As SWMBO had started grumbling about the amount of time I was using her netbook (and why perchance had she thought she got it?), I recently picked up a Dell 420 with XP from Morgan Computers.
If MS did not make each new OS more of a system hog than the previous one they would sell more, and never mind the mark up in cost relative to the price they charge manufacturers. Anyway I have some old programmes that will not run on my work 64 bit laptop, so the ultrabook covers running them along with web browsing at home. It's half the price of a notebook but build quality is in a different league. Being second hand the cover is a tad scratched and scruffy, but then I bought it for use not decoration.
As the ultrabook came with more HD space than advertised, I tried loading a vanilla FS9 for basic route planning etc and was surprised to find it running in a basic if primitive fashion. The basic directory size also points out how bloated my other installations are.
Now it just needs some low frame rate British classics to civilise it.
While on the side line of Morgan I picked up a 19" 4:3 ratio flat screen some months ago which has let me revive an old Compaq FS9 machine for when the family get in the way on the main PC. It's loaded with XP too, but as it is disconnected from the net that's not an issue. The service from Morgan was great for both purchases.
I also have a yellow MSE box showing my system is 'potentially' unprotected as I've not run a quick scan for a week. I've not had the pc turned ON for a week! 
) when somebody mentions Ubuntu.
