Used PCs sought for Windows XP

[Borimol]

Some used PCs are being purchased not for the hardware but because people want to get their hands on a copy of Windows XP, according to industry analysts and hardware suppliers.

A lot of PCs have been disposed of because Microsoft's Windows Vista OS has created a demand for PCs with greater hardware capabilities, according to a study released by Gartner last week. In 2007, about 197 million PCs were discarded, of which 44% were put up for sale secondhand.

Many consumers and businesses prefer used PCs with Windows XP because they still have older copies of software programs that often don't run properly on new PCs running Vista, said David Daoud, research manager at IDC. For example, consumers may need to buy used PCs with Windows XP to run older accounting software that is incompatible with Vista.

Similarly, many businesses have been slow at adopting Windows Vista because of uncertainty surrounding whether it would work well with existing software. Notably, Intel said earlier this year that XP will be the dominant OS for most of its employees for the foreseeable future.

Rescuecom, a computer repair firm, has resold XP-based PCs to companies that use software that is incompatible with Vista and which would require a substantial upgrade to become compatible.

Harry's Shoes in New York specifically requested XP-based machines from Rescuecom when purchasing PCs, as it uses multiple programs that would need upgrades to be compatible with Vista.

"The other main reason we see people staying with XP is for standardization. Having five PCs that are Vista and five XP can create training issues and compatibility issues," said Josh Kaplan, president of Rescuecom.

Buying a used PC is also an inexpensive way for price-sensitive users to secure an XP license, Daoud said. The other alternative would be to buy a new business-class PC with Vista and then downgrade it to XP, which can be expensive.

While lower prices make used PCs attractive, users need to ensure they are buying hardware with a genuine XP license. Many resellers are bundling illegitimate copies of XP so they can sell used PCs at cheaper prices, said Charles Smulders, managing vice president at Gartner and a co-author of Gartner's study. Loading illegitimate software keeps the prices of used PCs low, as it reduces the software overhead for resellers.

It is smarter to buy used PCs made by large PC makers, as they come loaded with legitimate copies of software like Windows, Kaplan said. Microsoft usually provides certificate of authenticity (COA) stickers on top of branded PC hardware that helps users identify a genuine copy of Windows XP.

Buyers need to be especially wary when buying XP-based used PCs off sites like Craigslist.org and eBay, Kaplan said. Many used PCs purchased from those Web sites contain illegal versions of XP, and it is imperative to quickly check out the authenticity of Windows prior to or quickly after purchase.

The COA can be found in many areas like on Windows CDs and on or inside the hardware. Windows XP can also be validated on Microsoft's Web site.

According to Gartner, used or secondary PCs are systems that have been used for more than three months "and then passed on to a secondary fate."

Via: www.computerworld.com

[cork1958]

This story basically deserves a simple, duh!!

Businesses simply realise what a POS Vista is, unlike the fanboys that think it's so cool. Those fanboys are simply people who think they have to play "keep up with the Jones," or "keep ahead of the Jones" because they THINK they have the next greatest thing. NOT!!

[+Nik Louch Subscriber²]

This story basically deserves a simple, duh!!

Businesses simply realise what a POS Vista is, unlike the fanboys that think it's so cool. Those fanboys are simply people who think they have to play "keep up with the Jones," or "keep ahead of the Jones" because they THINK they have the next greatest thing. NOT!!

What idiotic bandwagon-jumping toss.

I use Vista because it addressed a number of the issues I had with how XP works. It has never caused me any concerns at all.

[C++]

This story basically deserves a simple, duh!!

Businesses simply realise what a POS Vista is, unlike the fanboys that think it's so cool. Those fanboys are simply people who think they have to play "keep up with the Jones," or "keep ahead of the Jones" because they THINK they have the next greatest thing. NOT!!

You know, I don't generally have any nerd rage in me but this is the stupidest ****ing thing I have ever heard. You are saying that consumers and businesses, who barely know their left mouse buttons from their right, know more about what is a "POS" and what isn't than geeks who dedicate their whole existence to every little thing Microsoft does?

READ THE ****ING ARTICLE. It says that the businesses who do this are doing it because of compatibility issues with proprietary software. Which is very common in business.

[Shaun N.]

This story basically deserves a simple, duh!!

Businesses simply realise what a POS Vista is, unlike the fanboys that think it's so cool. Those fanboys are simply people who think they have to play "keep up with the Jones," or "keep ahead of the Jones" because they THINK they have the next greatest thing. NOT!!

