XP Home vs XP Pro

[tmix]

I have been considering the jump from 98SE to XP (and trying to do as much research on what hardware ect. I will have to upgrade with it).
I can't decide whether to go with Home Edition or Pro. I have a friend at Microsoft who I have been talking with who suggests Home Edit (since I won't be doing any serious networking)and because it would take up a considerable less space on my system (he is a real advocate of streamlined systems).Granted, although he is a wonderful musician as well, Audio systems is not his specialty. Has anyone any insight on the matter? Real life differences? I will be using it on a 700 P3 for studio use only computer.
thanks!
tmix

[dcumpian]

Unless you are networking your PC to others in your studio, there is no reason to get the Pro edition. I'm using the Home edition and it works great with my DAW setup. Much more stability than I ever had with Win98SE.

Dan

[donsaudio]

Using xp pro on P3 800 works awesome. There is alot of un-needed garbage in both versions of xp (come to think of it, nothing unusual there) that you most likely won't use on your DAW. Just be prepared to do some tweaking.
Again, very stable so far.

[ALBERTPIKE]

From Steinberg website:
"WinXPpro and XP home version have some differences. We have found no real difference in operating these versions, except for XP Home not supporting a second CPU. So make sure you use XP Pro for dual CPU systems. Another big difference is network services and remote options. If you are in doubt what you need, please refer to www.microsoft.com (http://www.microsoft.com) or a local dealer for an extensive list of the differences. For regular use with a single CPU and no networking, Xphome is sufficient."

[Synctr]

I've run both Home & Pro (upgrade) on my new P4 Sony GRV516 laptop & can also confirm there's very little difference. Pro's administrative controls over users is quite missed if you've used it & then reverted back to Home (I'm back to Home).

I'm running music: Reason, Recycle, Rebirth, Sawstudio, Guitar Synth, MidiYoke.
& games Tiger Woods '99, Star Trek Elite Force & EA GP4 all living happily together on the same login. (all music progs installed on a seperate drive d).

all problems I've had with XP is McAfee VS 7.0/ McAfee Internet Security 5.0/McAfee firewall....& altho I paid for it, I'm not puttin that junk back on my computer until they get it working!

-CT

[Vernon Kuehn]

This is slightly redundant of the previous postings, with stress on the results.

If you are the only user of your machine, then HOME version would be good. If you are active enough to have extra helpers who might jump on the machine or you rent time to others who then run the machine, you want PRO for the administrative protection of the system. If your machine is used by other family members, consider the extra security of PRO.

I selected PRO not because I network other computers (which I do and could have done with HOME) but even without a network at your home or studio, if you use the interenet, the PRO version allows you to set up VPN. ( = Virtual Private Network ) This is used by corporations who want to give secure access to their internal network from your home or studio. I suspect most people doing DAW do not need VPN.

If you deliver files via internet to some who is going to master them for you, ask if they want you to be VPN capable.