Since using Home Edition I have been browsing Microsofts Windows XP pages to see if there are any REAL differences between Home and Pro. You may be surprised, for a Home user there are very few limitations, much less than I expected. For example, noticeable things that you cannot do with Home Edition is:
- Remote Desktop – remotely access your Windows XP Professional PC, from another Windows PC, so you can work with all of your data and applications while away from your office.
- Offline Files and Folders - access to files & folders on a network share when disconnected from the server.
- Scalable processor support – up to two-way multi-processor support.
- Encrypting File System - protects sensitive data in files that are stored on disk using the NTFS file system.
Hmm, well I don't have a dual CPU system that is frequently accessed using Remote desktop, I never sync files across my home network, My network is a workgroup and not a domain controller (no need to login to a Windows Domain controller). I don't encrypt my local file system as I rely on the built in firewall which I have learned can be easily configured to your liking.
The above features apply to Windows XP Professional, these are features that by default are not used in my scenario, so I am looking at a possible $100 more for stuff I will never use. Maybe its just the name "Professional" that seems to have a grip on the more advanced users like me who tend to feel slighty ripped off at having some type of WindowsME upgrade (which it is most definetely not!)
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