Pc Sites now forcing Windows Vista on customers?

[Super Warrior]

It seems so. This sucks, i was buying a laptop online for a family member at the Dell site, and there was no option for XP. Only Vista.

Same for the rest like gateway.

I just went ahead and bought it, but i definitly would have picked XP over Vista if given the option.

[budz]

check out the LENOVO (formerly IBM)site they do offer XP pro.
http://shop.lenovo.com/SEUILibrary/controller/catalog.workflow:expandcategory?current-...DF1011B7015A00

[nic2k4]

It's not them doing it, it's Microsoft. To push sales of their latest OS they only discount the latest version and jack-up the price on older ones. Xp home probably cost an OEM $50 back in the day, now Vista home is $50 and XP is $80.

Some OEMs are more flexible, but most don't want to support two configurations, so they only offer the most profitable option for them.

[BJ_M]

Super[/url] Warrior]It seems so. This sucks, i was buying a laptop online for a family member at the Dell site, and there was no option for XP. Only Vista.

Same for the rest like gateway.

I just went ahead and bought it, but i definitly would have picked XP over Vista if given the option.

dell offers 16 models of laptops w/ XP preinstalled http://search.dell.com/results.aspx?c=us&l=en&s=gen&cat=prod&k=xp&qmp=12&p=1&subcat=sy...False&~ck=anav



and it is an option on most others ..... also on all desktops pretty well

[rallynavvie]

I don't condone software piracy but if I were in that situation where the manufacturer I wanted did not offer XP I would probably take the system with Vista on it and replace it with a pirated copy of XP. I mean you have a legitimate serial for the newer OS and you aren't using that serial with Vista on any other machines. Just trying to convince myself I guess. I'm pretty sure Adobe wouldn't come after you if you purchased a copy of CS2 but instead used the serial number to activate CS1 and threw your copy of CS2 in the closet.

Fortunately I have so many OEM copies of XP Pro and MCE 2005 laying around that I don't think I'd ever have to try that
(and no, I don't resell my keys, that's why they're all still sitting around)

[Super Warrior]

dell offers 16 models of laptops w/ XP preinstalled http://search.dell.com/results.aspx?c=us&l=en&s=gen&cat=prod&k=xp&qmp=12&p=1&subcat=sy...False&~ck=anav

and it is an option on most others ..... also on all desktops pretty well

The hell?! I saw nothing like that earlier when i went looking. Especially for that price.

Are those used laptops?

[BJ_M]

no -- brand new == but in business section, not home


the on line sales dept should know about them also .....

[Super Warrior]

Oh i see when i was searching earlier for the cheapest model, it was under "Home & home office". The cheapest ones are really under the "small business" section!!

Damn them. You'd think the cheapest models would be located under the "home" use section instead!

[fishywishy]

Super[/url] Warrior]

dell offers 16 models of laptops w/ XP preinstalled http://search.dell.com/results.aspx?c=us&l=en&s=gen&cat=prod&k=xp&qmp=12&p=1&subcat=sy...False&~ck=anav

and it is an option on most others ..... also on all desktops pretty well

The hell?! I saw nothing like that earlier when i went looking. Especially for that price.

Are those used laptops?

i tried buying from business til i got to the business name part id have to fill out

BUT then i found u can still get xp on ANY dell computer. just go to homes & home office section and pick if u want a laptop or desktop. once ur in the laptop or desktop section theres a section on the left called Essential Links (third header down) where theres a link "Still looking for Windows XP?" click it and u can build using win xp 8)

[hech54]

Dell still offering XP was in the news WEEKS ago.
http://news.com.com/Dell+brings+back+XP+on+home+systems/2100-1046_3-6177619.html

[limpy]

i tried buying from business til i got to the business name part id have to fill out

You could just make up a business name.

[fishywishy]

i tried buying from business til i got to the business name part id have to fill out

You could just make up a business name.

they said the card probably wouldnt go through if wasnt associated with a business. doesnt matter anyways as i built up a better home laptop with xp

[AlecWest]

Huh? Both pages (one for desktops, one for laptops) showing XP models were clickable from Dell's "Home and Home Office" page:

http://www.dell.com/content/topics/segtopic.aspx/winxp_inspn?c=us&cs=19&l=en&s=dhs
(laptops)

http://www.dell.com/content/topics/segtopic.aspx/winxp_dimen?c=us&cs=19&l=en&s=dhs
(desktops)

I suppose there are links from the "business" pages, too ... but I don't think they're only giving the XP purchase option to businesses.

