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From: Ant on 17 Jun 2008 09:42
On 6/17/2008 6:15 AM PT, BillW50 typed:

> In news:48571b38$0$12971$4c368faf(a)roadrunner.com,
> ANTant(a)zimage.com typed on 17 Jun 2008 02:02:32 GMT:
>> BillW50 <BillW50(a)aol.kom> wrote:
>>> In news:4856fa7b$0$5725$4c368faf(a)roadrunner.com,
>>> ANTant(a)zimage.com typed on 16 Jun 2008 23:42:51 GMT:
>>>> Hi.
>>>>
>>>> I know MS wants to have all new laptops/notebooks with Vista from
>>>> local retail stores (e.g., Best Buy, Costco, Circuit City). I was
>>>> wondering if one can still downgrade the OS to XP SP2/SP3
>>>> preinstalled with software, drivers, and support?
>>>>
>>>> Thank you in advance. :)
>>>
>>> See: How to get and keep Windows XP after June 30
>>> http://www.infoworld.com/article/08/06/05/How-to-get-and-keep-Windows-XP-after-June-30_1.html
>>>
>>
>> So I have to downgrade from Vista to XP. I can't get XP without
>> downgrading (preinstalled already and ready to go with all softwares
>> and drivers)? :(
>
> No from what I read, both Dell and HP will sell computers with downgrade
> rights with Windows XP installed. And you will get both Windows XP and
> Vista install discs.

Oh wow. So when I buy a Dell and HP laptop/notebook from a local retail
store (e.g., Best Buy, Costco, Circuit City, Fry's Electronics), I just
tell the employee to have it preinstalled with XP instead of Vista. What
about other brands like Sony, Toshiba, IBM, etc.?
--
"News Headline: Ants Take A Long Time To Cook In Microwave" --unknown
/\___/\
/ /\ /\ \ Phil/Ant @ http://antfarm.home.dhs.org (Personal Web Site)
| |o o| | Ant's Quality Foraged Links (AQFL): http://aqfl.net
\ _ / Remove ANT from e-mail address: philpi(a)earthlink.netANT
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From: Ant on 17 Jun 2008 10:06
On 6/17/2008 6:59 AM PT, BillW50 typed:

>>>>>> I know MS wants to have all new laptops/notebooks with Vista from
>>>>>> local retail stores (e.g., Best Buy, Costco, Circuit City). I was
>>>>>> wondering if one can still downgrade the OS to XP SP2/SP3
>>>>>> preinstalled with software, drivers, and support?
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Thank you in advance. :)
>>>>>
>>>>> See: How to get and keep Windows XP after June 30
>>>>> http://www.infoworld.com/article/08/06/05/How-to-get-and-keep-Windows-XP-after-June-30_1.html
>>>>
>>>> So I have to downgrade from Vista to XP. I can't get XP without
>>>> downgrading (preinstalled already and ready to go with all softwares
>>>> and drivers)? :(
>>>
>>> No from what I read, both Dell and HP will sell computers with
>>> downgrade rights with Windows XP installed. And you will get both
>>> Windows XP and Vista install discs.
>>
>> Oh wow. So when I buy a Dell and HP laptop/notebook from a local
>> retail store (e.g., Best Buy, Costco, Circuit City, Fry's
>> Electronics), I just tell the employee to have it preinstalled with
>> XP instead of Vista. What about other brands like Sony, Toshiba, IBM,
>> etc.?
>
> No read the article!

I did, but it was confusing. :(


> An even bigger loophole -- something called downgrade rights -- will
> allow people to get Windows XP on new PCs, even after computer makers'
> stock of Windows XP licenses runs out. An OEM such as Dell can sell you
> a PC that starts out with Vista Business or Vista Ultimate on it, and
> then downgrade the operating system to Windows XP Professional before
> shipping the machine out to you. In the box, you will receive discs for

Oh, you can't do this with local retail stores. That stinks. :( I was
hoping this was possible without online mail orders.


> Vista, XP, Vista drivers, and XP drivers. That way, if you decide you'd
> prefer Vista, you can use the installation disc and drivers to upgrade
> to that OS.

I like that offer, but not the online order part.


> You can do this only with Vista PCs for which the OEM has decided to
> offer downgrade rights, however. A Dell spokesperson says that Dell will
> provide the option for its XPS line of gaming PCs (the XPS M1730 laptop,
> XPS 630 gaming desktop, and XPS 730 gaming desktop), for its line of
> Vostro small-business PCs, and for enterprise customers. Dell won't
> offer the choice indefinitely, though -- only through January 31, 2009.

Hmm, and no low-end non-business/non-gaming (consumer) machines.


> HP also offers a downgrade option on its business desktops, notebooks,
> and workstations, and will continue to do so until at least July 30,
> 2009, says a company spokesperson. As with Dell PCs, when someone buys a
> system, it will have XP Pro installed, and will come with discs for both
> XP and Vista.
>
> January 31 of next year is also the last date you'll be able to buy XP
> on a machine from a "system builder" -- a company that builds no-brand
> custom PCs from components and purchases Microsoft software from a
> distributor rather than directly from Microsoft itself

Thanks. The laptop/notebook will be ordered really soon since the old
one got stolen and probably will never be recovered. :(

