Congratulations copmom!

Update

For what it's worth! Yesterday I bit the bullet and bought me a new Dell computer. They charge you $99 for downgrading from Vista to just having XP installed, (I added everything I wanted like higher memory, bigger HD as well as a 2nd HD, and 2 dvd/cd drives, etc. and a couple other upgrades), and UNchecked what I didn't want, (like the monitor and the programs they normally install), BUT when I checked out, since it was over $749 they gave me a credit of $100 .. which basically covered the $99 they charged for the downgrade from Vista. Plus I called and told them I wanted them to include all the installation disks (which you don't normally get unless you ask), so in case I ever have to format I'll still have the XP and drivers, etc.

Thanks Michelle, just checked out the one you got.. price is OK but don't need another printer, and it shows that it comes with Vista!!! Arggh! Will check the other link.

I did find on the Dell site, they will let you downgrade to XP from Vista for a fee of $99 (which includes a Vista install CD should you decide later you do want to install it). I feel that's still Microsoft's way of pushing Vista down our throats .. having to pay NOT to have something!

And I've dealt with Tiger Direct for several years now, mainly for things like monitors, etc. But my luck, I'd get the wrong pieces and parts and really blow it! Not sure about HP since they merged with Compac. Got 2 of our kids HP's about 5 yrs. ago, and those weren't that great.. it was a Wal-Mart 'deal'. Son's replaced his about twice now.

http://www.bestbuy.com has good deals, it is where I got this one. I have this one http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=999995400050010&type=product&id=pcmprd95500050010 but mine came with a 19-inch widescreen which is big enough. It's a pretty good selling computer I think. We ordered a restore disk from hp for like $15. I haven't needed it to take it back to factory settings but I got one just in case.

They have other computers there too and more great deals if you don't want that computer there are more to choose from.

copmom..you can build one with everything you want lots cheaper than buying one with junk you don't need and not enough of what you want! It isn't that hard. I bought all the pieces I wanted (at TigerDirect.com)and put it together ..including an amd dual core processor. for less than $250..got a copy of WinXP Pro OEM for $52..this had unlimited installs (corporate license)..so you don't run into the cannot install on more than one computer..something to think about..!!

I'm in the midst of computer shopping right now .. hubby's machine is having mini strokes or something. It is over 10 years old. But, the #1 thing I'm looking for is one with OUT Vista. Dell allows a 'downgrade' from Vista to XP.

Yes, they replace operating systems even when they don't need to be replaced. Though it doesn't say much because Vista and the older operating systems will not blow up if you don't update with newer os's. I don't know most software I think will work with Vista 32-bit now. Though the 64-bit programs are harder to find for Vista 64-bit. I have used 98, XP, and now this. XP was a lot better than Windows 98.

I think Vista Premium isn't bad, I don't notice too many differences other than when playing games and it operates smoother I think. The Sims 2 works much better and I have loads of downloads for that (over 3 gigs) and I am just using the graphics card that came with the computer and it works much better. It's only an onboard graphics card but it plays the Sims 2 much better than my old computer did.

I wouldn't upgrade my os because you don't know how it is going to work. I have an hp computer. It's an hp pavilion a6500f and it runs really well. I have much more on this computer than I had on my old one, a bigger hard drive and everything, 8 times the memory. I would have never tried to upgrade my old computer. My old computer was only upgradeable to 2 gigs and it only had 512 mb. I might have gotten away with Vista basic, but it was like over 4 years old, got it in Feb. 2004.

Thank you for the information Michelle; if I decide to reinstall my copy of Vista Home Premium which I bought last September, but removed within a month of installation because of too many incompatibility issues then I’ll try out that interesting application. I have a freeware folder specifically for Vista programs, so will download it just in case. :) Though it’s looking more and more unlikely that I’ll bother because I believe Microsoft is replacing Vista within the next two years with a new, revamped operating system. Let's home they have sorted out the incompatibility issues that Vista has with the majority of existing programs.

A good program to have if you have Windows Vista http://www.shadowexplorer.com/

I was wondering where all my disk space was going so I asked on a forum they said it was probably going to shadow copies or something like that, but I then looked and found out that this feature is only available in Vista Business and higher, though after doing some research it looks like it is in all version of Vista but it looks like it is no use unless you have Vista Business or higher but with Shadow Explorer you can make use of this feature you otherwise would not be able to access if you didn't have Business or higher.