Microsoft will not extend availability of XP

[Ran Sagy]

They just want you to pay the MS Tax, the Ultimate Edition, even though Vista will be EOL in 2009. They're going to dump Vista onto the market through involuntary OEM infections then in 2010 Windows 7 will be out and you'll have to pay the MS Tax again.

Do you know the exact release date for Windows 7? Do you know the exact release notes of what is going to change? I'd think not. Even when XP was released, 2000 wasn't dumped and didn't reach its EOL officialy only years later. I'd expect the same with Vista, And until Windows 7 is out, I'll enjoy using it.

My bottom line stands the same: Use what you like and prefer, Just don't trash the alternative without having actual personal experience to stand behind your words. I absolutely despise the "I heard from my sister's friend's brother that Vista is a slow POS" motto.

[Malago]

Why would they lie? XP was the first solid windows system targeted at end-users, no more of that dos 9x based crap

does Microsoft count also numbers of computers sold in 2001 and in 2007, because it is easy to say Vista is the most sold OS in history

[Ytterbium]

They should use windows starter edition that they were using in Brazil etc...

[Azmodan]

"Windows Vista has become the fastest-selling operating system in Microsoft history"

That's a joke. Who are they trying to fool?

I think they're counting OEM sales, besides the individual ones. Now, if they would kindly release individual sales, we could really see how fast selling Vista is.

[Eric Veteran]

Well, Vista feels quite pre-gnant.

*snore*

I think they're counting OEM sales, besides the individual ones. Now, if they would kindly release individual sales, we could really see how fast selling Vista is.

It doesn't matter how they count anything. Look at the OS survey on the front page. More people on Neowin use Vista than any other OS.

[strotee]

Look at the OS survey on the front page. More people on Neowin use Vista than any other OS.

:laugh:

Oh my gosh, that's some funny stuff. You do know that's not a scientific poll with any sense of accuracy, right? I would be more curious to see the results in a poll that ask"Did you go out of your way to purchase Windows Vista?".

[Eric Veteran]

:laugh:

Oh my gosh, that's some funny stuff. You do know that's not a scientific poll with any sense of accuracy, right? I would be more curious to see the results in a poll that ask"Did you go out of your way to purchase Windows Vista?".

What has that got to do with it? Are you saying the users on Neowin aren't capable of deciding which OS they want to use?

That poll is no less scientific than the ididotic, knee-jerk bashing that goes on... :rolleyes:

[toadeater]

There will always be alternative ways to get XP other than through Microsoft. This news doesn't bother me at all.

Yeah, but OEMs won't be able to get it and millions of noobs all over the world will buy PCs with Vista preinstalled. That means MS will get $$$ for Vista and count it as a sale even if those users switch to XP later. For businesses its even worse, they won't have the option of using XP acquired through "other means" the way consumers would. So they'd be stuck with Vista if they want to buy new PCs.

Let's see if there is enough pressure on MS come June for them to change their mind again. I know that businesses are even more reluctant to buy Vista than consumers are. There is no benefit in it for them.

Well, let this all be another lesson to Americans in what damage monopolism causes. This is why you get crap products and ripoffs, because companies like MS know you have no other choice. They make sure you have no other choice...

[Eric Veteran]

Yeah, but OEMs won't be able to get it and millions of noobs all over the world will buy PCs with Vista preinstalled. That means MS will get $$$ for Vista and count it as a sale even if those users switch to XP later. For businesses its even worse, they won't have the option of using XP acquired through "other means" the way consumers would. So they'd be stuck with Vista if they want to buy new PCs.

Let's see if there is enough pressure on MS come June for them to change their mind again. I know that businesses are even more reluctant to buy Vista than consumers are. There is no benefit in it for them.

Well, let this all be another lesson to Americans in what damage monopolism causes. This is why you get crap products and ripoffs, because companies like MS know you have no other choice. They make sure you have no other choice...

Nobody cares that you don't like Vista. Almost everyone I know has it now and likes it. Microsoft is not going to change their mind and keep supplying old software just because you want them to. You should switch to an abacus.

Edited April 7, 2008 by GreyWolfSC

[revvo]

Nobody cares that you don't like Vista. Almost everyone I know has it now and likes it. Microsoft is not going to change their mind and keep supplying old software just because you want them to. You should switch to an abacus.

Nobody cares? Tell that to the thousands who are still buying computers preloaded with XP on it.

Microsoft's doing this because they know if they continued to ship XP to OEM's, people would still buy them and Vista would really look like crap when looking at the sales. The fact that XP sales boosted after Vista's launch shows that "nobody cares" is bs.