Words fail me

[LTD]

This thread's gonna be fun. **Duly bookmarked for later checking.**

On another note, I must say I'm really getting used to (and liking) those English expressions "tosser" and "toss." As a Canadian I speak the Queen's English (OED preferred, obviously), but when it comes to certain slangish terms there's a whole new world of words to learn form our Brit cousins.

Edited December 2, 2008 by LTD

[Athernar]

This story basically deserves a simple, duh!!

Businesses simply realise what a POS Vista is, unlike the fanboys that think it's so cool. Those fanboys are simply people who think they have to play "keep up with the Jones," or "keep ahead of the Jones" because they THINK they have the next greatest thing. NOT!!

What about the fanboys that jump on silly bandwagons and spout rubbish, while seemingly not having a clue on what they're going on about? :whistle:

[ViperAFK]

Most people I know that think "vista sucks" and want to try and find a new pc with xp on it have never tried it.

Cork did a windows vista disc attack you as a child or something? You seem to have issues.

[portauthority]

hey give some PCs to me (for free?)

[Vista]

I'm an XP user. As you can see I have Vista as my username. That's because I registered it immediately after MS announced the name of their new operating system.

After Vista was released I used it for three months and then went back to XP. Why? Because I preferred simplicity and low memory usage to ease of use, security and pre-installed software/features.

The fact that I switched back to XP purely had to do with my personal preferences.

You should all understand that some individuals prefer to use their system one way, and others another way.

If you like Vista more than XP use that one and <versa vice>.

Both OS's have problems, but you know what the real problem is? There will never be an OS that will have the full support of every single computer user in the world.

[NEVER85]

This story basically deserves a simple, duh!!

Businesses simply realise what a POS Vista is, unlike the fanboys that think it's so cool. Those fanboys are simply people who think they have to play "keep up with the Jones," or "keep ahead of the Jones" because they THINK they have the next greatest thing. NOT!!

Everything you said pretty much translates into "duh", considering how stupid it was.

[Argote]

This story basically deserves a simple, duh!!

Businesses simply realise what a POS Vista is, unlike the fanboys that think it's so cool. Those fanboys are simply people who think they have to play "keep up with the Jones," or "keep ahead of the Jones" because they THINK they have the next greatest thing. NOT!!

Somebody has obviously never used Vista... that or he tried to run it on his Pentium II.

I'm an XP user. As you can see I have Vista as my username. That's because I registered it immediately after MS announced the name of their new operating system.

After Vista was released I used it for three months and then went back to XP. Why? Because I preferred simplicity and low memory usage to ease of use, security and pre-installed software/features.

The fact that I switched back to XP purely had to do with my personal preferences.

You should all understand that some individuals prefer to use their system one way, and others another way.

If you like Vista more than XP use that one and <versa vice>.

Both OS's have problems, but you know what the real problem is? There will never be an OS that will have the full support of every single computer user in the world.

After having used Vista using XP is somewhat of a pain. But I agree with the bolded statement.

[Quillz]

Why do people prefer to stick with a seven-year-old operating system than upgrading their ancient programs to work with new technologies? I know money is the main reason here, but really... Ten years from now, will we still be on Windows XP? We've got to move on at some point.

[redvamp128]

Why do people prefer to stick with a seven-year-old operating system than upgrading their ancient programs to work with new technologies? I know money is the main reason here, but really... Ten years from now, will we still be on Windows XP? We've got to move on at some point.

Why do people stick with it-- some prime points to ponder.

1. They are used to it and don't want to learn new.

2. They can not afford to buy the new hardware to run the new OS.

3. They have been swayed by all the teetering and tottering of IT is bad and it is Good.

In the lime light-- Windows 2000 was king of the hill and XP was not the OS of Choice. Same can be said about going from NT4.0 to Windows 2000. So based on that Vista is still considered new kid on the block.

Ten Years--Just remember there are still people using 9x (IE Win98 or WinMe)

[i_was_here]

If its not broken, dont fix it.

Not everyone needs the latest or even just modern computer for their purposes. For example, you dont need a really fast machine or fancy OS for web browsing or using office apps.

[Digitalx]

Here's an idea microsoft. Instead of making an enterprise edition of 7 and business edition. redevelop a special XP build for "Enterprise" so they don't need whinge about compatibility.... mind you on the other hand... things always have to move forward.

[Ci7]

Here's an idea microsoft. Instead of making an enterprise edition of 7 and business edition. redevelop a special XP build for "Enterprise" so they don't need whinge about compatibility.... mind you on the other hand... things always have to move forward.

waste of effort , as they will go to two different codebase again , as it use to XP & WS2003

they went to mentain only one codebase then package it accoradly just like what they do now => NT6.0(Vista , WS2008 )