Choosing retailer for mimimum complaints
 

"john hamilton" wrote in message
...
I think this might affect us all at one time or another. You
want to buy an item like a fridgfreezer or a washing
machine,etc. To make your cash go as far as possible often the
best price is with one of the big national chains of retailers.

Typing in one or two of the household chains names to google,
linked to the word 'complaints'; invariable brings up a lot of
experiences of people ordering and then having to wait an
unreasonable amount of time because its not in stock.

Another problem is with these big companies is that the various
departments seem to be able to pass around the responsibility
of any problem with impunity on to another department.

Is there a good way of trying to find out, which of the big
chains of shops like: Currys, Dixons, Comet, etc; are the best
to deal with from the customer satisfaction point of view?







Doesn't it occur to you that there may be a vociforous minority
out that with a bone to pick? Think how many times you have had a
bad experience compared with a goo experience - likely you can't
remember the good ones.....?

If you want to learn about how to run an organisation properly
there is only one to look at - John Lewis.



--
Woody

harrogate three at ntlworld dot com

Choosing retailer for mimimum complaints
 

It's a no-brainer, it's John Lewis

I have had problems with Comet's extended warranty on a TC - Domestic
& General, (of course). Similarly, Comet bad-mouthing JL's warranty
offering on TVs.

We've all had the manic over-selling in PCWorld - Currys. What a
combination of push and stupid.

And when you go into JL (well at least the one in Bristol), you're
treated like an adult. The staff know their products, they don't
push, they just sell in the best way by listening to what you want and
trying to find their best solution. Their pricing is OK, when you add-
in such as their automatic warranties on TVs (only if you pay more
than £699 in Currys).

I like being treated like a grown-up, by other grown-ups who know what
their talking about and are happy!
I think that's value. If you want price go to Amazon.

Naffer

Choosing retailer for mimimum complaints
 

On 1 July, 21:34, "Woody" wrote:
"john hamilton" wrote in message

...





I think this might affect us all at one time or another. *You
want to buy an item like a fridgfreezer or a washing
machine,etc. *To make your cash go as far as possible often the
best price is with one of the big national chains of retailers.

Typing in one or two of the household chains names to google,
linked to the word 'complaints'; invariable brings up a lot of
experiences of people ordering and then having to wait an
unreasonable amount of time because its not in stock.

Another problem is with these big companies is that the various
departments seem to be able to pass around the responsibility
of any problem with impunity on to another department.

Is there a good way of trying to find out, which of the big
chains of shops like: Currys, Dixons, Comet, etc; *are the best
to deal with from the customer satisfaction point of view?

Doesn't it occur to you that there may be a vociforous minority
out that with a bone to pick? Think how many times you have had a
bad experience compared with a goo experience - likely you can't
remember the good ones.....?

If you want to learn about how to run an organisation properly
there is only one to look at - John Lewis.

Actually I do generally keep a track of good experiences. I've used
Ebuyer almost invariably for many years, sometimes paying a small
premium simply because the site is relatively easy to use, the goods
always arrive within the time specified (and often before), and the
one or two problems I've had (in probably 7 or 8 years of using them)
have been resolved without quibble.

If I contrast that to something like Amazon, which I don't normally
use anymore (I use Pirate Bay instead for that kind of purchase),
where almost from the beginning many years ago I was having delivery
problems, and damaged/incorrect items, and moreover having to invoke
the letter of the law to get any redress.

Choosing retailer for mimimum complaints
 

In message
,
naffer writes

If you want price go to Amazon.

No, they're not the cheapest; but I keep using them as I've been
mightily impressed by their no-quibble, free, courier to your door
returns policy, even when the advertised returns time limit has long
gone.

--

bof at bof dot me dot uk

Choosing retailer for mimimum complaints
 

"naffer" wrote in message
...
It's a no-brainer, it's John Lewis

I have had problems with Comet's extended warranty on a TC - Domestic
& General, (of course). Similarly, Comet bad-mouthing JL's warranty
offering on TVs.

We've all had the manic over-selling in PCWorld - Currys. What a
combination of push and stupid.

Never happened to me.
The staff may not know much about the products but they only ever ask if you
want a warranty once.
And they price match + 10%.


And when you go into JL (well at least the one in Bristol), you're
treated like an adult. The staff know their products, they don't
push, they just sell in the best way by listening to what you want and
trying to find their best solution. Their pricing is OK, when you add-
in such as their automatic warranties on TVs (only if you pay more
than £699 in Currys).

