Key Difference: Windows 8 Pro is similar to the Windows 7 Professional and is designed for enthusiasts and business users. It offers all off the features of the Windows 8 along with extra features for small business owners. Microsoft 8 Pro Pack is not an official edition but an upgrade pack. This pack does not have any physical media but rather a license that allows users to upgrade from Windows 8 to Windows 8 Pro with Windows Media Center.

Windows 8 Pro and Windows 8 Pro Pack are two different types of Windows 8 versions that are available on the market and are causing a lot of confusion among users. This confusing is derived from the fact that not a lot of differences exist between the Pro and the Pro Pack. The main visible difference is that Pro Pack comes with Windows Media Player, while the Pro edition lacks it. However, there is another major difference between the two. Windows 8 Pro enables the user to update Windows from any other versions (XP, Vista, 7, etc.), while Pro Pack is only a licensing pack that allows users to upgrade from Windows 8 to Windows 8 Pro + Windows Media Player.

Windows 8 Pro is similar to the Windows 7 Professional and is designed for enthusiasts and business users. It offers all off the features of the Windows 8 such as Start screen, Live tiles, Internet Explorer 10, Windows Store, connected standby, Windows desktop, etc. In addition to these features, it also has features such as Remote Desktop, ability to participate in a Windows Server domain, Virtual Hard Disk Booting, Encrypting File System, Hyper-V, Group Policy, BitLocker and BitLocker To Go. These features are important when working or running a small business. It does not offer built-in Windows Media Center, which can be purchased as a separate package for a small fee. There is also a specific upgrade path that must be followed when upgrading from Windows 7 to Windows 8 Pro. All of the Windows 7 editions, except the Enterprise can upgrade to the Windows 8 Pro edition.

Microsoft 8 Pro Pack is not an official edition but an upgrade pack. This pack does not have any physical media but rather a license that allows users to upgrade from Windows 8 to Windows 8 Pro with Windows Media Center. There is a catch though, users that are currently running older versions of Windows operating systems, such as Windows 7, XP, Vista, etc. they are not eligible to upgrade using this pack. This license is only available for users that are already running Windows 8 system.  If users want to upgrade from other versions to Windows 8, they must first purchase windows 8 and then the upgrade or directly upgrade it to Windows 8 Pro. The Windows 8 Pro Pack provides professional-grade features such as: BitLocker, SmartScreen, DirectAccess and Windows Media Center. The Media Center is the center of this whole package as it allows users to watch, record TV using a TV tuner. The company has also stated that if a user purchases a new PC with Windows 8 installed and later upgrades it with Windows 8 Pro Pack, Windows 8 Media Center Pack, a volume license edition, or a retail edition, then the user will not be able to install apps that are provided exclusively from the PC manufacturer through the Windows Store.

The following table has been taken from Wikipedia.

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