Microsoft has released two editions of the Windows 8 operating system – Windows 8 and Windows 8 Pro. The Windows 8 Pro has more features and hence is more expensive. Professional users would benefit greatly from Windows 8 Pro edition. The said edition is also recommended for those users who want to use advanced apps in their operating system.
How to upgrade to Windows 8 Pro
Downloading Windows 8 setup files is the first step to upgrade from your current operating system to Windows 8 or Windows 8 Pro. Microsoft says that users of all Windows operating systems (from Windows XP onwards) can upgrade to Windows 8 Pro. However, before you upgrade to the new operating system, make sure that your system has the recommended hardware configuration to run Windows 8 Pro.
Difference between Windows 8 and Windows 8 Pro
There are many differences between Windows 8 and Windows 8 Pro. Some of them are discussed here.
Windows Media Centre
In Windows 8 Pro, you can enjoy the advanced feature called Windows Media Centre. You would not find this feature in the standard Windows 8 operating system. Windows Media Centre helps you burn DVDs without relying on a third party application. Visit Windows 8 Pro section on the Microsoft support page to learn more about the features of Windows Media Centre.
BitLocker
Another impressive feature you could find in Windows 8 Pro is BitLocker. This feature allows you to encrypt data in the disc or external storage sources such as USB flash drive or memory cards.
EFS
EFS or Encrypting File System is a feature available in Windows 8 Pro operating system. This feature is designed to help users encrypt specific files or folders.
Windows 8 Pro allows you to manage your PC effectively. VHD (Virtual Hard Disk) and Hyper V – Virtual Platform are a couple of major supports you would find in the Windows 8 Pro operating system.
Windows 8 Pro OS
Microsoft has not increased the system requirements for Windows 8 operating system. Hence, it is possible for users of Windows 7 to upgrade to the new operating system without having to upgrade the hardware features
Memory: I GB (for 32 bit) or 2 GB (64 bit)
Processor: 1 GHz or higher
Free space requirement on the hard disk: 16GB or 20GB (for 32 bit and 64 bit respectively)
Get in touch with the Windows 8 help desk to learn more details about downloading Windows 8 and the installation procedure.