I like being treated like a grown-up, by other grown-ups who know what
their talking about and are happy!
I think that's value. If you want price go to Amazon.

I just get Currys to price match + 10% back.

Choosing retailer for mimimum complaints
 

In message
, Ste
writes

If I contrast that to something like Amazon, which I don't normally
use anymore (I use Pirate Bay instead for that kind of purchase)


Normally I'm happy to buy from the Amazon. In about four years of
purchases only one order has gone awry. Oddly my monthly orders for DVDs
always arrive from a Jersey trader, probably a VAT evasion or avoidance
finagle, who always send DVDs in individual packet rather than post them
in a single package. I confess I don't always worry about the cost.

But something the other day made me clock the price before clicking the
Amazon 'OK add to truck' radio button! With the Amazon one doesn't have
to enter debit card details because in the words of the long forgotten
Hilda Baker, 'they know, you know!' All I was doing was obliging my
granddaughter's birthday present wish for a new cellphone. She wanted an
HTC Desire. My Nokia is about 12
years old and costs me about 50p per month with my Orange Virgin
contract

http://www.pbase.com/jamesfollett/image/115591729

so I'm a little out of touch with cost of new
cellphones but catching sight of the Amazon price tag of a
whisker under GBP400 froze my click finger quick as boiled
asparagus.

GBP400 for a cellphone?

Boy -- am I out of touch.

--
James Follett

Choosing retailer for mimimum complaints
 

james wrote:

http://www.pbase.com/jamesfollett/image/115591729

You've obliterated the address from the bill, but you ought to eradicate
the barcode underneath too, as that is your postcode.

Decoding by sight alone is simple ...

Choosing retailer for mimimum complaints
 

"james" wrote in message
...
so I'm a little out of touch with cost of new
cellphones but catching sight of the Amazon price tag of a
whisker under GBP400 froze my click finger quick as boiled
asparagus.

GBP400 for a cellphone?

Boy -- am I out of touch.

A bloke I went to school with is involved with Vertu phones.
Fancy a mobile for £23,000?

Andy

Choosing retailer for mimimum complaints
 

"naffer" wrote

We've all had the manic over-selling in PCWorld - Currys. What a
combination of push and stupid.

The last time I tried PC World I finally came out in total disgust.

When I went in I told the first sales person that I wanted a new PC with
Windows XP. They spent an hour showing me loads of computers all with Vista
installed. When I finally found one that suited I once again said I want it
with XP. Oh we can't do that she said.

I then went to a small local independent computer shop, who sold me the same
PC for a fair bit less money and installed a genuine copy of Windows XP
without extra charge.

John.

Choosing retailer for mimimum complaints
 

Andy wrote:
"james" wrote in message
...
so I'm a little out of touch with cost of new
cellphones but catching sight of the Amazon price tag of a
whisker under GBP400 froze my click finger quick as boiled
asparagus.

GBP400 for a cellphone?

Boy -- am I out of touch.

A bloke I went to school with is involved with Vertu phones.
Fancy a mobile for £23,000?

I assume vertu can strip the diamonds from an old one,
and re-bling a new one?

Given the rate of change in technology,
an "original" Vertu is a crap (but expensive)
phone by today's standards.

http://www.engadget.com/2005/02/07/t...ung-sph-e3200/

"The $54,000 diamond-crusted Samsung SPH-E3200"

I wonder what it's worth now?!

BugBear

Choosing retailer for mimimum complaints
 

On Jul 1, 10:32*pm, Ste wrote:
On 1 July, 21:34, "Woody" wrote:



"john hamilton" wrote in message

...

I think this might affect us all at one time or another. *You
want to buy an item like a fridgfreezer or a washing
machine,etc. *To make your cash go as far as possible often the
best price is with one of the big national chains of retailers.

Typing in one or two of the household chains names to google,
linked to the word 'complaints'; invariable brings up a lot of
experiences of people ordering and then having to wait an
unreasonable amount of time because its not in stock.

Another problem is with these big companies is that the various
departments seem to be able to pass around the responsibility
of any problem with impunity on to another department.

Is there a good way of trying to find out, which of the big
chains of shops like: Currys, Dixons, Comet, etc; *are the best
to deal with from the customer satisfaction point of view?

