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Microsoft Extends XP's Life By 6 Months

Posted by kdawson on from the slow-on-the-uptake dept.

hairyfeet writes "Despite Microsoft releasing Windows Vista more than nine months ago the adoption rate has not been as Microsoft hoped. Bowing further to pressure from OEMs and consumers, Microsoft has extended the life of Windows XP, which was due to end sale by OEMs on January 1 next year, to a new date of June 30. Asked if this was an indication of a strong demand for XP, a Microsoft representative sought to downplay the extension, stating 'We wouldn't term it strong, we would describe this as accommodating a certain element who needs more time.'"

6 of 278 comments (clear)

  1. Vista SP1 Delayed by acherrington · · Score: 5, Insightful

    'We wouldn't term it strong, we would describe this as accommodating a certain element who needs more time.' So let me get this straight... if its not demand that's changing this.. and its a certain element who needs more time, well then I am going to guess that its Microsoft that needs more time to push out Vista Service Pack 1. Then hopefully Windows Vista will have the bugs out and customers will want to migrate.
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    Victory is gained, not in knowing your opponents next move, but in preempting them.
  2. XP Works by Blinocac · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Plain and simple. I'm no big fan of MS, but XP is really a decent piece. If it aint broke, don't fix it.

  3. Microsoft playing Chicken by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    "Extends XP's Life"

    If I were a Windows user, this language would make me sick to my stomach. This is the reason I use GNU software: the "life" of that software is as long as somebody wants to use it. RMS isn't sitting in the offices of the FSF waiting to pull the plug on Linux 2.6 so that people have to buy Linux 2.8; (this might upset Linus a little bit too). Moreover, even "dead" GNU programs can come back to life, if somebody is willing to dig up the body and run it through the compile-o-matic.

    If the market wants Windows XP, let them buy it until there isn't enough plastic left on Earth to mint another CD. Software can't "die" unless a very greedy vendor decides to murder it in cold blood. "Extends XP's Life" should be rewritten "Decides Not to Shank XP/XP Users".

    Microsoft is playing chicken with the free market, and they are going to lose.

  4. Re:Is this a PR guy? by jedidiah · · Score: 5, Insightful

    This is why you should NEVER use a product that requires "activation".

    Just say no to mandatory registration, dongles and other similar shenanigans.

    This isn't even a "pro free software" or "anti commercial" thing. Not all
    commercial software vendors choose to treat their customers like this.

    --
    A Pirate and a Puritan look the same on a balance sheet.
  5. XP Sucks by Colin+Smith · · Score: 5, Insightful

    XP sucks. It simply sucks less than Vista.

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    Deleted
  6. Re:Defeated by themselves... by nurb432 · · Score: 5, Insightful

    No, they didn't make it so appealing users want to keep old. They made the upgrade so appalling that users don't want to buy new.

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    ---- Booth was a patriot ----