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Dell To Offer Win XP On Consumer PCs Again
phalse phace writes "With so many consumers still asking for Windows XP to be loaded on Dell's consumer level PCs, the PC maker has finally decided to offer that as an option. 'Like most computer makers, Dell switched nearly entirely to Vista-based systems following Microsoft's mainstream launch of the operating system in January. However, the company said its customers have been asking for XP as part of its IdeaStorm project, which asks customers to help the company come up with product ideas. Starting immediately, Dell said, it is adding XP Home and Professional as options on four Inspiron laptop models and two Dimension desktops.' The Dell models with the Windows XP option are: Dell Inspiron 1405, 1705, 1505, and 1501; and Dell Dimension E520 and E521."
Who wants Vista?
Long live Windows XP
I don't read or respond to AC posts
this means the hating of Vista is stronger then the hating of previos OSs.
Good, Maybe MS will take a hint....
The Kruger Dunning explains most post on
...whether we buy VIsta or XP?
With the last Linux input to Dell and now XP being begged for.. Why doesn't dell have an option on their PC customization site that states,
"Choose an OPERATING SYSTEM:
1. Vista 32 or 64 Home
2. Vista Ultimate
3. Anything But Vista."
"Please, shut up. Just when I think you can't say anything more stupid, you speak again." -Archie Bunker.
Now I can order Crap with oldCrap installed on it! Not that crappy NewCrap! I hate NewCrap!
You see? You see? Your stupid minds! Stupid! Stupid!
Traditionally each new Microsoft OS has had a certain percentane of gauranteed sales due to computer makers switching. Having fewer copies of Vista sell means Investors could get skittish about the long term and not value the company as highly.
"There is more worth loving than we have strength to love." - Brian Jay Stanley
Let's hope Microsoft does the same thing next year when people are still clamoring for XP...
Suppose MS spent $500,000,000 developing Vista.
If they don't recoup it, heads may roll inside Microsoft.
But the difference between
$600,000,000 in Vista licenses plus $0 in new XP licenses
vs
$400,000,000 in Vista licenses plus $200,000,000 in new XP licenses
is a wash, assuming other things like support costs, long-term customer retention, etc. are all about the same.
The numbers above are 100% made up from thin-air concentrate.
Knowledge is how to play a game, intelligence is how to win, wisdom is knowing what game to play.
1. Sell PCs
2. Offer something other than Microsoft's flagship product preloaded.
3. ???
4. PROFIT!!!
Oh wait, that actually works.
Knowledge is how to play a game, intelligence is how to win, wisdom is knowing what game to play.
-
You are moderating this comment -1 "Retarded", Allow or Deny?
With new computers and top-end hardware running Vista at a crawl, I can't help but think that the 'Vista Ready!' sticker on many new machines just means it would make a really bitchin' XP box!
Bravo Dell, bravo. Now if you could make just one more leap and offer Linux, we'd be all set.
There is no mod option "-1: Disagree" for a reason. "Overrated" is not an acceptable substitute. Post something instead.
This raises an important question - who's more important to whom?
1. Is Windows essential to Dell's business model of building and selling PCs?
2. Is Dell essential to Microsoft's business model of establishing a monopoly and locking in customers?
In an ideal world, it's obvious that #2 would be more true than #1, given the huge percentage of the PC market that Dell occupies. However, customers still demand Windows, and while Microsoft has the power to raise the wholesale prices for Dell, and render the latter unable to compete in the low-margin world of hardware sales, Dell is still quite dependent on directives from Redmond.
This latest trend just serves to underline the inherent instability in this partnership. In this context, it is not surprising that Dell is looking into Linux, since proliferation of the latter will benefit Dell in that it will limit the extent to which Dell depends on Microsoft in the long run; in the short run it'll give Dell more bargaining power with regards to wholesale Windows price negotiations.
It's perfectly fine to not want to be an early Vista adopter. But, regardless of one's opinion of Vista's features or initial quality, spending money on old WinXP at this point is like throwing your money away.
Vista is without a doubt the future of the Windows platform; if you don't want to partake just yet, hold off buying a new machine altogether. Demanding a new machine with WinXP is just irrational.
ENDUT! HOCH HECH!
I recall something similar happened with Windows Me where many vendors actually offered machines with Win98SE instead. Is Vista shaping up to be the next Windows Me?
-- Political fascism requires a Fuhrer.
Indeed, as was posted already, it would be nice if Dell just offered the option of several Operating Systems for every computer purchased. Sure, it would drive Microsoft crazy as they want everyone to switch over to their new OS, and thus dump their old computers for ones that will run Vista, but if a company like Dell has the ability to provide what it's customers demand, why shouldn't they?
From what I've seen from Vista (specifically an install of Vista on a Sony Viao that refused to run the DVD authoring software because the Sony's video wasn't up to snuff), I am not impressed by it. Furthermore, when has Microsoft released an OS that did not need a major overhaul (other than Win2k) soon after it's release?