Doesn't it occur to you that there may be a vociforous minority
out that with a bone to pick? Think how many times you have had a
bad experience compared with a goo experience - likely you can't
remember the good ones.....?

If you want to learn about how to run an organisation properly
there is only one to look at - John Lewis.

Actually I do generally keep a track of good experiences. I've used
Ebuyer almost invariably for many years, sometimes paying a small
premium simply because the site is relatively easy to use, the goods
always arrive within the time specified (and often before), and the
one or two problems I've had (in probably 7 or 8 years of using them)
have been resolved without quibble.

That's my experience. I always select the cheapest delivery option and
stuff invariably arrives earlier than they say it will. never had to
return anything.

At first I was wary as there are some supposed horror stories about
eBuyer customer services on the 'net. As always, however, there are
two side to every story, and most complaints forums only present one.

MBQ

Choosing retailer for mimimum complaints
 

On Fri, 2 Jul 2010 11:56:07 +0100, "John Turner"
wrote:

I then went to a small local independent computer shop, who sold me the same
PC for a fair bit less money and installed a genuine copy of Windows XP
without extra charge.

Sounds very much as if it might be a pirate copy of XP.

--
Cynic

Choosing retailer for mimimum complaints
 

Cynic wrote:
On Fri, 2 Jul 2010 11:56:07 +0100, "John Turner"
wrote:

I then went to a small local independent computer shop, who sold me
the same PC for a fair bit less money and installed a genuine copy
of Windows XP without extra charge.

Sounds very much as if it might be a pirate copy of XP.

not necessarily, if the pc was originally going to have vista on it, then he
has now got a copy of vista to sell, probably worth a little more than XP
is.

Choosing retailer for mimimum complaints
 

On Fri, 2 Jul 2010 17:22:46 +0100, "Mrcheerful"
wrote:

I then went to a small local independent computer shop, who sold me
the same PC for a fair bit less money and installed a genuine copy
of Windows XP without extra charge.

Sounds very much as if it might be a pirate copy of XP.

not necessarily, if the pc was originally going to have vista on it, then he
has now got a copy of vista to sell, probably worth a little more than XP
is.

That's a big "if". It is quite common for small independent computer
stores to undercut the chain stores by neglecting to charge (or pay
for) the OS.

I always get my replacement PCs with no OS on them at all, and then
use the same copy of XP that I have used on all my previous PCs.
AFAIAA that is perfectly legal.

Finding an off-the-shelf PC that most closely matches the
specification you want, and upgrading it where it does not match is
cheaper IME than building the whole thing from scratch.

Here's a good site
http://www.palicomp.co.uk/pc-base-units/cat_1.html

--
Cynic

Choosing retailer for mimimum complaints
 

On 2 July, 14:03, "Man at B&Q" wrote:
On Jul 1, 10:32*pm, Ste wrote:





On 1 July, 21:34, "Woody" wrote:

"john hamilton" wrote in message

...

I think this might affect us all at one time or another. *You
want to buy an item like a fridgfreezer or a washing
machine,etc. *To make your cash go as far as possible often the
best price is with one of the big national chains of retailers.

Typing in one or two of the household chains names to google,
linked to the word 'complaints'; invariable brings up a lot of
experiences of people ordering and then having to wait an
unreasonable amount of time because its not in stock.

Another problem is with these big companies is that the various
departments seem to be able to pass around the responsibility
of any problem with impunity on to another department.

Is there a good way of trying to find out, which of the big
chains of shops like: Currys, Dixons, Comet, etc; *are the best
to deal with from the customer satisfaction point of view?

Doesn't it occur to you that there may be a vociforous minority
out that with a bone to pick? Think how many times you have had a
bad experience compared with a goo experience - likely you can't
remember the good ones.....?

If you want to learn about how to run an organisation properly
there is only one to look at - John Lewis.

Actually I do generally keep a track of good experiences. I've used
Ebuyer almost invariably for many years, sometimes paying a small
premium simply because the site is relatively easy to use, the goods
always arrive within the time specified (and often before), and the
one or two problems I've had (in probably 7 or 8 years of using them)
have been resolved without quibble.

That's my experience. I always select the cheapest delivery option and
stuff invariably arrives earlier than they say it will. never had to
return anything.

At first I was wary as there are some supposed horror stories about
eBuyer customer services on the 'net. As always, however, there are
two side to every story, and most complaints forums only present one.

