Dell offers 'Windows Vista Bonus' - a copy of XP!

[Simon]

Dell is actively promoting a Microsoft licensing loophole to channel partners eager to keep selling PCs installed with Windows XP, after Microsoft's official cut off.

http://www.channelregister.co.uk/2008/06/30/dell_xp_channel/

[Rik]

Good for Dell. 

[Sebby]

[doc_holiday]

Maybe Microsoft needs to quickly develop an XP version that the GUI looks just like Vista and somehow sneak it out to buy them some time before Windows 7 comes out!

All I know is that Steve Ballmer had better keep his eye on the ball with Windows 7, or things are going to get even more interesting.

[vitriol]

There is a way to make XP look like vista but it involves Windowblinds and the Vista Transformation pack.  I've never used either of them tbh.

I quite like the XP skin now, probably because it's just so familiar.  Back in the day though I hated it and reverted back to Windows Classic theme.

[Lance]

I have to say, i find vista looks more modern than XP!

[vitriol]

so it should Lance, after all it's much newer

[Sebby]

XP definitely looks dated next to Vista.

[Rik]

OTOH, dated in a way that works.

[Sebby]

True.

[madasahatter]

XP definitely looks dated next to Vista.

Very true - when I go on an XP machine now, it's like going back in time and just doesn't look right to me any more.

[Simon]

I believe you can get skins for XP to make it look like Vista.  StyleXP and WindowBlinds both offer new themes for XP.

[vitriol]

There's also the Vista Inspirat 2 brico pack from the guys at CrystalXP.net

Have downloaded it just not installed atm.

[Sebby]

Thanks, I'll check that out.

[vitriol]

let me know how you get on with it

[Sebby]

I tried it out and it's actually very good, but it just didn't feel "right" to me.

[vitriol]

how come sebby?

[Sebby]

There were just a couple of things that I thought we a bit tacky, but it was a very good effort!

[vitriol]

was it easy to uninstall?

[Sebby]

Yep, it's got a full installer and uninstaller, i.e. there's no actual messing with themes.

[Inactive]

I still think Vista is bloated and slow compared with XP, I still havn't found any significant improvements over XP.

Stick with it Dell.

[Sebby]

I think Vista is a step in the right direction, but it's a work in progress. That said, XP was far from perfect when it was released, and only really came into its own following the release of SP2, so perhaps Vista will be the same.

[Inactive]

They would need to strip out a load of useless cr*p from it to please me Seb.. 

[Rik]

really came into its own following the release of SP2, so perhaps Vista will be the same.

I believe they are calling SP2 "Windows 7".

[Sebby]

Ah, so they are.

[vitriol]

Rather than create a new thread, if you want the Flip3d effect in Windows XP try this

Winflip

Just extract the zip and run the .exe,

This is what it looks like

Picture

been using it for a few days now and it's very good, lots of options to increase visual quality for those with more powerfull machines and it's free.

Low resource use aswell.

Pretty neat

[Glenn]

If anyone with a Dell needs a copy of XP pro let me know, we have 300 copies or so waiting to be thrown away at work, the disc only works on Dell PC/Laptops.

[Inactive]

Heart breaking Glenn...

[Sebby]

If anyone with a Dell needs a copy of XP pro let me know, we have 300 copies or so waiting to be thrown away at work, the disc only works on Dell PC/Laptops.

That's like pouring champagne down the drain!

[Inactive]

Agreed Seb, now if they were Vista, well......

[Simon]

I wonder if they could be made to work on anything other than a Dell... 

[psp83]

If anyone with a Dell needs a copy of XP pro let me know, we have 300 copies or so waiting to be thrown away at work, the disc only works on Dell PC/Laptops.

I will be getting a Dell PC in the next month or so.. You can throw one my way if you want

[Glenn]

No problem, PM'd you for delivery details.