what you give up when downgrading to XP?

Hi:

I downgraded my new T400 from Vista to XP.

From all the readings, it sounded like I am giving up the following two features:

1) power management - Vista has better power management than XP

2) graphic switching - feature only available in Vista

What other useful features will I be giving up? I am downgrading because I believe XP is faster and because I don't want to buy new software (because of compatibility reasons).

I may bite the bullet and go back to Vista if the pros outweigh the cons.
Thanks for your insight!

 

you forgot 3) Windows Vista can heal cancer.

haha just kidding. i think you summed it up quite nicely. might wanna throw in the aero scheme, if that's your sort of thing.

 

Not sure about Graphics switching, are you sure it is impossible to do on XP with up to date drivers ?

And also, Vista does have some enhanced security features compared to Windows XP.

 

Vista is indeed safer, and is stabler than XP. You're losing out on ease of use, and the fact that Vista is self-optimizing, and doesn't have an interface pioneered in 1995...
XP isn't faster, really.

What kind of compatability issues? Vista doesn't have that many, mostly with software that disagrees with anything above Windows 2000.

 

well, my colleague uses Vista on his HP, and he runs into trouble every other day...lots of issues with his notebook such as it taking 5 minutes just to wake up.

Can someone please confirm about XP and graphic switching? The run time of the T400 is only about 3hrs with the 6 cells. I was hoping for more.

I am using tons of older programs like 2003 office, acrobat writer, Photoshop CS2, etc, and I am in no mood to buy the latest version. I do not know if Vista will give me issues with these older versions.

The other incompatibility is ME! When you are busy from 8am to 10pm working, it's no fun trying to figure out where everything is relocated...if you know what I mean...I just want to get things done!

 

graphic switching is possible in xp only in the bios, not on the fly as in vista, so you would need to restart if you want to switch.

 

Looks like yourr friend has PEBKAC... an uncleaned computer with some bad software running in the background.
Office 2003 works like a charm, so should everything else.

 

EnterKnight, if you had not said it, I would have.

Renee

 

hmm...you know I may just give vista a try...then next year it will be window 7....

guys, thanks again for your kind help.

 

Aero, you need eye candy to help you get through the day!