>Can SQL Server be installed on Windows XP, or does it require one of the server versions of Windows?

Hilmar,
Your question has already been answered correctly, but I would like to suggest SQL2005 (in addition to MSDE and SQL Developer Edition) (just to make it a little more complex to make a decision <bg>)
SQL2005 is currently in beta testing now but it will be released November 7 (or so they say) so it's got to be getting stable. SQL2005 will offer a free version just like MSDE but even the free version will come with some nice tools (like the current developer edition)
read more here: http://www.microsoft.com/sql/2005/default.mspx


Einar