[Super Warrior]

*sigh*

I don't know where the hell all that stuff was when i went to order....I swear when i clicked on "home & Home office" from the main page, and checked out the cheapest model laptop. Those things were vista only and $100 more than the $499 i saw in the small business section.

I'd rather not have messed with vista, i remember double-checking and triple-checking, and didn't see any of that. Well at least its a family member's laptop and not mine, so they can be the ones to wrestle with vista.

Still....Grrrrrrrrrr....

[Super Warrior]

First i went

1. here

2. here

3. here

4. here

5. here

6. here

7. here


Notice how on that last link, on the operating system customization, there is NO OPTION for XP! There, that should prove i have not gone crazy and there really was no option for winXP in the Home Office section when i checked.

[Dubber]

You guys are both correct - Dell does NOT offer XP in USA and DOES in Canada due to numerous complaints from Canadian customers not being happy with Vista.
If you didn't install and activate Vista on that laptop yet, you can call Dell and demand REFUND for Vista as you DO NOT WONT it on your laptop AT ALL!!! Give them an option to replace it with a copy of XP. Refer to Dell Canada as they offer XP on the same laptops. Be firm and good luck.

[Dubber]

Oh, Dell USA does offer XP now? This Piss... I mean Vis-ta pissed too many customers... The sad part is Vista isn't any better than XP functionality wise, just lotsa eye candy and hunger for computing resources and power consumption (that alone should put Vista into banned category, at least in California ).

[hech54]

You guys are both correct - Dell does NOT offer XP in USA

How many times do we need to prove this rumor WRONG?
How many links will it take to finally kill this stupid rumor?

The choice is Yours. Dell is offering Microsoft® Windows XP on the PCs below.

http://www.dell.com/content/topics/segtopic.aspx/winxp_dimen?c=us&cs=19&l=en&s=dhs

Amid significant customer demand, the computer maker said on Thursday that it has returned to offering the older Windows version as an option on some of its consumer PCs.
Starting immediately, Dell said, it is adding XP Home and Professional as options on four Inspiron laptop models and two Dimension desktops.
Earlier this month, Dell added XP back as an option for small-business customers, but at the time, it said it would not add it back for home users.

http://news.com.com/Dell+brings+back+XP+on+home+systems/2100-1046_3-6177619.html

[fishywishy]

Huh? Both pages (one for desktops, one for laptops) showing XP models were clickable from Dell's "Home and Home Office" page:

http://www.dell.com/content/topics/segtopic.aspx/winxp_inspn?c=us&cs=19&l=en&s=dhs
(laptops)

http://www.dell.com/content/topics/segtopic.aspx/winxp_dimen?c=us&cs=19&l=en&s=dhs
(desktops)

I suppose there are links from the "business" pages, too ... but I don't think they're only giving the XP purchase option to businesses.

but to get to that link u gotta read the side column THAT NO ONE EVER DOES

the problem with dells site is its so confusing, so many special deal links cluttered all over the place. lucky i took my time and scoured the whole site

Super[/url] Warrior]*sigh*

I don't know where the hell all that stuff was when i went to order....I swear when i clicked on "home & Home office" from the main page, and checked out the cheapest model laptop. Those things were vista only and $100 more than the $499 i saw in the small business section.

that is correct if u use the standard configure guide u cant change from vista. theres some links u gotta use, which are not obvious. so yes dell uses xp as an option, just not a standard option

[BJ_M]

next time just order over the phone with dell ....

1. you always get a better deal than what is shown on the web
2. you just tell them to ship with xp and with no demo crap installed and include media

[12Quidkidinnit]

The concept of customer choice is I think, being slowly eroded away. It's easy to just buy what's on offer. But it doesn't have to be like that. I don't want a car with far too much in the way of complicated electronics, so I don't buy one. And I don't want Vista (yet) so I haven't bought that either. When I see a product that does what I want it to do, which represents value for money and is suitable for what I need it for, I'll get it. Otherwise I won't. But more and more companies are getting away with dictating the market these days. It used to be the case that a company would investigate what consumers wanted, then produce it, and sell it to them. But nowadays it seems the trend is more towards making a product and then convincing consumers they need it. Maybe I'm one of the stubborn ones who isn't so easily convinced, but I make no apologies for it.