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Home or Professional Edition?

Microsoft ships two versions of Windows XP—Home Edition and Professional. Even though they are based on the same code, they are very different. Home Edition (HE) targets less experienced home users while Professional is appropriate for business and advanced users.

Here is a list of some of the features that are included in Professional but not in Home Edition (note that this list is not exhaustive) that will help you decide which version to buy:

• Support for two CPUs (HE supports only one CPU.)
• Remote Desktop (HE includes Remote Assistance but not RD.)
• Domain support (HE cannot join a domain, but it can still access the resources
  in the domain.)
• Group Policy
• Roaming User Profiles
• Offline files and folders
• IPSecurity
• Remote Installation Services (RIS)
• Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP)
• Encrypting File System (EFS)
• Indexing Service
• Backup tool (HE includes the backup tool only on the CD.)
• Automated System Recovery (ASR)
• Dynamic Disk Support
• Internet Information Services (IIS)
• Fax support

Most of the features that are missing in the Home Edition are used by corporations and are not needed by home users who are not connected to a larger network - for instance Group Policy, joining a domain, RIS, IPSec, EFS, and SNMP. But some other Pro-only features might interest you. For instance, if you have a dual-processor machine or want a simple Web service, you'll have to pick the Professional version.