The only two run-ins that I can recall firstly involved the
requirement, many years ago, that you fax them any change of address.
I didn't have a fax machine or convenient access to one, and ended up
having to shut down one account and start up another (at the
suggestion of Ebuyer) - an absurd security policy.

Recently I tried placing an order for my mother, on my account, and
using her card. Apparently you can't use a card that doesn't match the
account holder's name. My mother's never used a computer in her life,
I said, and I don't intend to spend time setting her up an account for
a single purchase. No can do, they said politely - again, an absurd
security policy. So ultimately, I found a way around by using Google
Checkout, which apparently does allow cards with different names, and
used that in conjunction with my existing Ebuyer account.

If I contrast this to Dabs which I used the other day for an item that
Ebuyer didn't have, the item quickly turned out to be faulty (perhaps
not Dabs' fault), but what is more, I ended up being forced to
scrutinise their terms and conditions in the course of returning the
item, something that I don't ever remember having to do with Ebuyer.

Choosing retailer for mimimum complaints
 

On 02/07/2010 20:17, Ste wrote:
If I contrast this to Dabs which I used the other day for an item that
Ebuyer didn't have, the item quickly turned out to be faulty (perhaps
not Dabs' fault), but what is more, I ended up being forced to
scrutinise their terms and conditions in the course of returning the
item, something that I don't ever remember having to do with Ebuyer.

You are lucky that Dabs is in better ownership these days.

The debit card 'security' the previous owners had in place caused my
bank account to be completely cleaned out by a crooked member of their
staff.

--
Adrian C

Choosing retailer for mimimum complaints
 

"Cynic" wrote

I then went to a small local independent computer shop, who sold me the
same
PC for a fair bit less money and installed a genuine copy of Windows XP
without extra charge.

Sounds very much as if it might be a pirate copy of XP.

Cynic.

Choosing retailer for mimimum complaints
 

On 2 July, 18:14, Cynic wrote:
On Fri, 2 Jul 2010 17:22:46 +0100, "Mrcheerful"
wrote:

I then went to a small local independent computer shop, who sold me
the same PC for a fair bit less money and installed a genuine copy
of Windows XP without extra charge.
Sounds very much as if it might be a pirate copy of XP.
not necessarily, if the pc was originally going to have vista on it, then he
has now got a copy of vista to sell, probably worth a little more than XP
is.

That's a big "if". * It is quite common for small independent computer
stores to undercut the chain stores by neglecting to charge (or pay
for) the OS.

I always get my replacement PCs with no OS on them at all, and then
use the same copy of XP that I have used on all my previous PCs.
AFAIAA that is perfectly legal.

It depends on whether your copy of XP is retail or OEM. As far as I
know, it's not legitimate to transfer OEM licences.

Incidentally, I would recommend an upgrade to Windows 7. I recently
installed it on my 7 year old laptop (upgraded from XP SP3), and I
found it at least as fast as XP even on that age of hardware (and
ReadyBoost allowed me to take the strain off the old ATA hard disk),
and unlike Vista the UI improvements are worth having this time. I'm
not easy to please, but I honestly cannot find any significant fault
with it.



Finding an off-the-shelf PC that most closely matches the
specification you want, and upgrading it where it does not match is
cheaper IME than building the whole thing from scratch.

Here's a good sitehttp://www.palicomp.co.uk/pc-base-units/cat_1.html

I've never found an off-the-shelf PC to be cheaper than self-build.
Profit more than wipes out any bulk-saving that systems builders may
get on the hardware.

Choosing retailer for mimimum complaints
 

On Fri, 02 Jul 2010 20:30:48 +0100, Adrian C wrote:

The debit card 'security' the previous owners had in place caused my
bank account to be completely cleaned out by a crooked member of their
staff.

How long ago was that?

Choosing retailer for mimimum complaints
 

"Cynic" wrote in message
...

I always get my replacement PCs with no OS on them at all, and then
use the same copy of XP that I have used on all my previous PCs.
AFAIAA that is perfectly legal.

If its a retail pack its legal as they are transferable.
If its a cheap OEM pack it is not legal to transfer it.

Choosing retailer for mimimum complaints
 

On 2 July, 22:11, August West wrote:
The entity calling itself [email protected] wrote:



"Cynic" wrote in message
.. .

I always get my replacement PCs with no OS on them at all, and then
use the same copy of XP that I have used on all my previous PCs.
AFAIAA that is perfectly legal.

