Why do workplaces downgrade OSes on computers?

[dontwalkhand]

I have noticed that my workplace, along with many other people's work that I know of, purchases computers with Vista licenses, but then essentially downgrades them to Windows XP...WHETHER they have the PROPER drivers for XP or not! I understand the need for standardization, but when they don't have the proper drivers, I just do not see the point. And btw, the only "Company software" I use, would be IE7 to run some web based applications, so the OS doesn't even matter. (Sadly, I can't use my MacBook at work, because it requires Internet Explorer)

Thank god that Macs at work purchased with leopard can't be downgraded to Tiger :p

[remmy]

It is normally because the company uses specialised software.

A good example is were I work, we need to get a new PC which runs XP as it is the only OS that the secure database software will use. The software was specially written for the company so a new version is unlikely to be written.

[yg17]

XP is an upgrade from Vista :D

My work PC came with Vista (at least I can assume so since it has a Vista sticker on it) but before they handed it over to me, they put XP on and I'm glad. I hate Vista.

[spinnerlys]

You could use ies4osx (http://macapper.com/2007/11/29/ies4osx-run-internet-explorer-567-natively-in-os-x/) for having the IE on Mac OS X.

And as Vista is a radical departure from XP seen from the surface (new GUI and all that), companies like to have their people more efficient in a known environment (XP) than to learn a new environment (Vista), which takes time and might "loose" them money.

Maybe in some years when Windows 6.1 (Seven) is widespread, companies will adopt it into their workplaces.