[TechB]

Older versions of Windows were available long after XP was released. XP was released in October of 2001. I am looking at a price list from one of my suppliers from January 2003. I could buy Windows NT 4.0, Windows 98 SE, Windows Me, and Windows 2000. They were all current SKU's available to OEMs at the time. Large OEMs don't like to support too many different configurations for cost reasons. This doesn'tmean that they can't get older versions of Windows from Microsoft. The OEMs chose not to purely for cost reasons.

[Bob Cerelli]

Yes absolutely. There were fortunately suppliers providing Win98 after XP was released. I had a few as well. Could even get computers with no operating system. But all that is quite a bit different from what was mentioned. To help explain it a little clearer, shortly after Vista was released, you could not simply go into a major seller of computers, that sold major brands like HP, and had a choice of picking up a desktop or laptop with XP on it.

So if you want a laptop with XP, get one. Fortunately not only do certain suppliers have it available, but the major manufacturers as well.

[valis]

seems like I've had this conversation before......

[Bob Cerelli]

What conversation. About buying a laptop from e-bay? That would be one way. But then getting a disk with the actual operating system and all the drivers may be important for people

If you want a laptop with XP, you can get them with disks, from major suppliers. I suppose there are local suppliers that could do this for you as well.

I remember a while ago a couple of amazing individuals that simply couldn't believe this was possible. Was interesting, to say the least, how they kept lowering themselves by changing the criteria for what it meant to get computer with XP. Think at one point the criteria was something silly like, could you walk into a store and get a custom made computer with XP in less than 5 minutes. At least they were persistent with their disbelief if nothing else. Even insinuated I was lying. Funny how people that don't even know someone would stoop so low. Glad others here see you can still get a computer, even a laptop, with XP.

[jonmcc33]

Originally Posted by TechB

A Release Candidate is a beta and shouldn't be installed on anything except a test machine. It will have to be unistalled when the RTM release comes out. It turns your copy of Vista into an evaluation version unless you uninstall it.

The release candidate, not the OS, is what is evaluation and it expires June 30, 2008.

SP1 RC is not beta. It has already been through beta. There are different phases of testing software. There's alpha then beta. It is no longer in beta. SP1 RC is exactly that, something that is basically ready for release. They allowed the public to download and install it just because of that. But so people know it's not final they release it under evaluation, hence the expiration date.

All rumors point to Feb 15th as the release date for SP1 final.

[Bob Cerelli]

OM2,

So back to you again and your original question - How do I buy a Windows XP Laptop?

You can get them from many of the laptop manufacturers. Dell, Acer, Toshiba just to name a few. Likely there are more but these are some I've done for folks recently.

[valis]

Originally Posted by Bob Cerelli

What conversation. About buying a laptop from e-bay? That would be one way. But then getting a disk with the actual operating system and all the drivers may be important for people

If you want a laptop with XP, you can get them with disks, from major suppliers. I suppose there are local suppliers that could do this for you as well.

I remember a while ago a couple of amazing individuals that simply couldn't believe this was possible. Was interesting, to say the least, how they kept lowering themselves by changing the criteria for what it meant to get computer with XP. Think at one point the criteria was something silly like, could you walk into a store and get a custom made computer with XP in less than 5 minutes. At least they were persistent with their disbelief if nothing else. Even insinuated I was lying. Funny how people that don't even know someone would stoop so low. Glad others here see you can still get a computer, even a laptop, with XP.

ain't even worth my time to prove you wrong.

[Bob Cerelli]

That would be best.

[Noyb]

My neighbor just got a Refurbished HP Laptop w XP pro. ... (code XPP)
http://h71016.www7.hp.com/html/hprem..._pcs#notebooks

He's extremely happy with it.

[Bob Cerelli]

Yes, it is difficult to see why someone would even think it is wrong that you can get a laptop with XP. As others have mentioned, you can get them from other manufacturers as well.

[TechB]

Originally Posted by jonmcc33

The release candidate, not the OS, is what is evaluation and it expires June 30, 2008.

SP1 RC is not beta. It has already been through beta. There are different phases of testing software. There's alpha then beta. It is no longer in beta. SP1 RC is exactly that, something that is basically ready for release. They allowed the public to download and install it just because of that. But so people know it's not final they release it under evaluation, hence the expiration date.

Here's a quote from the download site.

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/d...displaylang=en

"Windows Vista SP1 RC Refresh is pre-release software and will change before the final release. Windows Vista SP1 RC Refresh is for individuals, organizations, and technical enthusiasts who are comfortable evaluating pre-release software and is provided for testing purposes only. Microsoft does not recommend installing this software on primary or mission critical systems. Microsoft recommends that you have a backup of your data prior to installing any pre-release software."

For you to recommend people install it on their every day use computer is irresponsible at best. As for the time limited part what do you think will happen on July 1. the RC will somehow uninstall itself automagically? Installing SP1 RC turns your OS into an evaluation copy. The only way to fix this is to uninstall it.

[Bob Cerelli]

TechB,

Maybe for the other person that keeps wanting to talk about how good SP1 is, rather than the actual topic at hand, it would be best if a new thread is started. The topic could be something like "Vista SP1 Performance". Then it won't keep being dragging into this thread.

Noticed the same thing happening from the same person on several other Vista threads as well. It confuses things quite a bit. And likely only drives the original poster away. Notice they haven't been back in a while while all these claims about SP1 keep getting getting dragged in. It is unfortunate.

[calvin-c]

Can't find the reference now, but I recently read an article that said MS would end the OEM licenses for XP in March-1 year after Vista was released. So for now, it's up to the OEM whether or not you can buy a system with XP. After March, if the article is correct (I found it on MS' website, IIRC) then you'll need to buy used to get it with XP.

[TechB]

OEM XP sales have been extended to Jan. 31, 2009. They actually had to introduce a new service pack SP2c just for OEM sales. They were running out of OEM keys.

http://oem.microsoft.com/downloads/p...winxp_sp2c.htm

[calvin-c]

Thank you. That clears up why I couldn't find the article I'd read earlier-it's been withdrawn. And it also clearly sets out when the current ending dates of XP in the various channels are.