I'm a little confused as to the difference. I know Pro is supposed to have additional network support... But does that mean Home can't connect to a network at all? Or that one has to jump through hoops in order to do it?

Or does Pro just allow a lot more control...

Basically, do I need to buy Pro, or will Home do me... I just need to be able to connect to networks...

They're identical to a second year Computer Science major at the University of Kentucky. Extrapolate information from that. :D

Pro gives you more security settings and greater network setting capabilities, among other things. I use XP Home to connect to private, public, and business networks with no problems.

Ok... That's a relief... I can save money and get the Home edition ;)

The main difference between them is networkability, Pro can join domain's whereas home cannot.
Features such as encryption (as far as I know) are only available in XP pro.

There are alot of handy tools that only work in XP pro, and I would always recommend it over home, though there is a noticable difference in cost ;)

IIRC, XP Home has the rather nasty habit of treating local networks as being trusted and I don't think this can be changed. If you're on a massive LAN like a university this may not be desirable.

Also you lose access to any sort of decent permission management with XP Home - if you have multiple users using it and you need to keep some under lock and key (like kids) then I would go for Pro.

Very true, it is possible to use the home version effectively, but it takes a lot of hassle ;)

Oh wait... So... I can't deal with encryption if I use Home? And any one on the network can access my computer?

It'll only be me on the computer... no worries about kids or anything...

And, excuse my ignorance, I can't join domains? How are they different from networks?

Ergh... I wanted to stay legit on my new computer... But Microsoft makes it so hard. [img]tongue.gif[/img]

My options:
A) Shell out 500 ringgit for an original copy.
B) Abuse my Dad's job, and use the school's copy... but then what happens if I want to reinstall after I move...
C) Spend 4 ringgit on a fake copy.

Oh temptation... Why do you plague me so? [img]tongue.gif[/img]

500? 4? URGH!

I doubt you will need to join a domain, its the type of thing thing they generally use in schools/buisnesses, you know how you have a username and password assigned to you?
Basically,It allows the network to be maintained away from the client machine, anyways, if you are not sure exactly what a domain is, then you won't need to join one ;)

And yes, i'm sure that the NTFS encryption system is only available in XP Pro, though you can use third party encryption programs, but the built in NTFS system is quite good...If used correctly.

In XP Home, the guest account is enabled by default, which is the first and one of the biggest security holes, though it is supposed to be the opposite, the biggest suggestion I can make is that all file sharing should be done from the guest account ;)

Also, with home edition, you can only network with 5 computers at one time, I don't know if you will want more, but that's the limit ;)

Oh yeah, and XP Home only allows single processors ;)