Thanks for the feedback! To be honest, I really don't want to move on from XP...I'm quiet happy with it for what I do with a computer. The ease and familiarity of working with/on it is a valuable asset versus trying to learn a new OS. One reason I was preparing to move up a version is that most software requirements now start with XP as being the oldest OS that a program will work with. I took the announcement from MS that they would not be producing any more security updates for XP. If all will be well after the cut-off date I'll be happy to stick with XP. ;)
What I'm considering are a couple of older, off-lease Dell Optiplex 760 or 780's to install Quickbooks on. These can be had pretty cheaply and most have Win7 installed. I've been looking predominately at the ones with the "Pro" version installed. These computers will run Quickbooks, see some internet use, some MS Office use, and that's about it. XP would handle all of that as would a lesser computer but most of the XP machines on the market now are a bit older than I'm comfortable with...I'm looking at mostly 3-4 year old ones. I was reading some on Win7 and I *think* you can actually downgrade back to XP from the Pro version...but if I had Win7 would I really want to do that? :?
buzzbee, thanks for the clarification on the intended purpose of Win8...no use for it here. It is interesting that you mentioned the touchscreens. Our granddaughters (6-1/2 and 2-1/2 yo) play with my wife's laptop when they visit...it is amazing the number of little fingerprints all over the screen. I get a chuckle from the confused look on the 2-1/2yo's face when nothing happens when she touches the screen...the age of smart phones and tablets very really evident! :) "Hidden charms"...I can envision that, I've had enough trouble finding my way around the wife's Win7 laptop...and I'm the "computer tech" in the family. :roll:
Moots, "...ultimately, it is Windows." ...and will suddenly cease working when you least expect it. :shock:
niets, thanks for the feedback, too. The systems that I've looked at do have Win7 already installed so I figure the initial hardware setup met the Win7 requirements...at least I hope it did. :-\
Ed