There are not that many differences. Mainly, the Home version supposedly doesn't support encryption of files (pretty useless at home anyway if you don't protect your local account with a password), remote control of the pc, and extended network possibilites for making a local network (not needed by most people; the Home edition does allow you to make a local network at home, but supposedly has fewer possibilites). I have not explored those capabilities.
But get this: if you replace 8 files on the XP Home CD with equivalent files from the XP Pro Corporate version (which doesn't require activation), and install XP with the modified CD, that "Home" version thinks itself a "Pro" version and all features that are not supposed to be available in the Home edition, are available. (Which some chaps on French binaries newsgroups did, because they only had access to a French Home edition, but had access to a US Pro Corporate edition.)
Personally, I think the Home Edition is sufficient for most needs. The supplementary features are not worth the price for a home user. It's basically exactly the same OS, but with fewer features.
But take care that drivers and software are available for your joystick. Saitek doesn't plan to release an XP compatible version of its software before the beginning of next year.
[ 10-17-2001: Message edited by: DrSoya ]
