Features Equipment & Systems
Which edition of Windows?

In the tradition of the computer industry, Microsoft assigns new meanings to common words, which makes life extra difficult for normal people trying to understand developments.

To Microsoft, a “version” of Windows is like a car’s model year (95, 95, 2000, XP, etc). “Editions” are variations on the version. Note that all editions of a version are generally released simultaneously, in contrast to the successive editions we are used to for textbooks or yearbooks.

The editions of Windows 2000 range from the Millennium (home) Edition, for simplest use, through 2000 Professional to the 2000 Advanced Datacenter Server

Windows version XP is so far available in the Home and Professional editions only. The Home Edition is best for almost all home and small business use and for most offices, which do not have a full time professional manager for the computer system. The Professional Edition adds capabilities for file encryption, which is important and useful if you wish to keep confidential files secure from prying eyes. However, none of the other enhancements are of much use without advanced computer knowledge to manage them.