Now, the hard part is which brand and model to get...
--
"It is not enough to be busy, so are the ants. The question is: what are
we busy about?" --Henry David Thoreau
/\___/\
/ /\ /\ \ Phil/Ant @ http://antfarm.home.dhs.org (Personal Web Site)
| |o o| | Ant's Quality Foraged Links (AQFL): http://aqfl.net
\ _ / Remove ANT from e-mail address: philpi(a)earthlink.netANT
( ) or ANTant(a)zimage.com
Ant is currently not listening to any songs on his home computer. Go
Los Angeles/L.A. Lakers!
From: Ant on 17 Jun 2008 10:26
On 6/17/2008 7:06 AM PT, Ant typed:

>>>>>>> I know MS wants to have all new laptops/notebooks with Vista from
>>>>>>> local retail stores (e.g., Best Buy, Costco, Circuit City). I was
>>>>>>> wondering if one can still downgrade the OS to XP SP2/SP3
>>>>>>> preinstalled with software, drivers, and support?
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Thank you in advance. :)
>>>>>>
>>>>>> See: How to get and keep Windows XP after June 30
>>>>>> http://www.infoworld.com/article/08/06/05/How-to-get-and-keep-Windows-XP-after-June-30_1.html
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> So I have to downgrade from Vista to XP. I can't get XP without
>>>>> downgrading (preinstalled already and ready to go with all softwares
>>>>> and drivers)? :(
>>>>
>>>> No from what I read, both Dell and HP will sell computers with
>>>> downgrade rights with Windows XP installed. And you will get both
>>>> Windows XP and Vista install discs.
>>>
>>> Oh wow. So when I buy a Dell and HP laptop/notebook from a local
>>> retail store (e.g., Best Buy, Costco, Circuit City, Fry's
>>> Electronics), I just tell the employee to have it preinstalled with
>>> XP instead of Vista. What about other brands like Sony, Toshiba, IBM,
>>> etc.?
>>
>> No read the article!
>
> I did, but it was confusing. :(
>
>
>> An even bigger loophole -- something called downgrade rights -- will
>> allow people to get Windows XP on new PCs, even after computer makers'
>> stock of Windows XP licenses runs out. An OEM such as Dell can sell you
>> a PC that starts out with Vista Business or Vista Ultimate on it, and
>> then downgrade the operating system to Windows XP Professional before
>> shipping the machine out to you. In the box, you will receive discs for
>
> Oh, you can't do this with local retail stores. That stinks. :( I was
> hoping this was possible without online mail orders.
>
>
>> Vista, XP, Vista drivers, and XP drivers. That way, if you decide you'd
>> prefer Vista, you can use the installation disc and drivers to upgrade
>> to that OS.
>
> I like that offer, but not the online order part.
>
>
>> You can do this only with Vista PCs for which the OEM has decided to
>> offer downgrade rights, however. A Dell spokesperson says that Dell will
>> provide the option for its XPS line of gaming PCs (the XPS M1730 laptop,
>> XPS 630 gaming desktop, and XPS 730 gaming desktop), for its line of
>> Vostro small-business PCs, and for enterprise customers. Dell won't
>> offer the choice indefinitely, though -- only through January 31, 2009.
>
> Hmm, and no low-end non-business/non-gaming (consumer) machines.
>
>
>> HP also offers a downgrade option on its business desktops, notebooks,
>> and workstations, and will continue to do so until at least July 30,
>> 2009, says a company spokesperson. As with Dell PCs, when someone buys a
>> system, it will have XP Pro installed, and will come with discs for both
>> XP and Vista.
>>
>> January 31 of next year is also the last date you'll be able to buy XP
>> on a machine from a "system builder" -- a company that builds no-brand
>> custom PCs from components and purchases Microsoft software from a
>> distributor rather than directly from Microsoft itself
>
> Thanks. The laptop/notebook will be ordered really soon since the old
> one got stolen and probably will never be recovered. :(
>
> Now, the hard part is which brand and model to get...

Since 6/30/2008 (nice timing too) is the last day to get XP, I did NOT
see any demo computers (desktops too) with XP running in stores. Are
they hidden or something?
--
"The eyeless ant asked God, 'Give me eye-lashes.'" --Georgian Proverb
/\___/\
/ /\ /\ \ Phil/Ant @ http://antfarm.home.dhs.org (Personal Web Site)
| |o o| | Ant's Quality Foraged Links (AQFL): http://aqfl.net
\ _ / Remove ANT from e-mail address: philpi(a)earthlink.netANT
( ) or ANTant(a)zimage.com
Ant is currently not listening to any songs on his home computer. Go
Los Angeles/L.A. Lakers!
From: Barry Watzman on 17 Jun 2008 12:23
On SOME computers, they can still be ordered with XP but only until June
30th (better hurry).

Computers shipped with Vista BUSINESS and ULTIMATE have (and will
continue to have) "XP Downgrade Rights" ... you have a LICENSE to
downgrade to XP, but you may not have actual media and drivers to
actually do it. Therefore actually using this can be difficult to
nearly impossible in some cases.


ANTant(a)zimage.com wrote:
> Hi.
>
> I know MS wants to have all new laptops/notebooks with Vista from local
> retail stores (e.g., Best Buy, Costco, Circuit City). I was wondering if
> one can still downgrade the OS to XP SP2/SP3 preinstalled with software,
> drivers, and support?
>
> Thank you in advance. :)
>
From: Barry Watzman on 17 Jun 2008 12:28
XP computers have not been generally available at retail for over a
year. To get an XP computer (even before 6/30/08) you have to order it
direct from the mfgr.

Ant wrote:

>
> Since 6/30/2008 (nice timing too) is the last day to get XP, I did NOT
> see any demo computers (desktops too) with XP running in stores. Are
> they hidden or something?
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