It's official - most PC vendors will ship with Windows XP
Research released by Infoworld in the US have confirmed what a lot of business PC buyers have known for some time - most PC vendors will ship their machines with a Vista `upgrade' licence on request.
These licences cost the same as a standard Vista one, but allow the vendors to ship the machine with Windows XP pre-installed and an online option to upgrade to Vista as and when required.
Infoworld reckons that around 35 per cent of PCs shipped so far this year to the US business community have come with Windows XP.
This confirms reports that several vendors - including Dell and HP - will happily supply Windows XP on request.
The slight downside is that you have to buy your machines direct from the vendors confirmed, or, at least, through a business dealer. The likes of PC World et al, can't offer these types of Windows licences.
The bottom line to this curious situation is that retail (consumer) users appear to be being quietly steered down the Vista path, with all the compatibility issues that route entails, whilst the world of Windows XP continues on ad infinitum for business PC users.
There's a moral in here somewhere...
By Steve Gold, News Editor
