The oldest PC in my office got replaced this past week. It was pushing 7 years, which is a year too long for my recommended PC upgrade cycle. Unpacking the new PC revealed something I’ve never seen before in any computer box: A Windows XP downgrade disc.
My jaw dropped when I saw the thing: Microsoft Windows XP Conversion Kit. In fact, seeing the thing halted the entire unpacking experience for me ā a process I relish.
I had ordered the new PC with Windows Vista Business installed. I’m growing fond of Vista, as long as I ignore the intolerably long startup process. Yet the presence of the XP Conversion Kit caused me to pause.
The computer I replaced ran XP. It ran okay. I was happy with it. All the software worked on XP . . .
After a few seconds, though, I said Naaa. I plan on keeping my new PC for a long time, at least another 6 years. I don’t want to be a so-called “computer expert” in 2014 running an operating system that’s 12 years old. That’s kooky.
Yes: Microsoft may have a new version of Windows by 2014. It may have a new operating system altogether. But remember: I do not recommend upgrading the operating system. I don’t want to. So the pause was brief, I set the discs aside, and continued configuring my new PC.
By the way, the XP Conversion Kit consists of Lenovo/IBM recovery DVDs. It’s not a generic conversion kit; it restores a Lenovo PC only, so I won’t be selling it on eBay.
I’ve read about these: Dell do these on their Vostro line, because they know that not everyone is currently Vista mad at the moment. (It makes sense on a cheaper computer too, with only 512MB RAM and a Celeron or Pentium Dualcore processor, you can throw XP on it and it will run much better than Vista).
And those who are running XP in 2014 will need their heads seeing to, really.
Comment by Douglas — September 2, 2008 @ 1:24 am
eh… I plan to use Windows XP in 2014… Then again, I plan to use Windows for Workgroups 3.11 in 2014!
Comment by linuxlove — September 2, 2008 @ 8:23 am
Pray tell why?
Comment by admin — September 2, 2008 @ 10:33 am
I’d use it just for kicks in 2014, Dan, because Windows 3.1x was a good OS, and nostalgia is fun!
Comment by Douglas — September 3, 2008 @ 12:36 am
[pedant]but Windows 3.1x is just an alternative shell and executive which sits on top of DOS.[/pedant]
My parents recently bought a new machine with Windows Vista preinstalled. They hate it. They dislike how everything has been moved around needlessly and most of the eye candy is counterproductive. (I agree with them.)
I’m now weighing up whether to give them an Ubuntu CD, an XP CD, or whether or not to recommend they take the machine back to the shop (its DVD drive is beggared anyway) and buy a Mac Mini.
Comment by Jonathan Rothwell — September 3, 2008 @ 5:44 am
Hmmm, then it must have been their first Microsoft upgrade! š
Comment by admin — September 3, 2008 @ 7:09 am
Dan: I plan to use XP and WFW3.11 because they are good OS’s. Well, actually, XP is the OS and 3.11 is the shell. But who cares? They are both good versions of Windows.
Comment by linuxlove — September 4, 2008 @ 10:24 am