I use VISTA and there is nothing "tragic" about it. I would never go back to XP. Why don't you get a MacBook?

Try looking at the Dell business machines. They still sell the laptops with XP but I think charge extra for it. You don't need to be a business to buy their business machines. I would do the same with the other brands because most businesses did not make the switch. We bought a Vostro last year. Good, solid laptop. Check for discounts on line.

Jane

Here is a link that might be useful: Dell business

You might try the tigerdirect.com link below. Just drill your way down to laptops and you can select manufacturer, and Operating System. HTH.

Terry

Here is a link that might be useful: Tigerdirect

since you want to buy at a local store you likely will continue to run into only vista loaded laptops, most of the xp flavor ones will be ones you custom order unless you have a local shop custom make a laptop for you using your specs.

If you go to the HP site you can use the configure tools there and create a laptop and choose the os but as said it may cost you to downgrade from vista to xp.

there are several sites online that you can get xp loaded laptops.

Thanks everyone, for the feedback.

Camp56: We already have a new MacBook Pro (I bought it for hubby's birthday), but I am in the corporate world so much that he felt it best I remain in the Windows OS domain. (Wow, are Mac's hard as heck to learn when one is coming from the PC side.) My corporate laptop is an HP w XP, but I want a 2nd one for my own use. If Vista is so great, then why is MS dumping it so fast? I have not heard anything good about it, other than the fact that it will soon be replaced with a new version of Windows.

Jane: I did check on the Dell website and to qualify for the XP "downgrade" you have to be a business and purchase a minimum of 25 laptops. Guess I'll check w HP and also the other site mentioned.

Best,

Lynne

"If Vista is so great, then why is MS dumping it so fast? I have not heard anything good about it, other than the fact that it will soon be replaced with a new version of Windows.

Yes it's called windows 7 and is basically Vista.

Or what Vista should have been.

You could call it Vista Service pack 2 too.

A lot of local 'computer guys' build computers, not just repair them. If there's someone you can find whom others highly recommend for his/her expertise, perhaps you could get him/her to build you one with XP. And they usually do so without all the bloat in store-bought models. Just a thought.

Zep,

I like Windows Vista Second Edition.

Terry

According to a popular computer magazine, Dell will sell a laptop loaded with WindowsXP, but charges and extra $150 to do it - what a rip.

I plan to skip Vista and move up to Windows7 after it has been out a few months. The information I have at present indicates that Win7 will be available in 2010.

You could install WindowsXP yourself, but that would require jumping through several hoops to get the job done. It's not bad if you have an OEM copy of XP, but if yours is the Upgrade copy, it's no-fun to install.

I have vista on my laptop and there is nothing wrong with it. I found ways to make it look like XP and could probably do more of that by asking, but it's fine the way it is. If Vista is factory installed it not a problem.

Lynne, I bought a Vostro for my husband with XP. I found a coupon on Laptop review and used that and got a good price. I purchased it on-line and it never asked whether I was a business or not. I had it shipped to my home. I have a Optiplex desktop which I bought through their website and again, was not asked whether I was a business or not.

Here is a link that might be useful: Dell Vostro

you can have laptops or desktops custom configured at cyberpowerpc you can choose everything individually including windows xp, you just start on the main page choose laptops then you choose if you want an AMD or Intel processor choose the configure button and go from there. They have been highly rated on many pc magazines including pc world, I know a couple people that got machines from them and are very pleased.

Here is a link that might be useful: cyberpowerpc

Update:

Tried out the HP top of the line Vista laptops at Best Buy yesterday - the DV7-1258dx - Intel® CoreÂ2 Duo processor P8600; 6GB DDR2 memory; DL DVD±RW/CD-RW drive; 17" widescreen; 500GB hard drive; built-in webcam; Windows Vista Home Premium 64-bit with SP1. I liked it a lot and will likely purchase it, after reading the reviews and also learning a bit more about Vista. Great price point of $1,199, so even with the extras, still reasonable.

Will post again w comments, if I do get it.

Thanks for all of your suggestions.

Lynne

Umm,,fwiw
I was on Yahoo Shopping site earlier. Don't find the page now,, Computers ,,, 'Best laptop under $500 ....but I wrote down the coupon code for Lenovo ?

coupon code USP3PAYPAL will take an extra 15 percent off when ordering from Lenovo

Update:

Purchased the HP Pavillion dv-7-1285dx from BB last night (Vista from factory). LOVE IT. Different environment than XP, but an improvement - fast and easy to use. Also hardware is great; 17" widescreen display and all. Now to go back to buy right kind of DVD's to make restore disks;
Then need to learn how to use TV HDMI feature to record as a DVR would.

Lynne

You cant watch TV at work ... can you ?

Vista is pretty cool. Repairs itself!
Uses too much memory, but its been pretty cheap.

Good for you, Lynne. I have Vista on my laptop and not a problem, XP on desktop. Both are good and the good thing is that who knows how long MS will support XP. I had to toss out my perfectly good desktop when I screwed up my windows 98 and it was no longer supported anyway. DD loves her Mac and PC at work and often complains that she can't use her Mac because of software variety limitations.

Thanks! Still love working w Vista. Re watching TV at work, I work from home evenings and weekends - on other projects unrelated to my corporate exec day job. So the Vista machine is what I chose to keep from co-mingling my personal projects from actual work product. With the hours I spend away from the office (in spite of a 4-hour commute in total each day) I want to know of all the features available w Vista, including the TV/DVR one--have not had time to learn that one yet.

Lynne

You might want to explore Windows Media Encoder.
Lots of people seem to go wow once they play with it & fall in love with using it on home tv/stereo systems.

And it comes with Vista, all versions I think. I assume it must be Enhanced somehow on Vista Media Center edition.

for the things you would prefer to be more xp like there are some really great tips and tricks out there just google "make vista like xp" and you can find a lot.

Enjoy the new laptop

If you go to http://www.gotapex.com/index.php, you can find a good deal on Dell or others. They post the deals from the manufacters websites. Dell sells single PCs with XP downgrade for free sometimes. I've been using Vista for 2 years and love it. More secure too.

I just got a new computer about a month ago loaded with Vista and I LOVE it. Its fast, smooth running and it feels like what a computer should be. I have had a computer with every windows that was 3.1 and 95,98,ME,XP and now Vista.
Vista runs the best.

So, Gloriam, you missed out on 2000?
You haven't really LIVED! :>D

Regards,
Shax (also a VISTA lover...)

I put in vista's SP2
Not bad. Less memory hungry is about the main thing i've noticed.

I need to go re-read what the major improvements are because it feels like the same old vista. Nothing to brag about excpt the mem usage is minus , alot!