Save XP or Death of XP?
Posted by cotojo on May 9, 2008
With the launch of Vista the death bell was sounded for Windows XP. Given that this is the most common OS in use at present, Microsoft will discontinue sales at the end of June and support for XP will discontinue around 2010.
New machines have been shipped with Vista pre-installed for some time now, but it is not to everyones taste and there are many software programs as well as hardware that worked well on XP but are not compatible with Vista. This means that many hardware and software vendors are cashing in on new sales of Vista compatible stock. Some vendors have issued updates to correct compatability issues.
Microsoft has said it would allow system vendors to preload the Home edition of Windows XP on ULCPCs - ultra low-cost PCs - through to June 2010, or one year after the next version of Windows becomes generally available. Also bear in mind that Vista’s successor, Windows 7 is due for release in 2009.
Microsoft introduced Windows XP in late 2001. They normally make operating systems available only for four years after launch date. But delays in producing Windows Vista, which had its debut in January 2007, forced Microsoft to continue selling XP longer than planned. Microsoft had originally planned to shelve Windows XP on January 30th 2008.
But it isn’t just emerging markets that want XP. In a recent survey by InfoWorld, there was a strong indication that people didn’t see a need to upgrade their home computers to Vista and that business still faced multiple challenges in porting their business critical applications to Vista. In short, the XP market is still alive and vibrant.
To experience all of Vista’s features, PC users need a computer with at least a 1-GHz processor, 1 GB of memory, and a 40-GB hard drive. By contrast, Windows XP Professional requires only a 300-MHz processor, 128 MB of RAM, and a 1.5-Gbyte disk.
A Microsoft manager has said that one of the security features in Vista was deliberately designed to ‘annoy users’ to put pressure on third-party software makers to make their applications more secure.
David Cross, a product unit manager at Microsoft said “The reason we put UAC (User Account Control) into the Vista platform was to annoy users–I’m serious.”
Also realise, that many of the security issues with XP have been resolved and it is now a stable platform, as long as you stay away from Internet Explorer and its permanently inherent problems. Use a safe browser such as Firefox and you will experience far fewer problems and faster load times.
So what can you do? Close to 200,000 people have signed a petition since January 14 to save XP. However, Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer thinks we’re not serious about the Save XP movement, nor does he seem to take the people who signed it seriously. That’s where you come in. Help us meet our goal of 300,000 unique petition signatures by June 2008. Please ask your friends, family and colleagues to join the movement by signing up at www.savexp.com
The petition is on the right side of the page, so please take the time to sign this.
Go here now: www.savexp.com
May 9, 2008 at 1:23 pm
[...] including an online petition which now has close to 200,000 signatures. Help to raise this by reading this article and then clicking the follow through link to sign the [...]
May 9, 2008 at 4:46 pm
I had bought Windows Vista and didn’t like it at all, so I took my computer back and got one with XP. I love my XP. Please don’t trash it! I have other friends who won’t buy a newer computer, because of all the bad things they’ve heard about Windows Vista and have to agree.
May 9, 2008 at 4:56 pm
Hey there cutie pie. I’m glad XP is phasing out just because I want Vista to finally get settled in. I’ve had it for almost a year now and am just now getting all the kinks out…Question: What browser do you recommend I use with Vista? I use to have lots ‘o probs with IE, but not so much anymore. Maybe it’s getting better.
Have a beautimous day, m’dear and bright and cheery weekend. *hugs n kisses* 2u2.
May 9, 2008 at 4:59 pm
Christine - I wholeheartedly agree. I have tried Vista, it looks flash but as for functionality…forget it!
Users who do purchase new machines with Vista can call Microsoft Support and get a code from them which will revert it to XP, which is a far better Windows OS, and as I have said in the post, it is also stable with the exception of Internet Explorer.
The more who sign this petition the better, as consumers are not happy with Vista, and sales also show that the only reason it sells is because it is pre-installed.
Have a great weekend
Take care
Colin
May 9, 2008 at 5:18 pm
Chuck - Hey sweetie, good to see you back
Vista will be short lived with Windows7 due for release next year. I would recommend Firefox for safer browsing. You can download it from http://www.mozilla.com
With so many add-ons it is easy to customize to suit yourself. I use it as my default browser, it loads quicker and is much safer. IE has so many inherent problems, and is an easy target for hackers etc.
Have a lovely day and a wonderful weekend ahead,
Take care sweetie,
*Hugs n kisses*
Colin
May 9, 2008 at 6:01 pm
I have no idea where the heck to sign the petition. I’ll figure it out later though, gotta do that scan thingy.
Tam :o)
May 9, 2008 at 7:14 pm
Tammy - Just click the link, at top of new window click to skip the ad then fill petition on right side of page
Hugs, have a great weekend,
Colin