There is far too much media hype over Vista, this early in it's release. I can't wait until the equivalent of an SP2 to come out for Vista, so I can chuckle like a maniac. I just wish Dell would expand their offer to all their products.
"I love deadlines. I love the whooshing sound they make as they fly by." -D. Adams
Businesses still has the ability to purchase XP on basically all machines available. We are talking about consumer machines here, the home and home office area. Not the small business or large business area where your client probably purchased from.
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Windows ME again?
It's become clear that IdeaStorm isn't about soliciting ideas from users -- it's about using the web to publicly humiliate Microsoft into letting Dell sell to its customers what Dell already knows they want. It should be called PassiveAggressiveStorm.
Just bought a dell laptop yesterday actually. with all the discount specials floating around, some models listed in this article doesn't have the option of XP... Looking at the 1505 model, i was faced with the choice of getting Vista Home and buy a XP Pro OEM license elsewhere, or spend an extra hundred via a different deal to include XP Pro. Former requires much more time from me to d/l and install drivers later... Eventually, the 6400 model came through, which had identical specs as the 1505 and comparable discounts, XP Pro came pre-installed :-D took probably 3 hours of looking around though, but if I had to do all the d/l etc, it'll take 6 hours instead -_-'
In comparison, Lenovo shopping was much more straight-forward, albeit around $200 more expensive...
Is Dell becoming brave in the face of MS? First they seem to get serious about putting Linux on non-server systems, and now they're bending to customer demand, putting XP back on some systems.
The rest of the OEM's surely see what a disappointment Vista is, both technically and in terms of sales. If the rest of them joined Dell in standing up to the Redmond behemoth, the result would probably benefit everyone. Except MS. A lower MS tax, and ways to avoid it altogether.
I wouldn't be surprised if the next time Dell renegotiates their OEM contract, the terms are more balanced.
I bought a new machine about 3-4 weeks ago. Vista was the only option. I asked Sales before I bought it if I could get XP. No dice.
So when the machine finally arrived, I declined the licensing terms of Vista (I have my own licensed copy of XP) and I emailed Dell for a refund. Two emails later I got $27. This is about half of what the guy in Germany got from Dell Germany (plus he got $8 USD for Works, which Dell US didn't bother to comment on when I asked for that refund).
Just my $27 worth.
http://www.headsallempty.org/wordpress
so MS had to relent and keep XP going...
Excuse me, but please get off my Pennisetum Clandestinum, eh!
Many computers that hardware vendors offers today are under the recommendations to run Vista and yet, they come with Vista.
So, you buy a new computer with Vista, and your old computer with XP is faster. You call your vendor and you ask him to explain. The help-desks can testify: the user satisfaction is low and they tend to blame the vendor. So the assistant tells you that you should add more memory to your computer... you have 512Mb? You should have 1Gb, or maybe 2! And then, only then, your Vista may run at the same speed in a brand new computer!
This is hurting everybody's business, and Microsoft asks vendors for patience: "when the modest computer raise to an Intel Core 2 Duo with 2Gb nobody will remember these days... but until then you have to stand by me!"
Donde Ser Geek No Duele
There is no contest here: Microsoft runs the show because they are virtually an OS monopoly for the vast majority of customers that Dell has.
Role play it out. If MS refused to let Dell sell Windows, then Dell would die (or shrink significantly). If Dell refused to sell Windows, then Dell would die (or shrink significantly). Microsoft has plenty of other vendors to sell their OS, Dell doesn't have plenty of in-demand OS's to sell (trust me- I wish linux counted, but that is nowhere near the volume business of selling XP/Vista).
For future scenarios, this is the basic rule of supply chain economics. Think of this chart.
Producer -> MiddleMan -> Distributor
As you go towards the right, your power increases in all cases EXCEPT where someone to the left has a monopoloy (or somewhat close to it). Wallmart is all the way to the right and all they sell are commodities, that's why Wall mart can gouge their suppliers. Dell wishes they were in the same boat, but they have a monopoly to the left.
I love Linux *and* MS basing (fun restarting servers on production every-time MS rolls out a patch). But while Vista may be top heavy, I don't think you do any thing any good by making it out to be worse then it is. There are plenty of good reasons not to jump on Vista, that just doesn't happen to be one of them.
Likewise, we may be ready for Linux everywhere, but a LOT of people wouldn't be. You think Vista is giving people reason to complain? Try being thrust onto Linux unwittingly. Try having to explain to that person why they should be happy with it. (:
Anyway, lets just say top-end hardware can still run Vista fast.
Quack, quack.
We all know that Microsoft is going to play games with DirectX. And not the fun kind - the buy vista or go fuck yourself kind, wherein the next Halo and the next everything-not-based-on-an-ID-engine will only run on Vista.
You know how I know this? First, I imagine that I were a huge fucking prick. Then, I ponder how I could screw the world with my massive pricktitude. The logical answer is, make the next DirectX Vista-only. But, in the grand scheme of things, I'm glad that Microsoft will make this move. Windows users obviously need a dick to come out of the screen and smack them in the face daily, or they feel unloved. They are the Mister Garrison of users, I say.