If its a retail pack its legal as they are transferable.
If its a cheap OEM pack it is not legal to transfer it.

So MS claim; the actual legal status and/or enforcability of that claim
is not at all certain.

Personally I wonder why anyone cares. I installed a genuine copy of
Windows 7, and then ran a crack which took 30 seconds (WGARemove I
think it was called), and it now runs fine without any activation. I
also have Office 2010, again cracked in minutes. Same with Adobe CS5,
which I don't even think required me to patch it. And my firewall
(Eset) I have working on a "deny all except what I expressly allow"
basis, which keeps all this software from calling home and
deactivating itself.

Choosing retailer for mimimum complaints
 

On 02/07/2010 20:47, J G Miller wrote:
On Fri, 02 Jul 2010 20:30:48 +0100, Adrian C wrote:

The debit card 'security' the previous owners had in place caused my
bank account to be completely cleaned out by a crooked member of their
staff.

How long ago was that?


April 2002.

Was quickly sorted out by my bank once the details of the fraud came to
light, and I had reported it to the Police. It seems after that, the
banks sorted Dabs out by disallowing them to carry on handling debit
card transactions.

Of course back then, Dabs's publicity span it around the other way, and
blamed fraud being done to them from some customers ...

It's a very different company today since the BT takeover. Been a while
since I've ordered IT stuff from them but no problems when doing so.

Lesson learned though NEVER to use a debit card online with anyone!

--
Adrian C

Choosing retailer for mimimum complaints
 

In message , Cynic
writes
On Fri, 2 Jul 2010 11:56:07 +0100, "John Turner"
wrote:

I then went to a small local independent computer shop, who sold me the same
PC for a fair bit less money and installed a genuine copy of Windows XP
without extra charge.

Sounds very much as if it might be a pirate copy of XP.

I thought that there was always the option to "downgrade"

I think that a vista key is good for XP too


--
geoff

Choosing retailer for mimimum complaints
 

In message , james
writes
In message
,
Ste writes

If I contrast that to something like Amazon, which I don't normally
use anymore (I use Pirate Bay instead for that kind of purchase)


Normally I'm happy to buy from the Amazon. In about four years of
purchases only one order has gone awry. Oddly my monthly orders for
DVDs always arrive from a Jersey trader, probably a VAT evasion or
avoidance finagle, who always send DVDs in individual packet rather
than post them in a single package. I confess I don't always worry
about the cost.

http://www.out-law.com/page-5855


--
geoff

Choosing retailer for mimimum complaints
 

The message
from geoff contains these words:

In message , Cynic
writes
On Fri, 2 Jul 2010 11:56:07 +0100, "John Turner"
wrote:

I then went to a small local independent computer shop, who sold me
the same
PC for a fair bit less money and installed a genuine copy of Windows XP
without extra charge.

Sounds very much as if it might be a pirate copy of XP.

I thought that there was always the option to "downgrade"

That's true, you could always wipe Vista and then install winXP against
a winXP key (or win2k with a win2k key for that matter).

I think that a vista key is good for XP too

Only in the case of the OEM versions of Vista Business and Vista
Ultimate and only to winXP Pro. To do this, you must have a winXP Pro
install CD (either supplied by the OEM or otherwise acquired by the end
user - it's not clear, in this latter case, whether it can be any
version of winXP Pro) from which to do a fresh install after wiping
Vista.

When you get to the point in the install where you enter the CoA
product key, you can't use the Vista key directly, you will have to use
an XP Pro key (it doesn't matter if it's already in use on another
machine[1]) in order to complete the installation and move onto the
windows product activation screen where you'll have to select "activate
by phone" and explain that you're downgrading from Vista to an ms
support guy which is when that Vista key finally comes into the picture.

It's not the straightforward process some might have expected. It does
involve interaction with ms support over a toll free number to apply
your "Downgrade" rights using the Vista Business or Vista Ultimate CoA
key which is a bit of a pain. However, if you're "downgrading" to winXP
Pro from a qualifying version of Vista, it's worth this extra hassle to
avoid paying for an OS you didn't want.

[1] In this case, as long as the preinstalled version of Vista is a
qualifying one, it doesn't matter if the retailer used a "pirate copy"
of winXP Pro to "downgrade" since it would have been activated against
the Vista CoA sticker on the computer case.

