Which Windows XP version should I buy?

Zazula · 10-14-2006, 04:11 PM

Please place your comments here for this article:
Which Windows XP version should I buy?

ricer333 · 10-16-2006, 10:05 AM

just like anything else, it depends on what you want to do with your computer.

XP comes in some flavors first two divisions are 'upgrade' packages and 'full' install packages. Briefly the difference is that for the upgrad package, you must have a previous version of Windows (e.g. Win95, Win98, ME, ect) on your computer first. The upgrades are usually cheaper, becuase MS knows that you already have a previous version of their OS on your system.

The full package is just that a self-contained disk that when you pop it in does not need any prior knowledge of an existing OS.

Both versions will reformat your drive and install the WinXP OS, but only the full version can work without a previous OS on it. This means that if you decide to go the 'Upgrade' route, and you must reinstall WinXP (for any reason) you must have a previous version of windows on your computer before reinstalling the WinXp. This can get a bit tedious (extra time to install win98 for example, then reformat drive with new WinXp upgrade, ect..)

Wew... with that being said the next division is WinXP Home, Pro and now a new Media Center edition. My understanding is limited on the Media center edition, but the Home is essentially a stripped down version of Pro (same underlying code, with some flags turned off limiting its use to the customer). For this reason, Pro is usaully $70-$100 more expensive than Home.

If you are just an average user Home is probably the one you need. Pro gives added features like Remote Desktop where you can remote to another comptuer running XP Pro/Home and take control of their computer (used to fix computers without talking over the phone... do this and do that... then wait....). The Home edition cannot make the call, but can receive the request... so with Pro you can do both, send and receive the Remote Desktop client, but with Home you can only receive it from someone.

With all that being said.... check out the following google search. This should start you off to where you need to go. Good Luck!!

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&q=WinXP+Pro+vs+Home+vs+Media+center

feddup · 10-29-2006, 11:14 AM

I was wondering what a promotional version of XP meant. It's mentioned in the thread but nothing more. There's a fairly good deal on XP pro (promotional) but I've had a hard time clarifying what that means.

[*removed link: Microsoft Windows XP Professional Edition Promotional CD with Keycode*]

I believe it's basically an oem copy for academic non business use. Any information or help would be appreciatted.

Zazula · 10-29-2006, 12:22 PM

Feddup, the article clearly covers what a Promotional Package is, and how one can check out one's eligibility for it, in Section O. The link you had provided says:

Quote:

The media CD states you must own a copy of their license to use this CD.

This is exactly the essence of the Promotional Package; i.e. it is an offer to buy a second WinXP license at a reduced price. However, your link uses the term "student", which makes it a bit hazy. Therefore I suggest you to use the link in article's Section O, verify that you are eligible for the PromoPack, and then follow the instructions to be directed to a legit source for purchasing it. Only this way you can be sure. And you do want to be sure, trust me on this one.

feddup · 10-29-2006, 09:35 PM

Thanks for the further info. I guess my attension waned before I got to O. I tried the link and apparently M$'s servers are down. I own a full retail version of XP Pro so I ought to qualify but I'm holding off till I'm more sure. Nice article! very thorough!

jbirdie1 · 11-17-2006, 04:14 AM

i bought a new machine and neglected to notice that it had mce on it...i personally find that highly offensive and if i need music/video etc, i have lots of apps to perform these tasks for me. i have proper licenses/coa/wga, etc ad nauseum - i bought the machine new from dell 3 days ago. i have a 'spare' xp home install disc left over from a machine sale a while ago, since i no longer have the system as the new owner was gonna run win2k on it. can i use the xp disc on the new machine and not have it gripe at me and actually work...as well as xp home can. thank you

floydfan · 12-28-2006, 02:50 PM

in the article it states that core 2 extreme is a ht processor, it is not.

Zazula · 12-29-2006, 11:34 AM

Floydfan you are right and thanks for pointing out that oversight; it's been duly corrected now.

stirling · 01-13-2007, 10:55 AM

Good read thanks.

However I'm (still) confused re: the legality of purchasing (or from a vendors point of viiew, selling) an OEM XP in the light of this...

http://blogs.msdn.com/mssmallbiz/arc...07/461950.aspx

it seems hardware used to mean anything you wanted it to mean - from a cable to a mobo - but no more (indeed not since 2005).

