change to XP

[Guest]

Please can someone explain to me why I should change to XP and open my PC up to viruses etc; the moment I connect to the Internet? Also why do I have to pay a very much higer price for my XP cd just cos I'm in the UK. The exchange rate means it should be much cheaper than it is. UK retailer do not regulate the cost in line with the exchange rate ... why do we have to pay so much? The retailers take a price in usd$ and put it the same in £sterling ... why is this practice allaowed?

 

[R. McCarty]

I believe you folks in the UK have something we (USA) don't
called a Value Added Tax. But give us time - sooner or later
somebody in Congress will visit you guys and bring the idea
back home.

 

[Hilary Karp]

Having a properly configured firewall, making sure the Operating System
is patched with all the critical updates and security fixes, having a
current up to date anti virus program running, using the free
spyware/malware checking software regularly, and not doing stupid things
like opening unknown attachments or visiting garbage internet sites will
go along way to keeping an XP system running smoothly. Many do so
without problems. Most virus and malware problems come from uninformed
users who don't practice safe computing and don't keep their systems up
to date.

 

[luminos]

I believe you folks in the UK have something we (USA) don't
called a Value Added Tax. But give us time - sooner or later
somebody in Congress will visit you guys and bring the idea
back home.

Our income taxes, county taxes, city taxes, sales taxes, utility surcharges
more than make up for the Value Added Tax.

 

[JerryMouse]

Our income taxes, county taxes, city taxes, sales taxes, utility
surcharges more than make up for the Value Added Tax.

They've got those in the U.K., too. Total tax load in the U.S. is WAY
smaller than in the U.K.

 

[JerryMouse]

Please can someone explain to me why I should change to XP and open
my PC up to viruses etc; the moment I connect to the Internet?

Same principle as going to the market. By interacting with others, you run
the risk of contracting a virus (AIDS, SARS, Common Cold, Influenza, etc.).

Also
why do I have to pay a very much higer price for my XP cd just cos
I'm in the UK. The exchange rate means it should be much cheaper than
it is. UK retailer do not regulate the cost in line with the exchange
rate ... why do we have to pay so much? The retailers take a price in
usd$ and put it the same in £sterling ... why is this practice
allaowed?

So the retailer can make a profit?

 

[Alex Nichol]

Please can someone explain to me why I should change to XP and open my PC up to viruses etc; the moment I connect to the Internet?

Other systems are just as exposed; but XP gets the publicity so that is
where attention seekers aim their arrows. You just have to play safe,
whatever system you choose.

Also why do I have to pay a very much higer price for my XP cd just cos I'm in the UK. The exchange rate means it should be much cheaper than it is. UK retailer do not regulate the cost in line with the exchange rate ... why do we have to pay so much?

First you have to discount the 17.5% VAT which is included in the UK
prices you see, whereas the US ones do not include taxes. Also there is
the matter of Customs duty (10% I think, so when you have put VAT on
top that is nearly 30% in all)

Then the current exchange rate is way out of line at around $1.82. When
XP came out and pricing was set it was more the other way, around $1.40
or so. And if you look around discount stores and Internet mail order,
and not at Dixons, the prices then were not that far out of line.

 

[Gordon]

Yours has been the best explaination so far of the higer prices.

But this applies to everything made in USA and sold in UK. For every $1 in
the USA read £1 in the UK - even thought the exchange rate is approx 1.7.
The importers are charging what people will pay, not the lowest price
consummate with volume sales and low margins.