Comments on: The XP alternative for Vista PCs

Microsoft is quietly telling PC makers they can offer a Windows XP "downgrade" to customers buying systems preloaded with Vista.
Image: Lenovo's XP 'downgrade' program

[sabos93]

Missing the point

Downgrade rights do not indicate a problem with Vista. Microsoft has offered downgrade rights with every release of Windows. This right is provided to insure that businesses, which have slower adoption rates than consumers, can purchase new hardware that will support legacy systems while maintain the right to newest OS when they are ready to upgrade. This isn't news. People who want to bash Vista just want it to look that way.

[dave32264]

bashing visduh

Sadly, there is much to bash when it comes to visduh. Memory leaks buggy code, hardware incompatibility, crashes, dropped networks and the list goes on and on. The day M$ actually listens to its customers and actually gives them what they want instead of making its OS for the music and motion picture industries and coding over a inherently flawed kernel, maybe the "bashing" will stop.

[mhinnewyork]

For more on this

For more on this see
When to convert from Windows XP to Vista - Part 2
http://blogs.cnet.com/8301-13554_1-9784657-33.html

[mastamusicdj]

Whats the fuss about

Im running Vista Ultimate 64 bit and think its great. I have a fairly high end gaming rig and have not experienced any problems with either my games or my hardware. I have not noticed my system running any faster or slower than it was running XP some time ago. If a system running Vista is acting sluggish it is probably because the processor or memory was skimped on, or it is already running on dated hardware. It probably seems like a jump resource needs but wont be considered much in a few years. Changes like Vista are good because they result in better faster technology being released to the consumer. That is what keeps the computer and electronics industry going.

[dave32264]

the "fuss"

"Im running Vista Ultimate 64 bit"
"I have a fairly high end gaming rig"
"I have not noticed my system running any faster or slower than it was running XP some time ago"
Ummmmmmm that is the whole point. If Visduh was any better it would RUN better. The fact is. with all the "promises" ( and I say this laughingly) M$ made for this OS, it is still built on the same flawed kernel, there is nothing new or innovative about it (unless you consider DRM innovative), and is still highly vulnerable to worms, virus', spyware, and attacks. Also in order to run Visduh as fast as XP the hardware requirements are doubled. Yes it will run on bare minimum requirements but who likes watching paint dry?

[mastamusicdj]

Just build you own

I dont understand why everyone is crying about what the OEM's will and wont offer. This is a free country and they can sell whatever they want. If you dont like you are free to build the system of you choice from scratch. Sites like newegg make it very easy to find parts. I understand there is a degree of research that would need to be done for the average person to build a computer, but it is not as hard as people think. I feel that is the only way to do it right, a self build will use better quality components and the operating system of your choice ( except mac os). If you dont want to spend the time a resources to build your own system then you have to settle for what the OEM's provide for you.

[b8375629]

We have a bunch of shills here

You sound pretty eager to have Vista shoved down some people's throats.

The next step is for Microsoft to introduce it's subscription service whereby you'll pay a yearly fee to 'rent' their operating system. I guess the $350 retail price on the shelf isn't enough, so you'll be wanting that shoved down out throats as well.

[plsk3649]

XP vs. Vusta

I have XP and love it.My Dell pc is as old as XP and is still fast. I helped a friend setup her new Vista pc and was greatly disappointed that Microsoft has slaughtered XP. My friend's pc should be faster but is as slow as the Windows 98 she had before and slower than my four year old pc with XP. It brought to my mind, "oh no, another Windows ME." I was planning on a new computer next year but if Vista is the best they have, I'll keep my Dell XP desktop in tip top condition.

[b8375629]

You can still buy XP machines

I just bought a new Dell Vostro 1500 Core 2 Duo and it has XP on it.

I believe Microsoft will allow the sale of XP until Jan. 31st, 2008, so you still have a little time.

But I wouldn't wait TOO long.

[kakilambe]

The Downgrade Debate

I purchased a Sony Vaio laptop back in September that came preloaded with Vista. I usually "roll my own" when it comes to PC's but needed a notebook. My thought was that I would see how XP Prof. stacked up against Vista. After about an Hour, I began to realize that Vista was ...well...dumb! Pretty? Oh, yeah, but it really, and seriously stops there. The system is a resource hog and.... Ok, it's all been said before.
Here's why I went back to XP on my laptop:
1. Because my salesman told me I couldn't
2. Because my laptop runs better.
3. Because I hate being told I "can't" do something,
4. Because it was a challenge. Sony makes it almost impossible to find crucial drivers for their AMERICAN made Vaios. If you go to their uk. site, they offer everything you need to do a downgrade. But only in the U.K. What really got me was the introduction page, where they tell their customers how much they value their business, and then assure them that all the drivers they need are there for the downloading. But only for notebooks sold in the U.K.! The drivers are specific to models sold in the UK. When I contacted Sony U.S., I was pretty much told that they had "No drivers for XP, only for Vista", and my letters went unanswered. But If you want to downgrade, IT CAN BE DONE. The drivers are out there, you just need to dig a bit. This says a lot about Vista, eh?

[thetopnerd]

Killeen Texas Computer Nerds - XP

When "down grading" to XP from vista, make sure you can get drivers. Visit our driver library at: http://www.clickanerd.com/nerd/

We have taken the time to sort out the Major Manufacturer driver libraries.

