Windows XP Pro OEM for £50

CBS_2

Just found this on Microsofts website reference the licensing terms

Licensing Terms
System builders must distribute each application software unit with a fully assembled computer system only, or a non-peripheral computer hardware component. Distribution of all Microsoft OEM System Builder software and hardware must be in accordance with the Microsoft OEM System Builder License affixed to the side of each Microsoft System Builder Pack. For more information and to view a copy of the entire Microsoft OEM System Builder License, please visit the Licensing Section on the Microsoft OEM System Builder Web site at https://oem.microsoft.com/worldwide/script/514215.asp

Mal27

Kilty wrote:

Failing that, I'll learn to use open source alternatives to software I use and switch to Linux.

I went the Linux route a few weeks ago. I saw the launch of Vista approaching and decided that there's little point paying loads so I may as well use it as an excuse to learn new things... personally I think it'll take years for Vista to become popular, XP is a solid OS that does everything a business and personal user could ever require.

dc

scoobie wrote:

Why would you want to buy XP? , Windows Vista is out at the end of Jan and is far better.

Err........... buying legit XP with an upgrade voucher is the cheapest way of getting Vista.

Horlock

ollyk wrote:

I just got the 'student licenced' edition of XP pro fully boxed & sealed new from ebay for just £71. I wouldn't go with this for all the reasons mentioned above!

Sorry to disappoint - but I bought my academic version direct from a proper supplier (Insight) and paid only £35 for it - note £10 postage though.
Still I bought a few and palmed them off on ebay so no real bother there!

Voyage34

dc wrote:

Err........... buying legit XP with an upgrade voucher is the cheapest way of getting Vista.

But only if you buy a full PC to go along with your XP. So not all that cheap then

HaroldHamsun

XP? Vista?
I'm still using Windows 2000 - no worrying about 'authentication' everytime I upgrade my hardware.

biglugs

Best method I've found is to get a copy of Win98SE and an XP Upgrade version from Ebay. Then whenever you reinstall on new equipment it works fine every time.
As for Vista I think I'll leave this until it becomes absolutely vital to change. XP Home works fine for me.

welshblob

scoobie wrote:

Windows Vista is the replacement for Windows XP. Over the next few years Windows XP will be supported less and Vista will take over. If you're buying an Operating System it makes sense from a security and support perspective to buy the latest one in my opinion.

I disagree, Windows XP will still be allowed to be sold by system builders for 24 months after Vista GA (see here) and even SP3 is planned for 1H 2008 (see here). Therefore there is still life in the old dog yet and MS will continue to provide the neccessary security fixes for a few years yet. Combining that with the initial teething problems of a new OS, limited initial 3rd party driver support and the fact that Vista needs an even bigger machine than XP to run on, I think I will be sticking with XP. Also looking into using Linux for my brothers shop as a replacement to XP which could be another option for me over Vista in the future.

Rob

codger

scoobie wrote:

Windows Vista is the replacement for Windows XP. Over the next few years Windows XP will be supported less and Vista will take over. If you're buying an Operating System it makes sense from a security and support perspective to buy the latest one in my opinion.

Scoobie: sorry to disagree, but I worked for years in a large commercial / corporate environment and two of the IT staff were Microsoft Beta testers -- never found out what they actually did or whether they got paid for it, but the upshot with every new Windows release (and I mean, every new release) was their advice not to touch it.

One of 'em said, Windows is like cheese. It needs time to mature.

So our systems were never, ever, migrated to the latest bloatware, regardless of all the hype from Richmond.

Where Vista is concerned, I'm still trying to figure out why I'll ever need it anyway? XP Pro works just fine for me (and that was only installed a year ago!)

kevinwj

If Vista is so good and finished, how come uncle bills lot are already working on its first service pack? :think:

Its code named 'fiji' and is due for release around about june / july.

Not to be confused with code name 'vienna' which is the next version of windows after 'vista'