XP and Vista: Should I do this? Can I do this?

I'm about to buy an HP 8510p. I can order it with either Vista Business or XP Pro installed. My original intention was to buy the XPP machine. But I'm rethinking this. I'm basically willing to give Vista a try (against my better judgment frankly, as I have some software that may have difficulties with it). But I'm wondering if I don't like Vista can I do the following: 1) Make system disks using the recovery partition. 2) Buy a copy of XP Pro and install it. 3) reinstall Vista at some later date when I feel I won't have problems with it or when it's service pack'd.

I doubt that the machine I'mn buying will come with OS media (planning on buying from Bottom Line Telecommunications) so I'll have to make recovery disks myself I'm afraid. I'm plannig on ordering this tomorrow (monday). Can anyone advise me of pros and/or cons regarding this "plan of attack?" Thanks much!

 

I suggest you buy the xp one ,Xp is the most practical and stable system .
And you can buy a copy of vista of download it from internet,if you want to experience vista.

 

I'd say go with vista, because you'll probably end up upgrading in a few months anyways(while having to spend money to upgrade from xp to vista), and all program's that I have installed work flawlessly. Give vista a shot, you won't be disappointed

 

I say XP. XP is much more stable at this point and still compatible with everything. My printer doesn't even work with Vista. I see far more issues with drivers and failure to detect devices (such as flash drives and Mp3 players) properly with Vista. When it comes to windows I don't think you can go wrong with Windows XP Professional Service Pack 2.

 

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxp.....................

 

I'd vote XP. Metamorphical explains some good reasons above which I agree with.

 

Thanks, folks. I think I'll just go for the XP and worry about Vista when and IF I have to. I have concerns about things like flash drives, printers and some of my older (but still useful) software. By the way, although I use it at work, this will be my first home XP machine. All the boxes on my home LAN are Win2K machines. I've lasted this long without XP. I imagine I can last with XP a while before I need to go to Vista.

 

Will that be legal?

 

Xp all the way. or windows 98 for that matter. JK

 

@Silas Awaketh
You can download a trial edition from Microsoft.com if you want to experience Vista,and buy it later when the vista system is more stable and compatible .

 

Go XP, because vista is cheaper if you go home prenium lol ($110 VS $160 XP pro).

Vista is already much stable than it was 10 months ago. 95% of software compatibility are solved by the run as XP SP2 + administrator combinaison

 

I like vista