finding a Pc without Vista

[boosting]

We are after some new PC's without Vista but latest Spec. Any suggestions?

[Midget]

get a PC from a supplier who will install linux, and then get an xp licence for it.

... although im not 100% you can do it anymore as I was told a little while ago that vista licence is not backwards compatible with xp licence like office 2007 is with office 2003.

[broc]

DELL optiplex, either direct from Dell or from resellers who specialise in selling factory refurbished systems. I have just bought a load of Dell Core 2 Duo notebooks with XP Pro SP2 installed.

I believe there was a news item a few weeks back about Dell responding to pressure from corporate customers who still wanted XP based systems.

[john]

You are allowed to go back to XP Pro from Vista Business OEM which is what XP Pro machines now come with. But there are plenty about if you know where to look. So just buy them with Vista Business on them and use an XP Pro Volume Licence Disk to put XP Pro back on them and you are fine and legal.

The Linux trick is a very expensive way Midget as you cannot use a Volume Licence Upgrade you have to get a full Licence as the VL upgrades are from Windows or DOS to Windows, not Linux / Mac OS to Windows, I think even DOS is excluded now, its Win 95 or newer.

[CyberNerd]

dell will sell without an operating system and with freedos cd's(the OP only stated s/he didn't want vista). I never actually purchased one but think they are onsale to uk corporate customers. I also recall recently they gave £55 cashback to someone who rejected the windows EULA in the uk. Alternatively build them yourself.

[tosca925]

So,

If you buy office 2007 licenses you can install 2003 under them?

We are looking to buy our licenses for 2007 but dont intend to go whole school 2007 until we have money so could we infact install 2003 with them?

[Midget]

yup. although not sure about using the key for 2007 on the 2003 install, but the licence covers it.

[PeterW]

yup. although not sure about using the key for 2007 on the 2003 install, but the licence covers it.

You cant use a 2007 key on 2003, just install 2003 with your 2003 VL key that you were originally issued with.

[farmerste]

good luck, the seas are closing in on windows, you are getting an operating system forced upon you that looks even harder to administer than ever, and I.E 7 is compulsory --- aaaaargh 8O

when oh when are microsoft going to actually ask end users ( not bloomin beta testers ) what they actually want, i.e schools.

i thought microsoft had actually got the idea when they brought out shared computer toolkit, now we just need this expanding so that you can set up a default user without it being molested by the OS

[boosting]

Cheers all, Looks like my school will have to give me some money to buy now otherwise they won't get what they want.

Blood and stone comes to mind.