Interesting that Dell would tell you that Vista is where the industry is going when Microsoft themselves just announced the RC release of Vista's replacement. Windows7. The internet abounds with information about XP, Vista, and the new and 7th operating system. Here's two links... http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windows-7/ http://blogs.computerworld.com/good_bye_xp_hello_windows_7 I'd strongly advise waiting to change from XP to anything at times of transition like this. XP was a very big success in the end for MS, their most stable system to date by nearly all accounts. Why invest in something <<new>> with all the transitions in getting used to the system, getting things to work right, etc etc etc, when this <<new>> thing is already on the way out ? I suspect Dell is pushing Vista on you because they are under pressure from MS to do so. I am on the other hand quite impressed with Dell that do provide buyers with the option of using both XP, and Linux based systems despite. One thought... Linux has pretty much grown along its birth lines all along, without morphing into a completely different system. As such it projects a more predictable system. And it is much less subject to attacks from hackers and virus's. Software available for Linux now is so varied and diverse that there is no real argument there any more. And it is much easier to install and administrate then in earlier years, something those open source folks have been increasingly mindful off. AND... exactly that its an open source developed system is to my mind of thinking a very big plus. I'm a real fan of the concept of knowledge being a public domain thing, and not some privately owned thingy companies can squeeze their fellow humans pocket books with. Cheers RicB List Thanks to all who responded with their 2 cents about which way to go. I was on the phone with Dell today for about an hour discussing different options. From a manufacturer's standpoint they were trying like the dickens to talk me out of XP. They kept on saying the Vista is where the industry is going. Why would you want to go back to something old. My response, because it worked well... Again, thanks to all who responded. Tom Servinsky
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