HTH

Choosing retailer for mimimum complaints
 

On 03/07/2010 01:01, geoff wrote:
In message , Cynic
writes
On Fri, 2 Jul 2010 11:56:07 +0100, "John Turner"
wrote:

I then went to a small local independent computer shop, who sold me
the same
PC for a fair bit less money and installed a genuine copy of Windows XP
without extra charge.

Sounds very much as if it might be a pirate copy of XP.

I thought that there was always the option to "downgrade"

I think that a vista key is good for XP too


Downgrading rarely works as half the hardware won't have a driver ;-(
I hate Vista - what a poxy search engine.

Choosing retailer for mimimum complaints
 

In message , Paul
writes
On 03/07/2010 01:01, geoff wrote:
In message , Cynic
writes
On Fri, 2 Jul 2010 11:56:07 +0100, "John Turner"
wrote:

I then went to a small local independent computer shop, who sold me
the same
PC for a fair bit less money and installed a genuine copy of Windows XP
without extra charge.

Sounds very much as if it might be a pirate copy of XP.

I thought that there was always the option to "downgrade"

I think that a vista key is good for XP too


Downgrading rarely works as half the hardware won't have a driver ;-(

What are you talking about ?

I'm saying that you can install XP in preference to Vista

I hate Vista - what a poxy search engine.

--
geoff

Choosing retailer for mimimum complaints
 

On 03/07/2010 18:22, geoff wrote:
In message , Paul
writes
On 03/07/2010 01:01, geoff wrote:
In message , Cynic
writes
On Fri, 2 Jul 2010 11:56:07 +0100, "John Turner"
wrote:

I then went to a small local independent computer shop, who sold me
the same
PC for a fair bit less money and installed a genuine copy of
Windows XP
without extra charge.

Sounds very much as if it might be a pirate copy of XP.

I thought that there was always the option to "downgrade"

I think that a vista key is good for XP too


Downgrading rarely works as half the hardware won't have a driver ;-(

What are you talking about ?

I'm saying that you can install XP in preference to Vista

Not if the new fandango laptop you just bought came with Vista on it,
and you hate Vista...

Try taking Vista off - ie reformat, and putting XP on it...no XP drivers
exist as the hardware was built AFTER XP ....why would they write a
driver for some old software.
Thats downgrading - trying to go back one OP system..








I hate Vista - what a poxy search engine.

Choosing retailer for mimimum complaints
 

On 3 July, 23:28, Paul wrote:
On 03/07/2010 18:22, geoff wrote:





In message , Paul
writes
On 03/07/2010 01:01, geoff wrote:
In message , Cynic
writes
On Fri, 2 Jul 2010 11:56:07 +0100, "John Turner"
wrote:

I then went to a small local independent computer shop, who sold me
the same
PC for a fair bit less money and installed a genuine copy of
Windows XP
without extra charge.

Sounds very much as if it might be a pirate copy of XP.

I thought that there was always the option to "downgrade"

I think that a vista key is good for XP too

Downgrading rarely works as half the hardware won't have a driver ;-(

What are you talking about ?

I'm saying that you can install XP in preference to Vista

Not if the new fandango laptop you just bought came with Vista on it,
and you hate Vista...

Try taking Vista off - ie reformat, and putting XP on it...no XP drivers
exist as the hardware was built AFTER XP ....why would they write a
driver for some old software.
Thats downgrading - trying to go back one OP system..

Do not go back to XP. Go forward to Windows 7. Unlike Vista, Win 7 is
an unmitigated improvement over Windows XP.

Choosing retailer for mimimum complaints
 

In article ,
Paul wrote:
On 03/07/2010 18:22, geoff wrote:
In message , Paul
writes
On 03/07/2010 01:01, geoff wrote:
In message , Cynic
writes
On Fri, 2 Jul 2010 11:56:07 +0100, "John Turner"
wrote:

I then went to a small local independent computer shop, who sold me
the same
PC for a fair bit less money and installed a genuine copy of
Windows XP
without extra charge.

Sounds very much as if it might be a pirate copy of XP.

I thought that there was always the option to "downgrade"

I think that a vista key is good for XP too


Downgrading rarely works as half the hardware won't have a driver ;-(

What are you talking about ?

I'm saying that you can install XP in preference to Vista

Not if the new fandango laptop you just bought came with Vista on it,
and you hate Vista...

