Which OS To Choose? Win XP vs. XP Pro

so would XP Home be adequate for a home network that includes a wireless router an Apple notebook, or would I require the networking functionality of XP Pro?

 

Hey all

Is it necessary to use XP PRO to use the full potential of a DUo Core processor? Will it be a waste using Xp HOME on a Duo COre processor?

 

I don't think it is really dependent on which XP you get since there is only a few differences between the two.

The deal with duo core is the software (non-os). In order to utilize the dual core function and get its full potentional, software has to be able to see and use the other processor. There is some software that has this capability, but most of them don't. This is something that is suppose to change in the future. Software that is SMP will recognize both processors, and there will utilize that function.

Core duo is still good without the SMP especially if you are a multi-tasker. You get an increase in performance, and the core duo will help with things like watching and recording TV on your laptop.

SG

 

so i just wanna make this clear.

if i get duo core processor, windows xp home will not affect the preformance of the dual processors? will i notice a difference with xp pro?

 

Both will support Duo Core. Only a certain amount of software's utilize the full functionality of the processor though.

 

definitely xp pro for security functionality.

 

i agree stick with xp pro

 

Does XP pro come with word, powerpoint, excel, etc. or do you have to buy that seperate? Also, does XP Pro have everything that XP media edition has?

 

Is there a good place to purchase XP Pro? I would not like to spend $237 listed for an OS.

 

sry if this going slightly off topic. and yes i have alredy posted a thread on this but its not got much attention and the one response i got didnt rely answer my question (no offence to whoever posted it)

i bought a laptop recently without an os and i am wondering if i use an old xp home disk from about 2001 and install sp2, will it be the same as if i bought a completely new copy of xp home? for example will it have the same features, performance, compatibilty and run other software and games just as well as a new copy?

oh, and camsimple, why not try amazon, $149 for xp pro with sp2.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...6187-4139244?_encoding=UTF8&v=glance&n=229534

 

I'm pretty sure XP pro doesn't have all the Office features built in--unless you pay for Office in addition. My college provides laptops (Thinkpads) with XPpro and Office bundled together, but I think if you were buying an OS separately you would have to buy Office as well.
PMZ

 

I guess it's almost like this:
If you are an amateur then go for Pro because it gives advanced bragging opportunities.
If you are a pro and cannot afford the money go for Home and hack in the other stuff you need.

But on a serious note:
the price difference shouldn't bias the decision (compared to the price of a top notch notebook is just marginal).
Most of the additional "security" stuff in Pro you would only use in a more corporate environment.
So Home is OK for normal home use!

And XP pro (or home or mce) only gives you an operating system, WITHOUT any serious aplications like MS Office.


just my 2c

Drio

 

Does MCE support dual core as well or is it just pro?

 

Only thing that would be kind of nice would be encrypted file service, I have the KGB Encryptor anyway thats pretty sweet with 512kb of encryption. It would be nice to have it built in though. I think I will save my 75 dollars and buy a tank of gas or something.

 

XP Pro is no more "secure" than XP Home unless you know how to use the extra features. If you use file and print sharing, have a multi user system and need to use permissions, or connect to a corporate LAN then get Pro; otherwise Home will work fine. A system running as root with Pro is just as vunerable as a system running as root with Home.

 

Okay, I've been reading all these posts (very helpful) but i'm still confused... would I want XP Pro, XP Home Media Center (on a dell e1405) or XP home. Will it matter? My biggest concern is being able to connect to my u.s. gov. office remotely.

and... (gasp)... what if i were to switch to macbook. would I NEED to get bootcamp or parellels and then install windows XP (and which one?) ?

Final question, if i buy a laptop with XP home, is it as easy as installing CDs to install XP pro later on (if, say, I find a better deal from amazon or somewhere else?)

Or am i just being cheap and i should just get xp pro. thanks, jennie

 

Any version of XP should be able to do what you need. There would be no point in spending extra money on a Macbook if all you're going to do is run XP off it anyway.

It's a bad idea to install any version of Windows right over another. It's always better to format and install from a blank hard drive.

 

just out of curiosity, is there any performance difference between home and pro? I heard that pro has a performance edge over home. true?

 

I'm pretty sure performance is the same. All you get is some advanced features that most users don't need anyways. However I would like some confirmation on this as well.

 

Excuse the noobness...but that's what this forum is for

If the uni I hopefully will go to says they support any OS that can connect to a TCP/IP; XP (or previous versions) and Mac, I presume I'm OK with using XP Home? Just reading through this thread, and some networks need Pro? - I presume Home is OK given the previous versions bit? Just asking here 1st

 

The above was listed on Microsoft's chart as something XP Pro can do thaat XP Home cant. I'm curious about this as well since it sounds like Windows XP is needed to install or remove software.

Anyone know exactly what it means?

 

I noted that Pro has the capability to support dual processors while Home does not. Does this include the core duo processors?

In asking this question, I'm aware that the OS will still work and that the processor will work, but what I'm really asking is, will Professional better allow the hardware to work to its full potential? i.e. preventing the processors from getting in each others way and slowing things down?

 

I always have to have the best of everything. I won't allow myself to settle for XP Home.

I don't use any of the features in Professional. It's just comforting knowing I can't upgrade any further

 

No, this doesn't apply. Core Duo's work fine on Home.

 

Does that mean XP Home is not as good as XP Pro when using Core Dual?

 

No. As far as a dual core processor is concerned there is nothing different. XP home supports one physical processor and a dual core processor is still only a single processor. There is no difference in performance between XP Home and XP Pro other then possible system settings that a little different by default with Pro. The advantages to XP Pro are network related and primarily your ability to join a domain on the network. For a home user these extra features are normally useless.

 

xp home =]

 

God help you if you're ever trying to connect to a large business or university network with XP home. In most cases, it just won't work. There are lots of networking features not specifically mentioned that Pro has to make connectivity smoothe. There is a reason why universities strongly reccommend XP Pro over home edition.

 

Home does do HT support and Dual Core Support... though its less efficient than Pro.

 

I prefer pro where possible! My laptop has pro, my media centre has home, which is fine really but I'd always prefer pro where possible.

 

Just to confirm, Home or Media Center can take the advantage of Multi-core (ie C2D) processors right?

 

pro seems more stable to me compared to home