Zazula · 01-14-2007, 12:12 AM

Thanks a lot, stirling, for your feedback and for providing this link. Regarding the legality of selling and buying OEM software, please keep in mind which is the OEM license intended for; it is intended for a System Builder. So, if one is a System Builder AND follows the provisions and requirements of this OEM license, then one is entitled to buy the OEM software it accompanies. I've attached the OEM license for System Builders in PDF format, so it's handy for everyone to view. The necessary definitions are here:

Quote:

By accepting this license, you agree that you are a system builder.

If you do not open this package, you may distribute it to another system builder. (This allows the sale of OEM software. CAUTION! OEM software has to be sold unopened and sealed ONLY!)

“System builder” means an original equipment manufacturer, or an assembler, reassembler, or installer of software on computer systems. (This provision covers individuals building a PC on their own.)

If you choose not to accept this license, promptly return the unopened package to your distributor. Individual software licenses or hardware units cannot be returned after this package is opened.

stirling · 01-14-2007, 03:32 AM

Hi Zazula - thanks for your reply

I think there is some confusion here between TWO distinct licences. One is the 'Microsoft OEM system builder's licence' (that's the one you've attached) which accompanies what's called the "Microsoft system builder pack" or "package", the second is the individual software licence (the EULA) that accompanies a single copy of (say) XP.

A "package" for example could be 200 copies of XP OEM. Whatever - it certainly won't be just one copy.

When you quote "If you do not open this package, you may distribute it to another system builder", this is the "package" (of 200) - not an individual copy of XP OEM.

This licence says you can do one of two things. You can either open the "package", in which case you MUST then install each and every individual enclosed copy of XP on a system - which you can then sell. OR you can leave the "package" un-opened in which case you can re-sell the whole thing on to another system builder (all 200 copies in this example). That system builder can then make his/her choice and do one of these same two things etc. etc. ad infinitum.

What the 'system builder's licence' specifically outlaws is - opening the "package" and re-selling the individual copies.

**TheMatt** · 03-09-2007, 11:52 AM

Very good article. Perhaps there should be an update:

Quote:

the arrival of Dual-Core and (the expected) Quad-Core Processors

Quad core processors are out now, so perhaps the "(the expected)" part should be removed.

10-14-2006, 04:11 PM	#1 (permalink)
Zazula Manager Emeritus, I'm blond, James Blond Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Athens, Greece Posts: 7,667 OS: Win XP Pro SP2	Which Windows XP version should I buy? Please place your comments here for this article: Which Windows XP version should I buy? __________________ "Time is the wisest because it discovers everything" Thales of Miletus (ca.624BC-ca.546BC) "Everything flows, nothing stands still." Heraclitus of Ephesus (ca.535BC-475BC) "One thing I know, that I know nothing" Socrates of Athens (ca.470BC–399BC) Last edited by JohnthePilot; 01-22-2008 at 05:14 AM.

10-16-2006, 10:05 AM	#2 (permalink)
ricer333 Registered User Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 302 OS: Vista (on Laptop) WinXP Pro SP3 (on Desktop)	well.. just like anything else, it depends on what you want to do with your computer. XP comes in some flavors first two divisions are 'upgrade' packages and 'full' install packages. Briefly the difference is that for the upgrad package, you must have a previous version of Windows (e.g. Win95, Win98, ME, ect) on your computer first. The upgrades are usually cheaper, becuase MS knows that you already have a previous version of their OS on your system. The full package is just that a self-contained disk that when you pop it in does not need any prior knowledge of an existing OS. Both versions will reformat your drive and install the WinXP OS, but only the full version can work without a previous OS on it. This means that if you decide to go the 'Upgrade' route, and you must reinstall WinXP (for any reason) you must have a previous version of windows on your computer before reinstalling the WinXp. This can get a bit tedious (extra time to install win98 for example, then reformat drive with new WinXp upgrade, ect..) Wew... with that being said the next division is WinXP Home, Pro and now a new Media Center edition. My understanding is limited on the Media center edition, but the Home is essentially a stripped down version of Pro (same underlying code, with some flags turned off limiting its use to the customer). For this reason, Pro is usaully $70-$100 more expensive than Home. If you are just an average user Home is probably the one you need. Pro gives added features like Remote Desktop where you can remote to another comptuer running XP Pro/Home and take control of their computer (used to fix computers without talking over the phone... do this and do that... then wait....). The Home edition cannot make the call, but can receive the request... so with Pro you can do both, send and receive the Remote Desktop client, but with Home you can only receive it from someone. With all that being said.... check out the following google search. This should start you off to where you need to go. Good Luck!! http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&q=WinXP+Pro+vs+Home+vs+Media+center __________________ AMD X2 5000+ Black w/ XFX GeForce 8200 MoBo 4GB OCZ DDR2 RAM 3/4 of a TB of data storage between 2 HDD's (no RAID)

