If you are considering purchasing XP Home Edition, it would be a very bad idea at this point in time. As of Dec. 31st, 2006, it will get no more security updates or any other updates:
Quote:
"For consumer products, security updates will be available through the end of the mainstream phase. For Windows XP Home Edition, there will be no security updates after 12/31/06." Regarding paid support for problems unrelated to security patches, I was told that "Users who want to continue to receive support after the Microsoft assisted and paid support offerings have ended may visit the Retired Product Support Options Web site."
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http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20060103-5891.html
Either wait for this to be satisfactorily resolved, or purchase XP Pro instead, which will continue to recieve mainstream support for 2 additional years, then it goes into a 5 year "extended support" phase where it gets only security updates. MS will probably change this policy once bad PR starts building up, but it isn't IMO worth the risk purchasing XP Home for now.