the reason they do this is that it takes like 4 CDs to make a restore image on the new XP machines, since XP's install is like 1 gig since it copies all the drivers not to mention preloaded software. they do give you a boot CD to boot the partition off the computer. from what i know from people who work at one of the companies that sources lots of HPs machines. Yes its annoying, but the packaging on those CDs etc would cost at least $1. with hard drive sizes as high as they are they just put them on there. $1 is 2million dollars in lost revenue for HP per year due to the fact that their computers sell about 2 million units. Large computer companies barely make money and every non essential thing, that will not effect performance or reliability they will consider cutting. one less pci slot, or one less dimm slot are like 25 cents, times 2 million units per year as a nice number thats half a million.
Like from what i hear, their big towers for p4s, weigh 50 pounds and cost $8 more in packaging. That is a lot of money, so they try and switch them down to the smaller cases as quick as possible. if they can cut costs by like $40 a unit by cutting small things that will not effect the system performance wise, then they will do it, since basically that is all the profit they are taking in . Besides most people are too stupid to use restore CDs anyways. the will just bitch and moan and send the system in either way which wipes out the profit on shipping alone. so might as well save $1 on the people who dont send in the system.
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