XP Pro Demise!

elecdave · Joined: Jun 02, 2003 Posts: 49

It's starting to happen. Vista has only been out for less than a year, and already, XP Pro machines are becoming less and less available. Not to mention, if you find any new machines, specifically notebooks, with XP Pro, you will notice a dramatic price increase.

On average, I purchase 2 or more notebooks a month. Unfortunately, our Accounting Software hasn't been certified for Windows Vista, and it's not recommended that we run the application on Vista.

Meanwhile, within the last few weeks, I've been having troubles finding notebooks with XP Pro on CDW, Zones and Insight's websites. The notebooks that I have found are appox $300 more than I'm use to paying. The hardware specs haven't changed. In fact, the same models with the same CPU's, memory and displays are being listed on these sites but at a higher price.

Vista machines are around the same price as what I use to pay for XP Pro.
Even if our Accounting Software was compatible, I'd still be hesitant about migrating to Vista with all the horror stories that I've seen and read about.

Anyway, I've had very few issues with XP Pro over the years, and the exploits that have plagued the OS, I'm sure will still plague Vista. I'm just sick of having OS's forced upon us; especially if we are satisfied with what we are currently using. Thanks Bill!!!

User: inactive Posts:

God, that makes me weep! Crying or Very sad

How can I help?

Shadow Crying or Very sad

User: inactive Posts:

The only problem I've seen with installing XP-Pro+SP2 on a new PC that came out of the box with Vista on it......is the fact that there may not be XP drivers for all that new hardware designed to run Vista.

Installing XP ain't the problem.....any ol' hacker can do that, (I sure as heck know I can) but getting all the new drivers might be a real "Catch 22".

So far I've had several customers that have purchased new laptops with vista and asked me to install XP over it.......so far I have NOT.

For safety, I'd have to make a Ghost backup of the Vista setup, to DVD before ever attempting to install XP.....just in case XP wouldn't work on that PC.

I can however, make Vista look and act a lot like XP and that seems to at least for the time being, fill the bill. There's still the problem with printer drivers, etc. for the older hardware.

Cheers Mates!
Shadow Cool

goretsky

Hello,

Have you tried checking directly with the manufacturers of the computers? I recently bought computers from Dell, Hewlett-Packard and Lenovo running a mixture of Microsoft Windows XP and Microsoft Windows Vista and had no problems choosing the operating system; it was just another option when creating the machine configurations.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky

User: inactive Posts:

If you're not in a position to buy directly from the manufacturer, then asking for XP is NOT an option.

I'm sure the mom-n-pop shops are still building PC's with XP on them, but many folks don't like to buy computers that way.

When you take what's on the store shelves, you get Vista. Period!

A customer of mine is buying a new PC this weekend and it will of course have Vista on it. She has an HP AIO printer that's a couple of years old.
Of course, the install disk that came with it would NOT have Vista drivers.
But, with some due dilligence, I found that HP indeed does have new Vista Drivers for the Photosmart C3180.

The download file was like 167megs. Not something I'd want to have to do on my old dial up connection. It still took a while on my Satellite connections.

So now, when I go to install the new PC, besides making it look as much like XP as possible, I'll be able to install the Vista Drivers for her printer. Wink

Wish me luck!

Shadow Cool

goretsky

Hello,

All one typically needs to do buy a computer directly from a manufacturer like Dell, Hewlett-Packard or Lenovo (and probably eMachines, Gateway, Micron, SONY, Toshiba and so forth) is to visit their web site and click on the link to their online store. I do not think they accept PayPal or checks, but one could pay with a debit (ATM) card from a checking or saving account.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky

User: inactive Posts:

You seem to be the exception to almost every rule. Wink

For instance you keep mentioning Dell and I wouldn't have one of those for a gift.

I had a Dell here that a very disgruntled customer Gave me after the HD burned up on them. I spent nearly $200 repairing and upgrading it and then gave it away. In fact, I sent it half way across the US, just to get rid of it. Laughing

Normal people, not computer geeks, want to go into a store where they can 'finger' the merchandise and make their selection. In stores like "Circuit City" there is usually a knowledgeable sales person there to answer the technical questions. There will even be a nice boy to put the box in their car for them.
And if they get the new PC home and it won't come on, they can take it right back to the store for an exchange. It's pretty hard to do that when you've purchased something from a mail-order house thousands of miles away.

I know I would never buy a computer that way and most of the people I know won't either. For a nice little computer at a very reasonable price, I suggest my people go to Circuit City and buy either an Acer or an eMachine. I see Acer has reached #4 in computer sales, worldwide.

Y'all have a great day now, Y'hear?
Shadow Cool

goretsky

Hello,

I have bought some computers from Dell, Hewlett-Packard and Lenovo that use standard components, have adequate power supplies, correct device drivers and, in general, just seem to work. Now, these computers are not anything amazing, performance-wise, but they are meant to be used for a standard office environment, not for gaming, video editing or anything else which tends to push the performance envelope.

What I did was go to each manufacturer's web site, go to the small business section of each, and purchase from the workstation category. I specifically did not choose the home/SOHO category or select computers in their respective desktop categories. I avoid those types of computers as they are made with more of an eye for cost-effectiveness than for system duration.

The systems should run for several years of use with just modest annual upgrades, if needed.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky

FuzzDuckie · Joined: Dec 13, 2002 Posts: 1008

Hmm funny... I've heard horror stories about eMachines. Acer I know is good. I had a friend who used to work for them.

my desktop is a Dell- it is just over 5 years old. Only one major problem with it and that was likely user error.

My laptop is a Gateway-- 7 years old.. still going but I think its on its last legs now.

As for the Windows XP Pro option.. I've looked at that on both Dell and on Gateway-- and I THINK I looked also on Tiger Direct. All of them want 100+ dollars to stick Windows XP Pro on the new computer if you choose that over Vista. Wasn't too happy about that so have been putting off getting any kind of laptop (that will be first so I can take it to England with me in Feb).

Hi Shadow! Long time no see! I've moved 3 times in the last year so haven't caught up here.

User: inactive Posts:

Fuzzy,
You mentioned two makes of 'puters that I've had nothing but trouble with.
But, you also said they are 'older' units. (The older units seem to be more reliable than the new ones.)
Not trouble at my own house, but with customers.

I've been building my own PC's since my IBM XT Clone which I assembled somewhere around 1983. So I've never personally owned a Gateway or Dell.
I just work on other peoples 'puters, several hundred per year, actually.
Years ago, those two brands had some problems but not as bad as today.

Years ago eMachine was a throw away machine, like a toaster. They've come a long way since then and are now a pretty nice little 'low cost' PC.
Many of my customers have bought them over the past two years and they are all still running just fine. Not ONE problem, so far.

I was installing a Gateway laptop one day and it died before I could even finish burning the backup CD's (6). I had told that customer to get a Toshiba, but she let a high pressure salesman at "Best Buy" talk her into the Gateway. She's no longer my customer. I can't deal with stupidity. Rolling Eyes

Dells? In the past year, I've had to replace several that literally Burned Up, because they have the worst cooling in the business. They were all less than one year old.

So time goes on for this old tech, and I continue to log experience with store-bought computers. The HP's and Compaq's continue to be pretty solid.

Home-made computers, those that come from privately owned shops can be either very good or very bad.....it all depends on the guy that built it and the reliability of the parts he put into it.

It's been a wild ride........I'm glad I'm retired and can finally relax a bit.

Shadow Cool