XP Home vs XP Media Center vs XP Pro

MatMi · Aug 25, 2006

Even though I have looked on the web, I can't really figure out what the differences are...

Knowing that I never watch TV on my PC (and don't intend to), should I simply go with XP Home ?

My CPU is going to be an Intel E6400 but I don't think it changes anything, right ?

Thanks !

redhawk · Aug 25, 2006

MatMi said:
Even though I have looked on the web, I can't really figure out
what the differences are...

XP Home is a "cheaper" version - it lacks the backup option that XP Pro has. If you want to use a complete system backup with XP Home you have to either pay for the upgrade or use a 3rd party program.

MatMi said:
Knowing that I never watch TV on my PC (and don't intend to),
should I simply go with XP Home ?

Or XP Pro - either will be just fine. There is no difference in the way they run - Pro just has a couple extras that Home doesn't. The average user won't even notice them most likely.

Media Center, on the other hand, I have heard is less stable and more prone to crashes than Pro and Home, particularly when using the true "media center" options.

MatMi said:
My CPU is going to be an Intel E6400 but I don't think it changes
anything, right ?

Right.

MatMi said:
Thanks !

Welcome!

MatMi · Aug 25, 2006

Thanks for your input.

I typically don't do a full backup of my PC (I back up my important files, pictures, music, etc to an external HD, though).

I'll probably go with the Home version, that I have today and that suits me.

Thanks !

MatMi · Aug 25, 2006

Would having XP Pro 64bits make a difference vs the 32 bits version ?

Bill McKenney · Aug 25, 2006

I don't know what your timing is but I've heard that M/S is releasing a new O/S early next year (Jan?), and it will replace XP. It would probably save you some money to wait

Forrest41926 · Aug 25, 2006

MatMi said:
Even though I have looked on the web, I can't really figure out
what the differences are...

The main thing - at least from my perspective - about XP Pro is that it comes with IIS. But they crippled it with IIS 5.2, while Server 2003 runs IIS 6; the de facto standard.

This is great if you're a programmer that works from home and needs a test server.

Doesn't sound like something you'll take advantage of, though, which means cross it off your list.

Guy Scharf · Aug 25, 2006

redhawk said:
MatMi said:

Even though I have looked on the web, I can't really figure out
what the differences are...

Click to expand...

XP Home is a "cheaper" version - it lacks the backup option that XP
Pro has. If you want to use a complete system backup with XP Home
you have to either pay for the upgrade or use a 3rd party program.

Not true. The backup option is included, but not installed. Admittedly, the backup lacks the Automated System Recovery feature, but I have never used that myself.

You can install it from the distribution disk (or, for pre-installed systems, it's probably in the recovery partition or something like that). See http://support.microsoft.com/kb/302894/ for installation instructions.

Differences between XP Home and XP Pro are primarily in the areas of security and corporate integration. Changes are listed here:

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/home/howtobuy/choosing2.mspx

and in a more intelligible form here:

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

Guy

trh · Aug 25, 2006

Do yourself a favor and get and install XP. Don't be a test monkey for MS with Vista. Let MS work out some of the kinks and security issues for a while before jumping into Vista. XP is a great OS.
--
http://www.pbase.com/timrhunt
f828, p72, minolta ex supreme 35mm
Tim H.

Kerpal · Aug 25, 2006

Correct..

It's called Windows Vista.

Kerpal · Aug 25, 2006

Pro is able to join a domain, home can't
Pro has Internet Information Server, Home doesn't
Pro has the backup option.

Other than that.. they are the same.

Mogambo · Aug 25, 2006

Not for most people.

Mogambo · Aug 25, 2006

For the most part, and I could be wrong, Pro is good if you are a software developer. IIS and some other features. If you are using it for "home" puprose, then XP Home is fine. IMO I see no point to XP Meida center unless you have the hardware to support it. Also, most XP media center functioanlity can be obtained via XP Home and Pro.

Better still if you want a media center go buy somethng like:

http://www.buffalotech.com/products/product-detail.php?productid=96&categoryid=18

I think its for about $300.

MatMi · Aug 25, 2006

I'll buy XP Home (that's what I have today and that suits me very well) for my new PC.

Thanks to all for your help.

Forrest41926 · Aug 25, 2006

trh said:
Do yourself a favor and get and install XP. Don't be a test monkey
for MS with Vista. Let MS work out some of the kinks and security
issues for a while before jumping into Vista. XP is a great OS.

Forget that. Windows Server 2003 x64 is the best O/S they've released to date. And the second fastest available, after Solaris.

Monkeys actually aren't capable of testing software.

Sa7724473 · Aug 27, 2006

What exactly does that mean - a domain? Is that some thing we the average user would encunter?

lptk · Aug 27, 2006

No, a typical home user would not need domain support. A domain is a management structure that provide a unified logon and security infrastructure. A very few people have domains at home, but almost nobody needs one at home.

TK

Grandcentral · Sep 4, 2006

If you think the differences with Windows XP versions are different. Check the differences with Windows Vista coming out sometime in the 1st quarter of 2007

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsvista/getready/editions/default.mspx

Wm. L. · Sep 9, 2006

None of these threads mentioned Remote Desktop. This alone is a reason for many to buy XP Pro.

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