New Dell Desktop (useful if you need to run XP programs)

grumpycrab

If you're looking for a new desktop computer here's a good deal from Dell.
https://www.hotukdeals.com/deals/dell-optiplex-3010-desktop-340-20-inc-vat-delivery-260-off-3rd-gen-i5-3470-quadcore-1453052

This is about £300 inc vat and delivery. You can order it with Windows8Pro(64-bit) or Windows7Pro(32-bit). The latter comes with an XP license which you can use in XPMODE which is dead useful if you have some XP apps that you want to keep running).

(however even with Windows8Pro64-bit you can run XP under VirtualBox; its a bit of a fiddle though).

NB1. remove the £30 Anti-virus to get the £300ish price.
NB2. one of the 10% discount codes ends TODAY

John_Gray

Surely less hassle and cheaper to get a second-hand Optiplex (for example) already with XP installed?

gjchester

grumpycrab wrote: »

The latter comes with an XP license which you can use in XPMODE which is dead useful if you have some XP apps that you want to keep running).

XP mode is useful BUT XP goes out of support June next year (or April..) After that there will be no more security patches for XP. XP Mode connect the virtual machine to the network card directly and can potentially allow a virus into the W7 box. You still need Anti virus on the virtual PC so your also at the mercy of the AV vendors too.

If you don't need network though it's useful...


It's a small risk, but still a risk, and far better to get those XP apps upgraded where you can.