Waitaminnit...

...that makes total sense. I'm so confused. Dell is doing something sensible, in the best interests of it's customers?

I just got a migrane. Ow.

screwed install

I can't think of a better way of getting a screwed Vista install than using XP for a while then doing an 'upgrade' over the top.

Always clean install. Vista works great.

One for Two Sale!!!

(Says it all really -- you can have your PC without Vista provided you pay for an unused -- and unusable -- copy of Vista. You're going to eat that Broccolli because its good for you -- OR ELSE!!!!)

(Anyway, how can replacing something that sort-of works with something that works be a "downgrade"?)

News?

This is great, although not exactly new. Fujitsu-Siemens has been selling these "twinload" boxes ever since Vista was foisted on the market, IIRC.

should of done this in the first place

im sure i heard somewhere that its a requirment that with every pc you buy you should be given the os media as it is part of the package bought with the pc

some local computer shop got fined for doing what all the big OEM distributers do all the time selling pc minus the media

i would prefer server 2008 prepared as a desktop installed is way more responsive then vista and runs many of the heavy duty programs like vmware and adobe suites like a dream

Not for most people

Only on some model computers, only on the business side (not Home), and finally only for accounts that purchase 20 units a year or more.

please note...

I just got off the line with the big D, helping my mother to purchase a laptop. This was largely due to financing offered. Not all of the Dell machines are ('factory') configurable with Windows XP at this time.

OK, I didn't demand to speak with a supervisor (we know how that works). I only complained moderately. In the end, we had to switch from the XPS to the Precision to get XP pre-loaded. The representative who so kindly tolerated my attentions to the matter informed us the we would have to get the XP "downgrade" <smirk> directly from MS and that Dell would not support it.

I had actually read of this downgrade policy on their site and interpreted it the same as the author. At least in this experience, it was not so easy as it's been made to sound.

Anyone note a price discrepency twixt Vista Business and XP Pro?

Pay more

I pity those who buy from Dell, a computer and pay for 2 OS. No business man will give an addition OS for free. They have factor into the Cost.

Yawn....

It's so easy to hate things. Why can't the Inquirer actually like something for once? Oh yeah, drama sells...yaaaaaaaawwwwwwn. I hear so many people complaining about Vista. I am running two computers with 64-bit Vista and have had zero issues with either install. I'm definitely NOT a Microsoft fan. Yes, Windows Vista is "bloated" and is a resource hog. But so is an iMAC. Also, most of the driver problems have been resolved. XP had driver problems too for the first two years it was out. So what. That's just the growing pains of the computer world. Hell, just take a look at the new quad-core and six-core processors coming out and only a handful of applications that are written to take advantage of it.

Trust me when I say things could be a lot worse than worrying about operating systems...

Let's keep things in perspective shall we? :)

Ultie Difference in Their Face.

In Way Press Has Made Victim of Naivee Fuddie Duddies, Whom Want Salesperson to Dare to Ultienize Sales Routine, NOT Them Deciding. When YOU Don't Know, Theres FUD.

Yet This isn't BAD, it gives Choice to See Both. Once You Ultie, You Never Go Back. However, It is BESt To Load Ultimate Completely seperate, NO XP on System At All. You Could Corrupt Ultie.

Then question of OLD equipment, XP equipment, of course won't Work on Ultie Partition, In FACT, It will break computer to Mix two. If you have XP Computer Already, Migrate all that equipment with NO Vista Software Support, to new/old XP machine. Yet if you really want Vista Ultimate, why pay premium to have both, especially if you can only play one. Its GOOD Learning Experience Offered. Yet I Know You Will Choose Ultimate on Face Value. If You Have Lot of XP Hardware & Software, Why Change At All.
Remember, DON'T MIX XP INTO VISTA.
Signed:PHYSICIAN THOMAS STEWART VON DRASHEK M.D.

real upgrade

They should rather put in a token for Windows 7, that would make much more sense.

Maybe THEN the leap will be big enough so that the inevitable hassle of an OS change will pay out. Maybe not.

Downgrade

Well far as I know HP also has been delivering XP medias to Vista Business OS units ever since it came out. Seems that companies rather will use XP than Vista, what is understandable in the sense that most of the softwares they use wont simply just work on the Vista OS and/or its just cheaper to use XP than upgrading all the hardware they currently use to level what Vista demands.

Thumbs up for Dell

My company only orders a few units from Dell a year. Barely 4 actually.

But after speaking to my DELL account manager (they gave me one, I didn't ask for him), I get the PCs all shipped with XP Pro as standard and don't even pay P+P.

If you're just an individual, just say you're a company (sole trader works) for goodness sake and pay by personal credit card.

There is no commitment to a minimum quantity or anything and Dell will treat you far more seriously than a Home consumer.