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.