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If you can get them to take back the machine, find a local store you TRUST and have them build you one with XP, to the specs you need.
I just got a new bare-bones machine. I use it mainly for storage, running bulk photoshop processes, big uploads/downloads, etc - non-demanding stuff that I've been doing on a Win98 machine that was starting to die after almost ten years.
I have always bought Dells (have had good luck with them for the first 3-4 years before they really get glitchy) - so I went to their site and then talked to a rep.
The machine that had what I needed was on sale for $899, but they wouldn't sell it with XP. They only have *3* desktop models that they will sell with XP as an option - and to get basically the same machine (same specs) with XP --- was $1499.
The reps were really snotty about it and wouldn't even let me talk to a manager even though I've bought about 10 Dells over the last five years, mostly high-end ones.
So I called the people who have done repair work for me in the past and who were terrific - they put the same machine together for me with XP, for $650 including a firewire card that wasn't in the Dell and some extra software.
Stay with XP and you can get some great deals.
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icq: 541-739-92
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