Vista Business with XP Professional downgrade

I'm buying a Dell Latitude E6400 in the next few days and I'm debating about which O/S to choose.

I'm comfortable using Vista Home Premium, so Vista Business wouldn't be a major change. I don't use Media Center or the few other features that aren't included with Vista Business. I would actually use the Backup and Fax/Scan functions included with Business!

If I choose the Vista Business with XP Professional downgrade, is upgrading from XP to Vista Business a pain? I've never dealt with anything more complex than a Service Pack before! Is it a fairly smooth process? Is there any risk of losing data in programs such as Outlook during the 'upgrade' from XP to Vista?

I'm wondering if I should just go with Vista Business pre-installed rather than the Vista+XP downgrade???

Any input and/or advice is appreciated!

 

Do you have any use for XP?

 

Go with the _Vista Business. At this point, there is precious little difference between XP and _Vista in terms of performance or reliability, if it's a new system, it will almost certainly have the necessary "oomph" in its components to run _Vista without much problem, and - for the long-term concerns - _Vista Business will get extended security support until 2017 whereas XP will only get extended security support until 2014.

So, go with _Vista Business (and I say this as a committed XP user).

 

yeah. in 2014, xp won't get security support. thats why we should all switch to vista today!

*mild sarcasm*

 

Or wait for laptops to ship with Windows 7 and get security support for 2020.

 

Business runs fine for me.
(Generally, but I'm thre cause of problems if there are any)

I agree with Shyster1 - go with Business.

Waiting for Windows 7 may not be an option if you need the laptop now.

 

windows 7... for the next laptop, maybe.

anyway, which of today's notebooks will last significantly longer than xp support? when i was deciding what to buy and said that i want the laptop to work at least some 5-6 years, i was told that i really want too much.

 

I've been using Vista Business and have been quite happy with it. Having said that, when Windows 7 arrives, I plan to switch.

 

Hmm, let's see, the OP asked something like this:

Should I buy a laptop with (a) _Vista Business preinstalled, or (b) _Vista Business with an XP downgrade license?

Where, pray tell, did you manage to read the word "switch" in there?

Posts are usually more productive if you (a) read first, (b) post second.

 

I prefer to shoot first, ask questions later.

I recommend to get Vista Business preinstalled since service pack 1 resolved many issues with many applications and drivers.

If you have an application that is known to have problems, then the downgrade license purchase would be recommended.

@allfiredup: What applications do you know your going to use?