Thought time ripe (cheap) to get a 17" laptop, burn dvd's, maybe even partition hard drive. Even bought a Toshiba, grabbed some of my software, and...... What? Nothing would install because it wasn't Vista (got the software just before it's release). Calls to Toshiba, MicroSoft and 2 Geek guys (took all.......day). Irritating on hold recording quote, "We know your time is valuable and will get to you as soon as we can.......". I'm starting to get an ear for the Phillipino accent but the computer went back for a refund.
Now I can't find anyone who will sell me a laptop uninfected with Vista. I just can't scrape up 10 grand to replace my software for the "priviledge" of using Vista. I'm told not to buy a computer with Vista on it if I intend to use XP. Exactly why seems to vary.
With AutoCad I could use the larger screen. Other software is specialized (not custom) per client. Even the Norton anti-virus I got last year is not Vista software. All retailers I have visited, called, or emailed have said everything is pre-infected with Vista. If that isn't bad enough then manufacturers tell me that they sell only to retailers. The retailers (always part of a chain) says "corporate" has nothing in place to order computers they consider to be custom.
I can still work on my old laptop to bring home the chow but Vista is becoming what could be described as a real "restraint of trade". I found XP for sale at various sites but always like to "check the package" before I buy because right now I just have XP on restore disks.
Any ideas? I don't want to spend all of my time solving Gates' blunder. I doubt whether the Service Pack for Vista due in early 2008 will correct its inability to run legacy software. Boy, just thinking about the unbilled hours I've spent on this makes me fume. Thor