Microsoft Windows 10 Buyers Guide
Windows 10 is the latest operating system for tablets, laptops, desktop PCs and workstations from Microsoft. It is available in two main versions - Windows 10 Home and Windows 10 Pro. But which one should you choose?
In this guide we’ll go through the differences between the two versions so that you can decide which one is the best fit for your needs. In short, the main difference between Home and Pro is the latter having support for corporate network security policies. This makes Pro safer and easier to manage if your business has lots of PCs. In addition, you can link a Pro device to a domain, which isn't possible with Home. Pro also has useful features such as Remote Desktop to remotely connect to another PC in the office.
Windows 10 Fundamentals
Both versions of Windows 10 come with automatic updates enabled, which means you get all the latest features and security updates at no extra cost.
| Feature | Home | Pro |
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Digital pen & touch
Take notes, navigate, draw, doodle, edit and create. Improve what you do with a digital pen. |
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Microsoft Edge
Get faster browsing and better battery life across your devices with Microsoft Edge, the browser built into Windows 10. |
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Cortana
All you have to do is ask Cortana. Your digital assistant on PCs and mobile devices can schedule a meeting, tell you when it’s time to leave for an appointment, or check the weather, news and traffic. |
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Battery Saver Mode
Extend battery life by limiting background activity and push notifications. |
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Mobile
Get instant access to your Android phone’s texts and photos on your PC, or connect your iPhone for seamless browsing, calendar and app experiences. |
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Voice
Free up time and your hands by talking to your computer. Get information and reminders or listen to music and manage your emails and calenda |
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Windows 10 Security
Windows 10 has inbuilt security for protecting user identities, devices and information with a comprehensive range of features including firewall, encryption, Windows Hello, parental controls and antivirus. In addition the Pro version also includes BitLocker that protects the files on internal and external drives. This feature is especially useful if you have private data on your PC or laptop, because only you will be able to access these files with a password. Your computer or laptop does need a TPM chip, because you can't use this feature without one.
| Feature | Home | Pro |
|---|---|---|
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Windows Hello
Using facial recognition, a fingerprint, or PIN, Windows Hello is a fast, secure and password-free way to unlock your compatible Windows device. |
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Device Encryption
Device encryption is available on a wide range of Windows devices and helps protect your data by encrypting it. If you turn on device encryption, only authorised individuals will be able to access your device and data. |
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Firewall and Network Protection
Windows includes comprehensive, built-in security features, including firewall and internet protections to help safeguard against viruses, malware and ransomware. |
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Internet Protection
App & browser control in Windows Security provides the settings for Windows Defender SmartScreen, which helps protect your device from potentially dangerous apps, files, websites and downloads. |
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Parental Controls
Manage screen time, limit access to mature content, control online purchases when you connect your family's Microsoft accounts, and check to make sure the family’s devices are secure and up to date. |
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Secure Boot
Secure Boot helps prevent malicious software applications and unauthorised operating systems from loading during the system start-up process. |
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Windows Defender Antivirus
Windows Defender Antivirus uses the power of the cloud, wide optics, machine learning and behaviour analysis to protect your devices from emerging, sophisticated threats. |
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BitLocker device encryption
If your device is lost or stolen, BitLocker and BitLocker To Go put everything on lockdown, so no one else can access your systems or data. |
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Windows Information Protection (WIP)
WIP helps to protect against potential data leakage without otherwise interfering with the employee experience. WIP also helps to protect enterprise apps and data against accidental data leaks on enterprise-owned devices and personal devices that employees bring to work, without requiring changes to your environment or other apps. |
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Business Management and Deployment
Windows 10 Pro also includes a whole host of management and network features to for business users in a network environment.
| Feature | Home | Pro |
|---|---|---|
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Mobile device management
Windows 10 mobile device management (MDM) provides an alternative to traditional PC management processes: you can transition to cloud-based management at your own pace. |
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Group Policy
Manage PCs, user accounts and groups, and get easy access to files and printers when you pair Windows 10 Pro with Windows Server. You can even define specific security and networking policies for your users and devices. |
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Enterprise State Roaming with Azure
Available to any organisation with an Azure AD Premium or Enterprise Mobility + Security (EMS) licence, Enterprise State Roaming provides users with a unified experience across their Windows devices and reduces the time needed for configuring a new device. |
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Microsoft Store for Business
Your one place to find, manage and distribute apps to Windows 10 devices in volume. |
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Assigned Access
With Assigned Access, Windows 10 Pro devices run different applications depending on the user and keep individual identities separate and secured. |
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Dynamic Provisioning
With Dynamic Provisioning you can take a new PC out of the box, turn it on, and transform it into a productive organisation device, with minimal time and effort. |
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Windows Update for Business
Windows Update for Business can help businesses reduce management costs, provide control over update deployments, enable more efficient delivery of updates, and provide access to the latest innovations from Microsoft. |
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Support for Active Directoryn
Domain Join + Group Policy: IT staff can easily manage PCs, user accounts and groups, security policies, and get easy access to files and printers when you pair Windows 10 Pro with Windows Server. You can even define specific security and networking policies for your users and devices. |
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Support for Azure Active Directory
Employees can use a single login across Windows 10, Microsoft 365, and other Microsoft services, making log-ons and passwords easier to manage. The shared log-on works on PCs, tablets and phones with minimal IT involvement |
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As you can see from the comparison tables the Home version offers a great feature set for any regular home user or self-employed worker. If you value the extra security features or require productivity and business tools for a corporate environment then Pro is the way to go.
Hardware Limitations
It’s also important to note that the Home version has some limits in terms of what hardware it can support, which means that even if you’re self-employed, you may need to buy Pro for your workstation.
| Feature | Home | Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum number of CPU cores | 64 | 128 |
| Maximum number of CPU sockets | 1 | 2 |
| Maximum supported RAM | 128GB | 2TB |
32-bit Windows vs. 64-bit Windows
Once you decided whether to go with Home or Pro, you may be surprised to see that there is then different versions of each - 32-bit, 32/64-bit or 64-bit only. So, which should you choose and why does it matter?
The short answer is that unless you are trying to install Windows 10 on a very old system (10+ years) that has a 32-bit processor then you should choose the 64-bit version of Windows. The 64-bit version will make the best use of modern hardware, for install the 32-bit version of Windows can only support 4GB of RAM. In addition, many hardware manufacturers such as NVIDIA do not even provide 32-bit drivers anymore.
Which Format Should I Choose?
The final decision you need to make it what format of Windows to buy. We sell Windows in variety of options, let’s look at how they differ.
Electronic Software Download (ESD)
No media is required, simply download and install the software from a web link.
USB Pen Drive
The software is contained on a USB pen drive, so a type-A USB port will be required (or an adapter) on your device.
DVD disc
The software is contained on a DVD, so you’ll need a DVD drive in your device or at least an external one if you want to buy this version.
Where to buy Microsoft Windows 10
Hopefully you’ve found this guide to choosing Windows 10 software useful. If you’d still like advise on which may be best for you then don’t hesitate to speak to one of our advisors on 01204 474747.