home and Vista Business Edition.

And my old crappy laptop with XP Home as well (thought it'd take days (but the point is, it works) on its horrible B-wireless which is dying and is equivalent to 50% of a B-wireless card but my dad's work laptop works just fine with it (Professional edition)

 

Home works with dual core.

Look at the link I provided in my first post. The different features of each are listed there. Run down through them and see what you'll use, most home users won't use the features offered by XP Pro, so there's no need to spend the money on it.
If you will need one of XP Pro's features, then get it. It's that simple.

 

Yeah, the article says, "Windows XP Pro supports up to two microprocessors, while Home Edition supports only one," but I'm sure XP Home supports it now with Core Duo processors coming to the market in 2006. Even if it doesn't, a Core 2 Solo T7500 would run my exclusively single-threaded apps fine.

Microsoft said the same thing about Vista - that you needed Business to connect to a domain - but connecting to my school Internet network is working just fine with Vista Home. And I seriously doubt many people took up the school's Pro/Business suggestion with either XP or Vista. I haven't been able to add the school's network drive yet, which may be the difference, but I don't need that anyways.

 

I will assume that you do not need the ability to restrict certain users from data. I have two young children, and even though I want them to be able to see items (like our photos and home videos), I don't want them to have the ability to accidentally delete them. Pro allows me to disable simple file sharing and then to set specific access controls for files and directories. Home does not allow this.

 

Correct me if I'm wrong but I think Windows XP Home Edition does not have Remote Desktop.

 

can you explain this or provide a link?

 

Client yes, server no. However, not many people need that feature. For me, that is an essential item.

Luckily there are patches around to enable it even on Home, including Vista Home Premium.