XP home vs. XP pro

Look at the M/S site to see if the differences between home and pro meets your needs.

Looks like you are getting a laptop for school. Go XP Pro, please. There are so many people with security-lax computers at the college I work for that Systems is now requiring XP Pro on all student computers if students expect to use the network. Security is better in Pro and I guess Systems believes there are a few other things that make Pro a better bet. From my standpoint, I have access to more system-level items and I can customize and fix it just that more.

Here's a tip. Learn your computer's IP Address and you can remote desktop into it from practically anywhere on campus (since all campus computers should now have Win XP). If you don't see it, do what I do on my computer to go to remote desktop--Start: Run: mstsc. (Microsoft Terminal Services Client? I don't really know that acronym.)

Since I have dealt with plenty of student computers in the past, I believe I can answer questions you may have to general campus computing policies and what to avoid. In fact, in just one year, 80% of my calls could be solved with anti-spyware programs, compared to 5% the previous year. I just could not believe it. If the person had XP Pro, I could at least change the "Administrator" account settings to prevent unauthorized hacking by putting in the default name and password.

If you wanna save money get Home but make sure you get a firewall, virusscan and a spybot like program.

Home still just does not seem to have the networking support as pro. Also, there's that blasted "Administrator" user you cannot remove because you don't have access to user management within the control panel (Administrative Options and Computer Management).

I do a huge amount of web development, so having IIS on XP Pro is a "Very Good Thing." There are some other little things pro has that home lacks.

Now for the big question: Aside from what you can install from the Windows setup CD, how close are Home and Pro after the XPSP2 is installed?

How do you use Remote Desktop?

There's a remote control that should come with your computer, and when you're away from it, all you have to do is turn on the nearest TV and surf through the channels (everyone else's desktop) until you get to yours. most remotes come with a mini-keyboard and a nipple for a mouse.

jk, don't really know, haven't had to use it yet