Caroline we all have to do what we think is best. However why would you buy a computer with Vista then spend $100 or more on XP and then the hassle of installing? That $100 would buy a whole load of good extras rather than have a throw away copy of Vista on your hands. Your choice of course but Vista really is not the Big Bad Wolf. There is a learning curve but if you are comfortable with XP then a few aggravations as you become used to Vista is really not too big a deal.

Nothing wrong with Vista, make sure you get Vista home premium at least. Don't get Vista Basic...

May I butt in here? The reason that I would like to have a laptop with XP is this: I have a desktop with XP, and I would like to go back and forth between the two with my programs that I don't think would work on Vista. Maybe I am wrong thinking that. For instance I would like to work on my financial program (I am treasurer for a group) on the laptop, then transfer to the desktop.It is my impression that I would not be able to work on my MS Works files on the Vista laptop, then take them back to the desktop. Is that correct? I think that files are upgradable to Vista, but not backward usable? I hope this is understandable, 'cause my terminology is not the greatest.

Well, thats why I ASKED?? I didnt know how much it would cost to add XP. I guess I will get used to Vista,but its sure hard to change horses in mid stream. I looked at my granddaughters one day and couldnt make heads or tails of it.And you hear both good and bad about it.
Didnt someone post a tutorial on here about using Vista? Id like to learn all I can before I get it!!! And Ill probably be bugging you all for help!!! Thanks for the advice!

Here is the link to Windows Vista Help.

Here is a link that might be useful: Vista Help

You can also make Vista look like XP

to actually answer your question you can buy several brand computers with xp installed on them instead of Vista if that is what you really want. I was just looking at buy.com and tigerdirect.com and found several listed there that come standard with xp.

Also if you choose to go to a site that does custom builds you can pick what ever operating system you want, not all charge you to downgrade, some can come with xp rather than vista you choose your operating system. XP is going to be supported till 2010 is what MS is saying currently, that can change it can be extended no one knows what MS might do. However if you would want to go to Windows 7 when it comes out in about a year just know that you can not do an upgrade from XP to Windows 7 you would have to do a wipe clean and full install of Windows 7.

You could check your local area for shops that do custom built computers and get exactly what you want on your pc.
This site is a custom build site that has high ratings if you click on any one of the ones they show there is a customize button there which opens up the customize feature where you pick an choose what you want you can pick your operating system too.

What ever you feel strongly about then go with that you will be the one using that pc.

Welcome to Cyberpowerpc.com

this is one example from buy.com
Lenovo ThinkCentre A57 Desktop - 9702-A5U
when you look there for desktop computers on the left you can narrow your search and choose your Operating system they do have xp options.

If you go with one that has Vista installed I would just stick with the Vista and do the changes that make Vista look more like xp did, you can get it downgraded to XP but it cost too much.

Janette_orz. I do not know the answer to your query but if you are using MS works on one computer why should it be different on the other? Whether it is XP or Vista either operating system is merely an intermediary or link between you and what you are achieving using MS Works.

Of course, in your case you will be working with 2 different operating systems which might be troublesome in the early days. From Caroline's post I got the impression she had just one computer and was going to replace that.

It depends what version of Works you have. There are complaints of older versions not being Vista compliant. Versions 7 and 8. I believe are compliant.

I do wish you would consider Vista. All the myths regarding it are truly old news. Yes, there were concerns with drivers, peripherals and compatibility when it was first released, but now it is fine. And though frustrating at times half the fun of a new system is "finding" things and using them. Why would anyone want a carbon-copy of a prior system?

Another thought is as Windows 7 is reported to be on schedule for release this year so XP will be two generations behind then. Also, the clock is ticking for Microsoft XP support.

I'm on this Vista system right now and love it. Far better than the XP systems at work. For what its worth, the Vista Help file is extremely user friendly. Type a few key words in and it displays a roster of associated topic links.

DA

Thank you, owbist and damccoy for your replys. I think you have caused me to begin thinking about Vista. I posted mainly as an example of why someone would want to buy XP, but as owbist pointed out, I guess it wouldn't apply in carolyn's case. I'm just afraid that my desktop would become one of those doorstops that raven mentions from time to time, LOL, if I couldn't go back and forth between the two. Now, I'm wondering if I'm putting up a roadblock that isn't really necessary.

When vista first came out there was much good reason to avoid it but since the service pacs that have come out have fixed a lot of the bad issues it had it is definitely better. There are still of course those compatibility issues with some things, which is why some of the corporate users have not switched.

However waiting till windows 7 comes out, and it will be relatively soon since all the beta testing is going well, would save the money of going to vista then moving on to 7.
That is what many people who are still on xp are doing, just hanging in till windows 7.

The doorstop thing is kinda a joke between a lot of us on the forums, most things can be taken care of with a full reformat of course but most people cringe at that idea too LOL.

The best thing to do is some old fashioned research, check up on the programs you use that you must have and find out if they have been upgraded to work well with Vista, some companies really drug their feet in making the changes to work with vista so it is partly their fault too. If the programs will work with vista it is a good bet they will also work with 7 because they are quite similar.
If you find some that are not compatible yet that is a valid reason to stay put or to try to find some other program that may be an alternative to use.

Excellent point, Raven, about waiting for 7 to come out, especially since I am not ready to get the laptop right now. I hadn't thought about that. and the reference to the doorstop - I know it was a joke-type reference, hence the LOL that I inserted.

Thanks for all the help you and the others provide.