Need some advice. In the market for a new laptop for work. The major problem is the software at work is not compatible with Vista and I need Windows XP. I looked at a couple online places yesterday and all the new laptops seem to come loaded with Vista. Is there any way to get a new laptop these days with XP rather than Vista and how would I do it.
Thanks
Dell will install XP on any laptop. Just have to call.
~Matt
I am not sure what you need to do with Windows XP that you can’t do with Windows Vista. I am not a computer expert, but I have been using Vista for about 4 months and have found it to be user-friendly. It was loaded onto my computer when I bought it, so it is not an upgraded Vista, which I understand is a bit “buggier.”
It seems as though you would be able to load any operating system onto your new computer that you wanted. Surely you have the disks from your older computers.
Bernie
Not that Vista doesn’t work it’s just that there really isn’t a whole lot of reason to migrate to it. If you have XP, know it works in your environment and with your software, Vista doesn’t offer much to get you to move. There is next to zero performance improvements and won’t be for a while until more software takes advantage of Vista’s strong points…whatever they may be I have no idea.
OTOH there are some drawbacks to Vista. As with any new OS it has it’s bugs and is a MASSIVE resource hog, from what I understand. Bottom line is, and this is nothing new with Microsoft migration, if you don’t have to don’t upgrade. Let a few patches come out, some bugs get worked out and allow others to figure out what works and what doesn’t. When everything shakes out then upgrade.
~Matt
The software used at the workplace is not compatible with Vista. Not sure why, but it will not work with Vista.
Called Dell and they only offer XP on 2 laptops. One low end model and one very high end model. Unfortunately I was looking at a middle range model and they specifically said XP was not available on that model.
I recently ordered an HP laptop through CDW and requested XP. Wasn’t a problem.
Generally, my computer use is pretty light-weight. I do home stuff (pictures, internet,etc.) and some word processing. So I guess my usage is not taxing. I was reasonably happy with XP, I think I actually like Vista better. I think it is just a sharper look or something. Some of the functions are a bit more intuitive to me.
I am not sure if I would be able to recognize that sofware was taking advantage of an operating system’s strongpoints or not, even if I knew what those strong points were (outside of marketing!).
I think it is weird that a program would be compatible with XP and not Vista.
Bernie
That’s very strange because I called last Thursday and asked and they said “No problem”. Also they even offer it online with some of their business class laptops HERE
In fact it looks like they have a wide range there from Vostro (Low end), Latitude (Mid), and Precision (high) all of which are configurable and all come with optional XP.
~Matt
I think it is just a sharper look or something. Some of the functions are a bit more intuitive to me.
Well you pretty much just summed up most of the reviews I’ve read. It’s a “Prettier” OS that is a little more user friendly in some areas. But for most people that’s not worth some of the other headaches.
I am not sure if I would be able to recognize that sofware was taking advantage of an operating system’s strongpoints or not
I’m not real familiar with Vista so can’t speak directly to it. But in the past for one example the OS’s were written to be able to use 16 or 32 bit code. The newer OS’s could handle 32 bit code which made for a significant performance boost in some cases, the older OS’s then became incompatible with the new software. Typically the software lagged behind the OS.
I think it is weird that a program would be compatible with XP and not Vista.
Happens occasionally although not as often as the other way, something working with a newer OS and not with an oder one. Typically what happens is that software is just too old and is no longer supported in the new OS. Sometimes it doesn’t work and sometimes it does, but if you have problems you’re simply SOL.
~Matt
If you’re doing heavy graphics stuff, gaming, CAD, etc… Vista isn’t yet taking advantage of the hardware the way XP does. Yeah, most people find it pretty weird, but, hey, that’s MS for you.
Thanks for the link. I actually chatted online with a Dell sales rep and they gave me bad info. Amazing, huh.
If you have access to an XP Pro install CD it really doesn’t matter what comes on your machine. You have downgrade rights with Vista.
Here’s the link:
and the relevant text:
Can I downgrade my OEM version of Windows Vista Business to Windows XP Professional? Yes. OEM downgrade rights for desktop PC operating systems apply to Windows Vista Business and Windows Vista Ultimate as stated in the License Terms. Please note, OEM downgrade versions of Windows Vista Business and Windows Vista Ultimate are limited to Windows XP Professional (including Windows XP Tablet PC Edition and Windows XP x64 Edition). End users can use the following media for their downgrade: Volume Licensing media (provided the end user has a Volume Licensing agreement), retail (FPP), or system builder hologram CD (provided the software is acquired in accordance with the Microsoft OEM System Builder License). Use of the downgraded operating system is governed by the Windows Vista Business License Terms, and the end user cannot use both the downgrade operating system and Windows Vista Business. There are no downgrade rights granted for Windows Vista Home Basic or Windows Vista Home Premium.
Is it just me or does the idea of “Downgrading” scare the crap out of anyone else? I’m not a big fan of upgrades, but downgrades? That could get messy. Then again maybe the downgrade would be an entire clean install, reformat and everything. That would be the only way I’d want to do it.
~Matt
That’s the idea. You don’t actually “downgrade”, but you have the licensed rights to install a prior version of the operating system.
The “downgrade” in this case would be a clean install. If you can get the OEM to do it for you, even better. I’d be willing to bet Dell is one of the only OEM’s that will do this though, since they build to spec. for each system.
Downgrading is finw, but you need to ensure that you have the drivers for XP for your laptop. A friend at work has a machine and we reinstalled XP on it but didn’t have the right drivers for the sound card. After having his machine run in silence for a while we eventually did a clean reinstall from the OS disks that shipped with the machine.
If the laptop has one of those new HD with flash memory built in to improve performance, I think there is only vista drivers for those - not sure if you can downgrade.
Much better if you get Dell to do it for you - at least they have access to all the right drivers - and can change a component if one of them is not compatible.
MJuric and Ashayk,
Thanks so much for my mini-OS lesson for the day. Believe it or not I am really a little less confused (and I’m not being sarcastic). Still, for my purposes, I can probably get by without knowing.
One thing that is a definite positive about Vista, it is very easy to troubleshoot when there is a problem. I never had a lot of success doing that with XP or Win98. I could do it, but I usually needed someone to point me in the right direction.
I suppose if I had a Mac, I wouldn’t have to troubleshoot anything though.
Bernie