PlanetZ forums - scopeusers.com

Hello,

I know that this question has probably been asked a thousand times, but here goes anyway. What is the difference between XP Home and Pro?
I am asking because I have just seen a bargain price laptop (an Acer 5502 Z WCMI with 1024 Ram, 80 GB disk, 128 MB graphic card 14.1 inch screen and more stuff)for about 850 euros. I thought I might get it for a knock about laptop. One where I won't be so paranoid about taking to the forest or beach to play around with.
But, back to the point: what advantages does XP Pro have that Home doesn't?
Does anyone know about the above laptop? Should I fork out a bit extra for a duo core? Though as I said it is more as a knock about machine.

Thanks

I think you can buy a really nice refurbished (with warrenty) Sony Vaio for about 700 euro. You'd probably (tho I'm not sure) be getting a better quality product for less money, albeit with a shorter warrenty.

On 2006-04-25 05:15, Shroomz wrote:
I think you can buy a really nice refurbished (with warrenty) Sony Vaio for about 700 euro. You'd probably (tho I'm not sure) be getting a better quality product for less money, albeit with a shorter warrenty.

Oh really? Where?

Rough list:

Security (user groups and the like) is much more comprehensive in Pro (and much simplified in Home).

Pro supports Remote Desktop, Home does not.

Pro is a "Managed OS" (suitable for businesses which administer to many machines from one), Home is not. e.g. Pro can log onto an Active Directory domain, Home cannot.

Multi-processor support: Pro has it, Home does not.

Lack of Dynamic Disk Support and Local Disk Manage in Home.

M$ "removed" Automated System Recovery (ASR) (Backup utility) from Home, BUT you can find it in the /valueadd folder - Duh!

No integrated Fax support straight out of the box with Home, but this can be installed from the CD (again, Duh!)

Pro can use an encrypted file sytem, Home cannot.

There various other minor differences too, some networking interface differences (e.g. the UI for IPSec is not in Home), but for a single home-basded machine, I see little need for Pro.

It's also worth mentioning that Home Edition will support upgrades from Windows 98, 98 SE, and Millennium Edition ("ME", or "CRAP"), but not from Windows 95, NT 4.0 Workstation, or Windows 2000 Professional (!)

Royston

Oh really? Where?

Ebay, but be very careful

I'm sure Sony may even sell refurbs direct as do dell, toshiba etc.