Thought time ripe (cheap) to get a 17" laptop, burn dvd's, maybe even partition hard drive. Even bought a Toshiba, grabbed some of my software, and...... What? Nothing would install because it wasn't Vista (got the software just before it's release). Calls to Toshiba, MicroSoft and 2 Geek guys (took all.......day). Irritating on hold recording quote, "We know your time is valuable and will get to you as soon as we can.......". I'm starting to get an ear for the Phillipino accent but the computer went back for a refund.

Now I can't find anyone who will sell me a laptop uninfected with Vista. I just can't scrape up 10 grand to replace my software for the "priviledge" of using Vista. I'm told not to buy a computer with Vista on it if I intend to use XP. Exactly why seems to vary.

With AutoCad I could use the larger screen. Other software is specialized (not custom) per client. Even the Norton anti-virus I got last year is not Vista software. All retailers I have visited, called, or emailed have said everything is pre-infected with Vista. If that isn't bad enough then manufacturers tell me that they sell only to retailers. The retailers (always part of a chain) says "corporate" has nothing in place to order computers they consider to be custom.

I can still work on my old laptop to bring home the chow but Vista is becoming what could be described as a real "restraint of trade". I found XP for sale at various sites but always like to "check the package" before I buy because right now I just have XP on restore disks.

Any ideas? I don't want to spend all of my time solving Gates' blunder. I doubt whether the Service Pack for Vista due in early 2008 will correct its inability to run legacy software. Boy, just thinking about the unbilled hours I've spent on this makes me fume. Thor

I orderd my laptop from Dell and specified by telephone that I wanted XP loaded not Vista. I hope that they still do this.

See this page for Dell's XP offers:
http://www.dell.com/content/topics/s...dhs&redirect=1

I got a quote from Dell after also calling but two things gave me pause. The price seemed high when compared to 1st tier manufacturers and the rep was unsure if XP was possible. Result--No Sale. Let me know the results. Thor

Unbelievable that the rep wasn't sure.

I'm looking at the UK website and Hughv has quoted from a North American Dell website - so I'm absolutely certain that XP is available on Dell PCs.

As to first tier, Dell is there. A good tip for you is to search the forum (Dead Machine section) and tally which first tier brands are most often dead. I know one company you'll avoid like the plague!

Just bought (10 days ago) a low-end Lenovo with XP Pro from Laptops Direct. Now that probably isn't any use to you if you live outside of the UK, but it does show that it is possible.

dell, hp and lenovo ship with xp as an option.

i contacted dell to get a quote with XP and they were not kind enough. Atlast got vaio FZ with vista business.

Yes, Dell will do it, if you like Dell, not :o(. There are brand new laptops on the Internet and Ebay with XP on them.

I forgot to mention, many of the newer Toshiba laptops that have come out have manufacturer defects. Toshiba USA does little to rectify their problems if warranty is past, unlike in years past.