Can't get biometric reader with Vista (D420)?

Hi All - I am a home user planning to buy a Latitude D420 using the "make up a business name" method. I was pretty annoyed when Dell told me that I can't order it, but thanks to this forum, I know there's an easy way around it. My other question, though, is: is there any way to order the D420 with Vista and a biometric fingerprint reader? When you try, it says the options are mutually exclusive since Vista does not support biometric security. I did online chat with a rep who told me that once it's supported by the software you can buy it, until then you are out of luck. This is dumb because I could just buy the computer with XP and the free Vista upgrade. Just wondering what your thoughts are on this. Thanks!

 

I'm sure they just haven't come up with a vista driver that would support the fingerprint reader in the D420 but I think it's just a matter of time. It seems to me that if you will need the biometric reader, just order it with XP and get the free vista upgrade. Then download the driver once it becomes available.

 

Maybe I should just order without the biometric reader, huh? I thought it would be a cool thing to have, but I don't know if I would really use it that much... More of a cool hi-tech feature than something I really need to have.

 

I am using D420 w/o the biometer.
Don't feel like it is essential at all except it looks cool, and it is a resource
sucker.

Vista upgrades cost you the shipping cost and it drains battery far faster than XP.

 

Ya, the biometer does look cool, but now that you mention it, I guess it does eat up resources, and from the pictures, it also looks like it makes the touchpad buttons smaller. I went ahead and ordered the laptop with Vista Ultimate and no biometer. Thanks for your advice guys!