Old software? I won't even debate on that, but do you remember how most people stayed on Windows 98/98SE because of the horribly developed and released Windows M.E. ? A large portion of users moving to XP came from 98/98SE, you can safely say most on the Average Joe end-users side. Why is it wrong to stay on XP? Just because it's been released in 2001 and that it's "old" Yeah that's marketing doing its job of making you upgrade and making you think that "old" = sucks.

[Eric Veteran]

Nobody cares? Tell that to the thousands who are still buying computers preloaded with XP on it.

Microsoft's doing this because they know if they continued to ship XP to OEM's, people would still buy them and Vista would really look like crap when looking at the sales. The fact that XP sales boosted after Vista's launch shows that "nobody cares" is bs.

Old software? I won't even debate on that, but do you remember how most people stayed on Windows 98/98SE because of the horribly developed and released Windows M.E. ? A large portion of users moving to XP came from 98/98SE, you can safely say most on the Average Joe end-users side. Why is it wrong to stay on XP? Just because it's been released in 2001 and that it's "old" Yeah that's marketing doing its job of making you upgrade and making you think that "old" = sucks.

I had no problems with Windows ME. It worked fine for me. I made sure my hardware was on the hardware compatibility list. I've had no major problems with ANY Microsoft OS. The worst thing they ever produced as far as I'm concerned was Bob. I never said it was 'wrong' to stay on XP. What I'm sick of is the same small group of Neowin users that are screaming about how bad Vista sucks when it doesn't. Nobody made me upgrade. I wanted it. It looks nice, it's fast, and it's stable. I'd like to see you tell the Mac users here that they should stay on an older OS and see how loud they screech at you.

(And you can't back up any of your statistics. A "large number of people" stayed with 98? How do you know?)

[Naredhel]

... It's the fastest selling Windows in History, because:

1. more people own computers now than previously.

2. people are educated more now, and understand the benefits of general upgrading, however they are not educated enough, and assume that newer = better.

[Fourjays Veteran]

Guess I'm going to be stuck with getting Vista when I build a new computer. :(

I know it's newer than XP, etc, etc, blah, blah, but it has nothing in it that interests me (although I haven't tried it, I've read the features list). I'm not a big fan of the UI, I don't like anything that "nags" in anyway (ie: UAC - XPs occasional nagging is already too much for me), I don't like widgets, I don't like fancy search systems and I am highly unlikely to use programs like Windows Mail, Windows Calendar, Windows DVD Maker, etc (the only Windows apps I use are calculator and WLM).

Maybe I'd like it if I tried it, but I doubt it from what I read. :/

[Borbus]

Guess I'm going to be stuck with getting Vista when I build a new computer. :(

Of course you won't. You can switch to free software if you want. If you absolutely must use Windows then Microsoft will eventually force you to do what they want and upgrade. A lot of people don't realise, but when the free software foundation etc. talk about non-free software, this is what they mean. Microsoft will make you use whatever software they think is necessary to keep you under control :)

[Fourjays Veteran]

Of course you won't. You can switch to free software if you want. If you absolutely must use Windows then Microsoft will eventually force you to do what they want and upgrade. A lot of people don't realise, but when the free software foundation etc. talk about non-free software, this is what they mean. Microsoft will make you use whatever software they think is necessary to keep you under control :)

It's games and Photoshop (while it can run under Wine, I had problems doing so and it was slow) that make me use Windows.

[rtk]

Of course you won't. You can switch to free software if you want. If you absolutely must use Windows then Microsoft will eventually force you to do what they want and upgrade. A lot of people don't realise, but when the free software foundation etc. talk about non-free software, this is what they mean. Microsoft will make you use whatever software they think is necessary to keep you under control :)

So, for example... Ubuntu 6.06 is their LTS (long term support) version, supported until 2009. Guess what happens after that? If you want to continue to receive support (patches at the very least), Ubuntu will make you move to the new version.

Seems like a painfully similar situation for the enterprise.

[Borbus]

So, for example... Ubuntu 6.06 is their LTS (long term support) version, supported until 2009. Guess what happens after that? If you want to continue to receive support (patches at the very least), Ubuntu will make you move to the new version.

Seems like a painfully similar situation for the enterprise.

Who said anything about Ubuntu?

[rtk]

Well, I used a popular example of a free OS. Now that i actually look at your sig I can understand your question though. Sorry. :blink:

regardless of OS, every vendor eventually ends support for old versions. When that happens, you are "forced" into a decision, keep what you got, or upgrade to a newer OS by one vendor or another.

Your contention that non-free software forces you to upgrade, and free does not, seem incorrect. What's the long term support plan for Archlinux's "Homer" release?