XP Home or Pro?

Pinpoint · #1 (**permalink**) 06-15-2007, 06:37 PM

Ok so i finally have all my parts ordered (YAY!)

now i need to get an operating system...

i was lookin at XP home and XP pro, and i really dont need anything that the professional addition offers that home doesnt. It all seems to be based on servers and things like that which im not using this computer for...

any thoughts?

Relly · #2 (**permalink**) 06-15-2007, 07:02 PM

I would still go with Pro.

I've tried them both and Pro is faster IMO. And you access to more administrative options just in case.

It's called Pro for a reason. Don't go with the rookie system.
How much is Vista costing? Is your system Vista ready?

Rage1 · #3 (**permalink**) 06-15-2007, 07:03 PM

I would get the pro the home ed sucks.The drivers are different for the pro and allot more compatible.Microsoft doesn't tell you that in the fine print.

Pinpoint · #4 (**permalink**) 06-15-2007, 07:51 PM

i can get a free copy of vista from my school

i was just worried cause i heard it has driver problems and has gaming issues

EXex · #5 (**permalink**) 06-15-2007, 08:45 PM

Some of the differences may have disappeared in SP2 but this is a pretty good list of the differences:
http://www.winsupersite.com/showcase...p_home_pro.asp

32-bit editions of XP Home and Pro (at least with SP2) use the same drivers.

Using XP Pro certainly won't hurt but most of the "extra" features aren't things most of us use anyway. The primary difference was always SMP support but XP Home at least with SP2 supports dual core CPUs now so unless you plan on going with a 2 socket motherboard and running a pair of them, there really isn't much to get worked up about.

Kuddos to Microsoft for working their marketing magic on Jelly Belly though :P

XP Pro x64 is indeed a different beast, however. It pretty much requires the same drivers as the x64 version of Windows Server 2003 and it usually somewhat behind.

CoffeeShark · #6 (**permalink**) 06-15-2007, 09:01 PM

Home is fine, I would be using it except I need IIS, so I have pro.

other than that, meh.

Pinpoint · #7 (**permalink**) 06-15-2007, 10:16 PM

thanks for the help, ill see if i can get a copy of pro from work and if not ill buy home for cheapsies....

also im a nub so whats the difference between the retail and the oem version of XP besides the $100 difference haha

and sp2 is a free download correct?

ech0 · #8 (**permalink**) 06-15-2007, 10:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pinpoint

thanks for the help, ill see if i can get a copy of pro from work and if not ill buy home for cheapsies....

also im a nub so whats the difference between the retail and the oem version of XP besides the $100 difference haha

and sp2 is a free download correct?

Retail versions come in that box and you can install it as many times as you would like.

OEM versions you can only install once.. but there are ways around that. You just call the support and say your putting your computer into a RAID configuration or your HDD died or something and usually they give you another key so you can install it.

Personally, I don't think Windows XP should still cost $279 retail, so go with the OEM. And basically all copies of Windows have SP2 so you don't have to download it.

Trivium Nate · #9 (**permalink**) 06-15-2007, 11:08 PM

Xp professional version FTW!

Relly · #10 (**permalink**) 06-15-2007, 11:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pinpoint

i can get a free copy of vista from my school

i was just worried cause i heard it has driver problems and has gaming issues

Me too. I'm on the waiting list. Microsoft is being cheap with the CD keys though. We've been waiting for like 4 months now.