Try taking Vista off - ie reformat, and putting XP on it...no XP drivers
exist as the hardware was built AFTER XP ....why would they write a
driver for some old software.
Thats downgrading - trying to go back one OP system..

I bought a laptop in March last year. It came with Vista pre-installed and
also XP discs. I simply installed XP.






I hate Vista - what a poxy search engine.


--
From KT24

Using a RISC OS computer running v5.16

Choosing retailer for mimimum complaints
 

In article
,
Ste wrote:

Do not go back to XP. Go forward to Windows 7. Unlike Vista, Win 7 is
an unmitigated improvement over Windows XP.

The laptop might not have enough memory to run W7.

--
From KT24

Using a RISC OS computer running v5.16

Choosing retailer for mimimum complaints
 

On Sun, 04 Jul 2010 09:00:12 +0100, charles put finger to keyboard and
typed:

In article
,
Ste wrote:

Do not go back to XP. Go forward to Windows 7. Unlike Vista, Win 7 is
an unmitigated improvement over Windows XP.

The laptop might not have enough memory to run W7.

If it will run Vista then it will run W7. In fact, if it will run XP, then
it will run W7. W7 is actually capable of running on a lower spec than
Vista, because it's been modularised much more effectively so that the
essentials are all that it requires in order to run. The high end stuff,
such as the Areo desktop (which is mostly just eye-candy anyway) won't run
on lower-spec machines, but in that case you get an OS which is visually
much the same as XP but a lot more secure and efficient underneath.

Mark
--
30 Days of Music in June:
http://mark.goodge.co.uk/category/mu...days-of-music/

Choosing retailer for mimimum complaints
 

In article e.net,
Mark Goodge wrote:
On Sun, 04 Jul 2010 09:00:12 +0100, charles put finger to keyboard and
typed:

In article
,
Ste wrote:

Do not go back to XP. Go forward to Windows 7. Unlike Vista, Win 7 is
an unmitigated improvement over Windows XP.

The laptop might not have enough memory to run W7.

If it will run Vista then it will run W7. In fact, if it will run XP, then
it will run W7.

Not sure about that. When W7 came out, I ran a piece of Windows software
which told me my desktop machine (using XP) was not suitable to upgrade
because of lack of memory. Totally irrelevant now, since that machine died
earlier this year and I now have a W7 desktop in its place.

--
From KT24

Using a RISC OS computer running v5.16

Choosing retailer for mimimum complaints
 

In article , Charles wrote:
Do not go back to XP. Go forward to Windows 7. Unlike Vista, Win 7 is
an unmitigated improvement over Windows XP.

The laptop might not have enough memory to run W7.

If it has enough memory to run Vista, it will have enough memory to run
Windows 7 faster. That's what I found when I upgraded mine.

And there's nothing to stop you adding more memory as well.

...or Ubuntu as a second system. You'll find that will run even faster.

Rod.
--
Virtual Access V6.3 free usenet/email software from
http://sourceforge.net/projects/virtual-access/

Choosing retailer for mimimum complaints
 

In message , Paul
writes
On 03/07/2010 18:22, geoff wrote:
In message , Paul
writes
On 03/07/2010 01:01, geoff wrote:
In message , Cynic
writes
On Fri, 2 Jul 2010 11:56:07 +0100, "John Turner"
wrote:

I then went to a small local independent computer shop, who sold me
the same
PC for a fair bit less money and installed a genuine copy of
Windows XP
without extra charge.

Sounds very much as if it might be a pirate copy of XP.

I thought that there was always the option to "downgrade"

I think that a vista key is good for XP too


Downgrading rarely works as half the hardware won't have a driver ;-(

What are you talking about ?

I'm saying that you can install XP in preference to Vista

Not if the new fandango laptop you just bought came with Vista on it,
and you hate Vista...

Try taking Vista off - ie reformat, and putting XP on it...no XP
drivers exist as the hardware was built AFTER XP ....why would they
write a driver for some old software.
Thats downgrading - trying to go back one OP system..

I know a few who have, and didn't experience any problems

Is your experience different ?

--
geoff

Choosing retailer for mimimum complaints
 

On Fri, 02 Jul 2010 12:44:28 +0100, bugbear
wrote:

Andy wrote:
"james" wrote in message
...
so I'm a little out of touch with cost of new
cellphones but catching sight of the Amazon price tag of a
whisker under GBP400 froze my click finger quick as boiled
asparagus.

GBP400 for a cellphone?

