Source: Microsoft

Windows XP Professional is designed for productivity at home, school, or the office with improved networking and remote access tools. While there are hundreds of compelling reasons to get Windows XP Professional, these are the 10 at the top of the list. See the Windows XP Comparison Guide for a detailed feature comparison.

Helps Protect Your PC

Automatically keep your PC up-to-date with the latest security enhancements including the Windows Security Center, Windows Firewall, and more to help protect your computer from viruses and worms that can spread through the Internet.

Quickly Connect to Wireless Networks

Windows XP Professional provides rich, wireless network support, helping you simply and easily connect to wireless networks whether in your home, office, or out on the road.

Keep Your Laptop More Secure

The Encrypting File System, only in Windows XP Professional, provides an additional level of file protection from hackers and data theft by transparently encrypting files with a randomly generated key. If your laptop gets stolen or lost, unauthorized users should not be able to read or view your confidential files.

Get More Life Out of Your Laptop Battery

Save battery power when you're working on the road, at the library, or coffee shop. Windows XP Professional extends battery life by managing the way your laptop uses power. Now you can work longer on battery power and more accurately forecast how long your batteries will last.

Set Up and Share Your Computer Quickly and Easily

Quickly set up and connect all the computers, printers, devices, and an Internet connection in your home with the all new Network Setup Wizard. Sharing a computer with others has never been easier; quickly access your personal files and accounts without having to close applications or restart the computer.

Easy To Use

The clean, simple design of Windows XP Professional puts the features you use most often at your fingertips, helping you find them quickly.

Work From Anywhere

The Remote Desktop feature found only in Windows XP Professional allows you to remotely access your PC running Windows XP Professional, from another Windows-based PC, so you can work with all of your files and applications while away from your office or home PC.

Recover Easily From Problems Caused by System or Application Changes

If something goes wrong with your computer, you can easily remove and roll back any system or application changes without losing files and other valuable information.

Join a Network or Domain

Windows XP Professional is designed to work with Windows Server networks and includes capabilities for both small office networks with up to 10 PCs and Windows Server based networks.

Work With the Tools You Need to Get Things Done

Choose from the widest range of software, hardware, and services designed to work together seamlessly including support for many older applications designed for earlier versions of Windows.