10-29-2006, 11:14 AM	#3 (permalink)
feddup Registered User Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Kansas City, Missouri Posts: 174 OS: XP	promotional? I was wondering what a promotional version of XP meant. It's mentioned in the thread but nothing more. There's a fairly good deal on XP pro (promotional) but I've had a hard time clarifying what that means. [removed link: Microsoft Windows XP Professional Edition Promotional CD with Keycode] I believe it's basically an oem copy for academic non business use. Any information or help would be appreciatted. __________________ P4C800-e Deluxe 3.2C 2 gigs Corsair XMS4000Pro 2 WD740gd Raid 0 on ICH5R 2 Seagate IDE on Promise 20378 9800XT Last edited by Zazula; 10-29-2006 at 12:27 PM. Reason: removed commercial link

10-29-2006, 09:35 PM	#5 (permalink)
feddup Registered User Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Kansas City, Missouri Posts: 174 OS: XP	thanks Zazula! Thanks for the further info. I guess my attension waned before I got to O. I tried the link and apparently M$'s servers are down. I own a full retail version of XP Pro so I ought to qualify but I'm holding off till I'm more sure. Nice article! very thorough! __________________ P4C800-e Deluxe 3.2C 2 gigs Corsair XMS4000Pro 2 WD740gd Raid 0 on ICH5R 2 Seagate IDE on Promise 20378 9800XT

11-17-2006, 04:14 AM	#6 (permalink)
jbirdie1 Registered User Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 74 OS: winxp	downgrade mce to xp home i bought a new machine and neglected to notice that it had mce on it...i personally find that highly offensive and if i need music/video etc, i have lots of apps to perform these tasks for me. i have proper licenses/coa/wga, etc ad nauseum - i bought the machine new from dell 3 days ago. i have a 'spare' xp home install disc left over from a machine sale a while ago, since i no longer have the system as the new owner was gonna run win2k on it. can i use the xp disc on the new machine and not have it gripe at me and actually work...as well as xp home can. thank you

12-28-2006, 02:50 PM	#7 (permalink)
floydfan Registered User Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 399 OS: win 7 rc My System	in the article it states that core 2 extreme is a ht processor, it is not.

12-29-2006, 11:34 AM	#8 (permalink)
Zazula Manager Emeritus, I'm blond, James Blond Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Athens, Greece Posts: 7,667 OS: Win XP Pro SP2	Floydfan you are right and thanks for pointing out that oversight; it's been duly corrected now. __________________ "Time is the wisest because it discovers everything" Thales of Miletus (ca.624BC-ca.546BC) "Everything flows, nothing stands still." Heraclitus of Ephesus (ca.535BC-475BC) "One thing I know, that I know nothing" Socrates of Athens (ca.470BC–399BC)

01-13-2007, 10:55 AM	#9 (permalink)
stirling Registered User Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 139 OS: xp	Good read thanks. However I'm (still) confused re: the legality of purchasing (or from a vendors point of viiew, selling) an OEM XP in the light of this... http://blogs.msdn.com/mssmallbiz/arc...07/461950.aspx it seems hardware used to mean anything you wanted it to mean - from a cable to a mobo - but no more (indeed not since 2005).

01-14-2007, 03:32 AM	#11 (permalink)
stirling Registered User Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 139 OS: xp	Hi Zazula - thanks for your reply I think there is some confusion here between TWO distinct licences. One is the 'Microsoft OEM system builder's licence' (that's the one you've attached) which accompanies what's called the "Microsoft system builder pack" or "package", the second is the individual software licence (the EULA) that accompanies a single copy of (say) XP. A "package" for example could be 200 copies of XP OEM. Whatever - it certainly won't be just one copy. When you quote "If you do not open this package, you may distribute it to another system builder", this is the "package" (of 200) - not an individual copy of XP OEM. This licence says you can do one of two things. You can either open the "package", in which case you MUST then install each and every individual enclosed copy of XP on a system - which you can then sell. OR you can leave the "package" un-opened in which case you can re-sell the whole thing on to another system builder (all 200 copies in this example). That system builder can then make his/her choice and do one of these same two things etc. etc. ad infinitum. What the 'system builder's licence' specifically outlaws is - opening the "package" and re-selling the individual copies.