Boy -- am I out of touch.
A bloke I went to school with is involved with Vertu phones.
Fancy a mobile for £23,000?

I assume vertu can strip the diamonds from an old one,
and re-bling a new one?

Given the rate of change in technology,
an "original" Vertu is a crap (but expensive)
phone by today's standards.

http://www.engadget.com/2005/02/07/t...ung-sph-e3200/

"The $54,000 diamond-crusted Samsung SPH-E3200"

I wonder what it's worth now?!


Mazumamobile would probably offer them £35 for it. :)

Fred X

Choosing retailer for mimimum complaints
 

On 04/07/2010 15:30, geoff wrote:
In message , Paul
writes
On 03/07/2010 18:22, geoff wrote:
In message , Paul
writes
On 03/07/2010 01:01, geoff wrote:
In message , Cynic
writes
On Fri, 2 Jul 2010 11:56:07 +0100, "John Turner"
wrote:

I then went to a small local independent computer shop, who sold me
the same
PC for a fair bit less money and installed a genuine copy of
Windows XP
without extra charge.

Sounds very much as if it might be a pirate copy of XP.

I thought that there was always the option to "downgrade"

I think that a vista key is good for XP too


Downgrading rarely works as half the hardware won't have a driver ;-(

What are you talking about ?

I'm saying that you can install XP in preference to Vista

Not if the new fandango laptop you just bought came with Vista on it,
and you hate Vista...

Try taking Vista off - ie reformat, and putting XP on it...no XP
drivers exist as the hardware was built AFTER XP ....why would they
write a driver for some old software.
Thats downgrading - trying to go back one OP system..

I know a few who have, and didn't experience any problems

Is your experience different ?

Yes Toshiba P200-100 didn't like one bit.

Choosing retailer for mimimum complaints
 

On 4 July, 09:00, charles wrote:
In article
,
* *Ste wrote:



Do not go back to XP. Go forward to Windows 7. Unlike Vista, Win 7 is
an unmitigated improvement over Windows XP.

The laptop might not have enough memory to run W7.

My laptop, purchased in 2003 for a grand, has a 2.4Ghz single core
processor, 2gig memory (about £40 18 months ago, upgraded from the
original 512meg).

Incidentally, it also has a "Windows Experience score" (or whatever)
of 1, an internal 4200 ATA hard disk of 37gig (up from 27gig), an
external USB 500gig 7200 SATA hard disk, an external monitor of
1680x1050 (as well as running the integrated panel as an extended
desktop), and a DVD writer (up from the original CD writer), and I
find the performance quite satisfactory for most things (with the
exception of video conversion, which is best done overnight). Also,
most of my graphics settings are in "performance mode", which gives
all the same function but with the Windows 98 appearance (which I find
better anyway). And, with the exception of the sound card, Windows 7
runs without any 3rd party drivers, which is probably another reason
for improved performance, now I'm shut of the associated bloatware.

And if my laptop can run Windows 7 as well as XP SP3, then any "new"
laptop ought to be able to.

Choosing retailer for mimimum complaints
 

On 4 July, 11:00, Roderick Stewart
wrote:
In article , Charles wrote:
Do not go back to XP. Go forward to Windows 7. Unlike Vista, Win 7 is
an unmitigated improvement over Windows XP.

The laptop might not have enough memory to run W7.

If it has enough memory to run Vista, it will have enough memory to run
Windows 7 faster. That's what I found when I upgraded mine.

And there's nothing to stop you adding more memory as well.

..or Ubuntu as a second system. You'll find that will run even faster.

There is nothing about a Linux system that is faster than Windows.

Choosing retailer for mimimum complaints
 

In article , geoff wrote:

Try taking Vista off - ie reformat, and putting XP on it...no XP
drivers exist as the hardware was built AFTER XP ....why would they
write a driver for some old software.
Thats downgrading - trying to go back one OP system..

I know a few who have, and didn't experience any problems

Is your experience different ?

Yep, on several machines.

A couple of Tosh machines have no drivers available, and a sony. Also, some
of the latest netbooks (less of an issue, as they ship with win 7).


It seems the more corporate machines are more likely to have XP drivers (no
surprise - many suppliers still offered XP as an option until recently).


This is just basic stuff like network drivers or USB drivers. Once you start
heading into the shock protection stuff or the battery monitoring it gets
even harder. Can end up with half the battery life on XP :-/

Darren