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Home edition VS. Prof. edition

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We have several computers that are networked (hub) - One is on Windows XP Home Edition and the rest are on Win98 - We would like to upgrade the other computers but don't know what version of XP to go with. This is a business environment and connected to the internet through a T1 line. I have read what the Prof. edition has but is it really needed or would the Home edition work.
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Thanks - I did a search but couldn't find anything - that is why I posted. If it is asked at least once a week - I guess I met the quota for this week ;) 
Thanks for the reply.
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Pro version has better support for network than Home as well as built-in firewall (not sophisticated though), File Encryption (very effective) that Home version doesn't have, but I suggest you get Win 2000 (cheaper and its functions mostly the same as WinXP Pro).

:smile: Good or Bad have no meaning at all, depends on what your point of view is.

I think to best answer your question, the questions that need to be answered would be are about looking toward the future. Would your business be looking to run a server that would be what is called a domain controller? if that is over you head then the answer is no to having a domain controller. XP Home cannot connet to a domain.

So then it's a matter of do you want to pay the extra money for the extra features in XP Pro, or to buy third party software to do the same things in XP Home? Pro has the ability to run as a webserver, Can encrypt files, Allows remote connections, and has system restore capabilities. All of which can be done by software from other companies than microsoft. There are many different and more secure webservers out ther. Encryption can be done with PGP. Remote connections can be done for free with RealVNC. System restore can be done with backup software of any kind, some backup software would require more rigours methods to restore then microsoft's solution but then microsoft's solution was probably bought from some other company to begin with.

Other issues with XP Home is that you can't turn off simple network sharing which means it is just as insecure as Windows 9x/me when sharing files and folders, can't run multiple monitors, can't use group policy, and can't use Dynamic Disks(bug whoop unless you want to run RAID).

Hope this helps.
GK

Yes, I made it past newbie w00t.

Are you sure about Win2000 cannot be seen with WinXP? I have Network that connects all my systems (2 of them are Win2000 and 1 is WinXP without problem).
Make sure you establish Sharing permissions properly so they can be seen in Network.
I don't know about WinME since I don't use it, but Win2000 is definitely <b>not</b> suck! Actually, I like it better than WinXP.

:smile: Good or Bad have no meaning at all, depends on what your point of view is.

Actually, win2k is very stable. I like working with it a lot. It networks very nicely. Even win98 networks well too. Just use the setup disk when you setup a network on a winxp and it'll set up the network on the 98 machine. It's really easy to do.

But yes, ME sucks. I agree wholeheartedly.

XP 2500+ Barton @ 2256Mhz
A7N8X Dlx
2x512MB Corsair PC3200
MSI GF3Ti 500 @ 265/570
16x DVD-ROM
2x80GB 7200RPM Maxtor
Onboard audio
3DMark 2001 SE - 10528

Quote:
what does "sucks" mean here? any examples?


Sucks means bad. An example would be WinME or the GeForceFX

<font color=red>GOD</font color=red> <font color=blue>BLESS</font color=blue> <font color=red>AMERICA</font color=red>

I do tech support for at&t worldnet. Of all the PC calls I get, by far the worst ones are for ME. The 98 ones are usually just a corrupt tcp/ip stack, or even as easy as they formatted the drive and need the network id/pw. With ME, I always have to go in, replacing winsock from the command line, adjusting security settings, manually registering .dll's, going into the registry to remove components, and the like.

Of all the calls I have, barring pre-paid, ME are the ones I dread. They involve the most time and effort to fix, whereas XP is as simple as reseting tcp/ip or just unchecking work offline in IE.

XP 2500+ Barton @ 2256Mhz
A7N8X Dlx
2x512MB Corsair PC3200
MSI GF3Ti 500 @ 265/570
16x DVD-ROM
2x80GB 7200RPM Maxtor
Onboard audio
3DMark 2001 SE - 10528

So, you wanted to say that ME is good for ya, not bad, they'll keep yer job very secure for a while, heh.
But on the serious note, I like ME more than 98, coz my 6 yo kid can play on it for more than a month without corruption like 98 can have, so ME was good to me so far. You just have to know what you are doing, as with any OS out there.

..this is very useful and helpful place for information...

Naw, I still think it sucks. I have enough ignorant people calling in about simple problems with XP that I don't want the hassels of actually having to think when an ME call comes in. Seriously, every time one of those comes, I spend enough on Tylenol to keep a starving African family fed for a year. It's just too much hassel.

I like XP. I love XP. I know it's heresay, but it's how I feel. Compared to the previous windows', this one actually works.

XP 2500+ Barton @ 2256Mhz
A7N8X Dlx
2x512MB Corsair PC3200
MSI GF3Ti 500 @ 265/570
16x DVD-ROM
2x80GB 7200RPM Maxtor
Onboard audio
3DMark 2001 SE - 10528
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