What is the Difference Between the Workgroup and Enterprise Editions?

The biggest difference is in the underlying database technologies supported by each edition. The Enterprise Edition is suitable for organizations that already use or intend to use server-based databases, such as Microsoft SQL Server. Whereas Workgroup is suitable for organizations that use a Desktop Database such as Microsoft Jet. Server-based databases offer organizations: the flexibility to handle just about any data management problem plus; powerful performance to manage multiple high-speed processors, clustered servers, high bandwidth connectivity and fault tolerant storage technology as well as; the scalability to handle expanding amounts of users and/or data. Server-based databases also offer complex security and auditing capabilities. Therefore the Workgroup and Enterprise Editions are specifically design to support the use of two vastly different databases.

The other difference is in the licensing. The Enterprise Edition offers Floating as well as Fixed Licensing whereas Workgroup only offers Fixed Licensing. The combination of Floating and Fixed Licensing is a great option for organizations that have a combination of "high use" and "low use" contributors. Simply purchase fixed licenses for your "high use" authors and floating licenses for your "low use" authors. In this way groups of "low use" contributors can share a floating license. This is a cost effective way to give your "low use" contributors i.e. different departments, part timers, contractors etc access to develop the documentation library as and when required.