Why is DELL offering Windows XP?

odowdchr

superscaper wrote: »

Again, another sweeping generalisation from personal opinion. I suppose Microsoft spent 5 years of development just making pretty graphics?

There are lots of features that were dropped from Vista because they weren't ready.
Next generation OS is due to be coming out in 2009, so Vista might just end up being a stop gap...similar to the underwhelming Windows ME.
It's logical to suggest that some hardware suppliers might be treating it in the same manner.

Millionaire

ctdctd wrote: »

Just set up a new Dell 6400 laptop for a friend - Core 2 Duo, 1G RAM, 256MB ATI® Mobility™ Radeon® X1400 HyperMemory™ graphics. Not a poor spec by any means.

It's got Vista Business - and it ran like a dog:eek:
20 Seconds just to open Control Panel - even after removing Mcafee and putting AVG on it:-(

That's why people want XP - need to wait a few more months for the hardware to catch up with the resource hog that is Vista.

Your jumping the gun a little dont you think?

Any new pc when you setup for the first time, configurations, load all your software on, remove software, do updates, reboots etc etc take time for the OS to configure and install everything thus slowing it down abit.

Once done it tends to speed up. Its the same thing with XP when you throw everthing at it from a new setup or clean install while its working overtime to complete all the actions your request it to do.

Ive got a simliar spec to that and my vista isnt slow and on par with my XP with a similiar spec.

espresso

dellfanatic wrote: »

Actually my desktop was cheaper than a lot of systems I'd noticed for a few months, so it worked out pretty well for me

Yes but there is a difference here between users upgrading to Vista on an existing machine and those buying a new machine with it pre-installed. I still know lots of users who don't want to be forced to have Vista yet. This is why Dell have now offered XP or Linux as alternatives. It is overpriced here for an OS, with very few real benefits to the user.

ctdctd

tankard wrote: »

It's got no RAM.

It's got enough RAM for Dell to sell it with Vista but on a similar machine, XP flies.

That is why people are disappointed with Vista - Dell and others are putting it on new machines and it is very slow.
If you want 2G ram, Dell will charge an extra £130 - and most users won't want to try getting cheap RAM and fitting it themselves. So a £500 laptop turns into £630 - so users think why not stick with £500 and XP!

ctdctd

Millionaire wrote: »

Your jumping the gun a little dont you think?

Any new pc when you setup for the first time, configurations, load all your software on, remove software, do updates, reboots etc etc take time for the OS to configure and install everything thus slowing it down abit.

Once done it tends to speed up. Its the same thing with XP when you throw everthing at it from a new setup or clean install while its working overtime to complete all the actions your request it to do.

Ive got a simliar spec to that and my vista isnt slow and on par with my XP with a similiar spec.

Been using it for a few hours including a couple of reboots. Still way slower than XP on my 3 year old 1GB Athlon 3000 with Nvida FX5900GT Graphics.

Millionaire

ctdctd wrote: »

Been using it for a few hours including a couple of reboots. Still way slower than XP on my 3 year old 1GB Athlon 3000 with Nvida FX5900GT Graphics.

Considering its a Dell Im suspecting they have loaded it with the garbage that they normally do. So

Add/remove any programs that you dont need or wont use - ISP Crap, Trial Junk etc etc.

Then click "Start" type "Msconfig" select startup and shut down any startup programs that you are sure you dont Need.

Have a read through the link below and diasble any services you dont need.

http://vistarewired.com/2007/02/18/services/

Download and install ccleaner to remove and garbage thats been left over.

Then reboot and let it settle down.

ctdctd

Millionaire wrote: »

Considering its a Dell Im suspecting they have loaded it with the garbage that they normally do. So

Add/remove any programs that you dont need or wont use - ISP Crap, Trial Junk etc etc.

Then click "Start" type "Msconfig" select startup and shut down any startup programs that you are sure you dont Need.

Have a read through the link below and diasble any services you dont need.

http://vistarewired.com/2007/02/18/services/

Download and install ccleaner to remove and garbage thats been left over.

Then reboot and let it settle down.

Yes as an IT guy, I know I can do that.
BUT and it's a big BUT - 99% of PC buyers would not have a clue how to do this, and why should they have to?
And a Dell XP crap filled PC runs way faster than the same Dell Vista crap filled PC - even if the Vista one has double the RAM

odowdchr

ctdctd wrote: »

Been using it for a few hours including a couple of reboots. Still way slower than XP on my 3 year old 1GB Athlon 3000 with Nvida FX5900GT Graphics.

Just as an aside, check your processes when the slowdown starts.
I setup a new Dell for someone and got called back within 3 days because it was unusable. Some Dell installed process was stuck on at 80% cpu permanently, Started itself about 5mins after boot, wouldn't turn off.

Millionaire

ctdctd wrote: »

Yes as an IT guy, I know I can do that.
BUT and it's a big BUT - 99% of PC buyers would not have a clue how to do this, and why should they have to?
And a Dell XP crap filled PC runs way faster than the same Dell Vista crap filled PC - even if the Vista one has double the RAM

The slowdown is there to be expected. Its happened on previous windows incarnations. and its not that much slower.:rolleyes:

If people want to use a pc they better learn how it works.

With everthing you can do with a pc nowadays you wont get anywhere if people expect to be spoon-fed on every little thing they want to do with it.

By the way check in task manager that a "pcmservice" is not hogging ram in processes. Its got a ram leak problem. so diasable it from startup if its using too much system ram.

Eyesparky

Dell are negotiating with Microsoft. As part of this negotiation they are also offering factory installed linux on some of their US offerings.