Help with selecting Peer to Peer Networking system

Hello All, I presently have 8 workstaions on WIndow 98SE! I use one of the workstaions as a SERVER.
I would like to upgrade to either XP pro, which I understand can network 10 computers.
I did try XP , but found out that XP Home would only allow 5 computers networked! My questions are:

WIll I be able to use XP Pro on one Computer (Server) and the other 7 on XP Home without any issues?
ALso I am not sure of other Microsoft choices, like windows 2000 or windows Servers?
I am not a Network Guru, but know enough to be dangerous, for sure!
thanks rob