Academic version?

Hi guys. Recently lost my job and am taking a real basic computer class, then some Word, then some Excell. I currently have two working (desktop) computers. I have an new/used Compaq EVO with 1Gb RAM and 40Gb NTFS HD, running Win 2K Pro.
The other is an old HP Pavilion with 512 Mb Ram and 15Gb FATS HD, running Win ME.
I'm real comfortable with the old ME, that's why I still use it while I'm getting familiar with the 2K Pro.
As a "student", I can pick up a Win XP Pro (Academic) upgrade for less $$ than a XP Home upgrade would cost retail.
Two questions: What is an Academic version, it's limitations and differences from a regular version? Does anyone think I should upgrade my Win ME to the XP Pro (Academic), and would my old HP with the 15Gb FATS be a good/easy upgrade?
Finally...I like to tinker and re-format from time to time just for the H of it. Would I still be able to do this, or would I have a limited number of re-installs on an Academic upgrade?
I know this is a lot of info requested, and as always, I appreciate all advice. Thanks.

 

As far as I'm aware, the only differences between academic and full versions is that one is for students only and can't be used for commercial purposes and the cost is a lot less for the academic version. If you stop being a student, you'll have to upgrade the OS to a normal version, I think and also you definitely will if you then use it in your job.

I suggest getting onto a shop that supplies university texts and software and asking for the computer guru there and they can tell you the ins and outs for your situation. It's possible that you may need to be doing a qualifying course to be eligible for the academic version. I know that here we have to be doing a course that runs for at least 12 months to be eligible for the academic version.

Here's a link that would be worth looking at:

http://www.microsoft.com/Education/USAcademicPricing.mspx

 

Check out my thread at
http://forums.majorgeeks.com/showthread.php?t=123452

It might help.

There are no differences between the Academic and Full versions of MS programs, just the eligibility provisions.

Read them carefully on the boxes before you shell out your $$$.
For example, you can't install Vista Home Premium upgrade, if you have XP Pro installed.:cry
Just one of MS's gotchas.

Bazza

 

OK guys, thanks for the info so far...I think I'm gonna scrap the XP Pro idea; my 2k Pro has more "Pro" abilities than I even want to know about, and the 'Academic' license might have more catches and strings attached than I care to be concerned with.
So now I'm leaning toward upgrading the Win ME to XP Home (upgrade version, not full.) As I said earlier, the ME unit is an HP Pavilion with 512 Mb RAM, 15 Gb FATS HD with Celeron 633 MHz processor. I have the original factory disks.
I've read some other threads about ME to XP Home upgrades, but if anyone wants to add to this one, I'd really appreciate it. And would I be limited to a certain number of reinstalls of the XP Home upgrade (same machine) ?

 

No. MS keeps your activation info in their database for 120 days. If you activate again during those 120 days, you will need to call MS to activate. After the 120 days, you may activate online as usual. Other than that, there is no restriction.