Computer Nerds

[IanSmithCA]

Dell Downgraded

I just got off the Dell chat support service. They want to be paid for an XP license for a "downgrade". A fragment of my conversation follows:

Me: I understood there was an XP downgrade available. But Kulvir tells me I?d have to pay for Win XP. As a downgrade, I would not expect to have to purchase Windows licenses.
Dell: Ian, As per Microsoft , All software including OS have a individual pricing,which is based on the number of Licence you need.
Me: Ian Smith Then it's not a downgrade. It's throwing Vista away and purchasing XP fresh. Ridiculous. I'm out of here to find a new computer vendor!

[pgr33n]

Vista

Maybe its because I am not used to it but I have just got a new PC with Vista on it and its diabolical! It strikes me as being very badly designed and ill thought out. Navigation is easy though - as long as you only ever want to use My Documents.
I'll give it a month then seriously have to consider installing XP from an old disc

[w0nderd0g]

make that January 31, 2009

If you follow the link, you'll see that Microsoft is requiring large PC makers to stop selling XP-based systems as of January 31" in 2009 (not 2008 as you might expect from the text of the article.)

[alexl360]

VISTA > XP

Windows Vista is far better in my opinion, than Windows XP. Not only does it look better, it is also more stable than Windows XP. Sure it has hefty hardware requirements but its not worth sacrificing. People asked for an upgrade, Microsoft gave one, now shut up!

[rick47591]

I just visited Dell's site and found that xp is not available as a downgrade option to a home user. I think the downgrade option is a ripoff because Microsoft is forcing computer manufacturers to sell Vista to those that still want to use xp. I call this practice...coercion.

[thomascavaricci]

Vista is the slowest, biggest piece of garbage that Microsoft has ever put on the market for mass use. People that say they like it must be accustom to the slow lane! XP Pro is, in my opinion, the best OS on the planet. I have been working with and programming computers for about 16 years, so I do have alittle experience in this area. Microsoft should never have put an OS on the market that was not ready for use to the fullest extent. I will find a way to use XP Pro for as long as I possible can or until Microsoft comes out with something that will work as good, which I think will be hard to do. I have also converted two Toshiba's that I purchased with Vista and I have had NO problems with the working order of either machine. Vista should be sent to Siberia, maybe the extreme cold will make it work better, but I doubt it...............

[big_p321]

vista = trash

[embram]

I bought my new 64-bit Dell Precision T3400 with XP, but when I got it, the "System Info" said Windows XP Professional 64-bit edition, but the invoice said Vista with XP Downgrade.

Do I actually have Windows XP, or do I really have Vista with the non-XP features disabled? One of the reason I'm worndering is that many of the Windows Update updates for XP fail to install.

[LaraineMae]

Maybe it because of their confusing description of what you get, such as:

"Genuine Windows Vista Business Bonus (Windows XP Pro Preinstalled + Vista Business media)"

What OS are you getting XP or Vista?

[Pingchaser]

Most people resist change, this is human nature unfortunately. With this in mind, realize that the majority of Vista's bad reviews are by people who fall in this catagory. For the average user Vista is cumbersome but for the advanced user Vista is an awesome tool. Vista allows its users to trouble shoot potential problems through processes previously available only to network administrators utilizing business grade operating systems. Yes it is quite large compared to Windows XP and runs slower on entry level PCs but running on a sytem utilizing a dual core or quad core processor there is no problem with speed. I run Vista on a quad core with 6gbs of RAM and my system boots in about 10 seconds. Compare this to my previous computer which was a single core system with 2gbs of RAM running XP which took about 45 seconds to boot. Any new computer available will handle Vista fine if it has 2gbs of RAM or more. As far as stability goes I have had no problem what so ever with Vista. I had a small problem with an updated driver for the ATI Radon video card in my computer but Vista automatically researched the problem and explained how to roll back the driver to fix the problem without any prompting from me. Vista's automatic troubleshooting will help many "less than computer literate" users fix compatibility problems very easily, XP on the other hand would leave the same user in the dark. Vista has improved security features over XP and the pop ups described in the review above are to prevent any unauthorized changes from occuring to your system but you can disable the pop up windows in control panel by clicking on the "user accounts" icon and then clicking on the link "Turn user account control on or off". In my opinion, dealing with the occasional pop up is well worth the enhanced security afforded by the minor inconvenience. It is like having a last line of defense against viruses and other programs that attempt to alter system settings.

[backlater]

Will Windows Vista support windows 98 mode? I have an old ParadoX program for DOS which I need to use as I have a program which can only be read in Paradox.

[MRBB1978]

I have worked on a few cpu's running vista It just takes some work to get it right but once it is there it is as stable as XP and 2000. I myself like Vista and XP but the price for both is just insane. I have a computer I built myself just last year and I refuse to pay the high price for either XP or VIsta. So I still Use my copy of 2000 pro I bought back in 2001 it works well its stable and it does most that Xp and Vista does. Besides I have used 2000 pro so long I pretty much know automaticly know where to go and what to do when something goes wrong like a trojan or virus or anything malware.

[Novababy]

Count me in!
Do I want to get rid of Vists, well let me see??
It's totally buggy, and driving me buggy too!
I want my XP back!