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No XP Reprieve; Windows 7 Release Set

Posted by kdawson on from the squeezing-out-the-vista dept.

CWmike writes "Microsoft has laid to rest rumors that it might reconsider pulling Windows XP from retail shelves and from most PC makers next Monday. Microsoft's Bill Veghte wrote to customers reiterating that June 30 would be the deadline when Microsoft halts shipments of boxed copies to retailers and stops licensing the operating system directly to OEMs. However, Veghte did leave the door open to all computer makers, even the largest, who want to continue selling new PCs with XP pre-installed. 'Additionally, Systems Builders (sometimes referred to as "local OEMs"), may continue to purchase Windows XP through Authorized Distributors [such as Ingram Micro] through January 31, 2009,' he wrote in the letter. 'All OEMs, including major OEMs, have this option,' said Veghte. At the same time, Microsoft confirmed Windows 7 would ship in January 2010. Who, if they have not already, would install Vista now?" Microsoft has said they will post the letter, but it's not up yet.

28 of 609 comments (clear)

  1. January 2010 by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Yeah right.

    1. Re:January 2010 by tonymus · · Score: 3, Funny

      This is really the worst of two worlds for Microsoft.

      First they announce it'll come out in 2010, effectively killing what little market they had for the OS.

      Second, there's no way it will come out then, effectively cutting off their future income.

      Yeah, I could really see Microsoft going the way of Kaypro...

    2. Re:January 2010 by beav007 · · Score: 5, Funny

      Wouldn't it be far wiser to announce this in say, August 2013 - when their OS is legitimately 5-6 months away? There, fixed that for you.
    3. Re:January 2010 by Majik+Sheff · · Score: 3, Funny

      That depends on how many promised revolutionary technologies they need to drop to make the deadline.

      --
      Women are like electronics: you don't know how damaged they are until you try to turn them on.
    4. Re:January 2010 by vilgefortz · · Score: 4, Funny

      Can't they just make it work well, for a change?

    5. Re:January 2010 by jollyreaper · · Score: 5, Funny

      But what are the odds that Windows 7 will actually ship when MS says it will? That's not the right question. "What are the odds that Windows 7 won't be even more fucked up than Vista with whatever service pack they're up to by then?"
      --
      Kwisatz Haderach
      Sell the spice to CHOAM
      This Mahdi took Shaddam's Throne
    6. Re:January 2010 by Ethanol-fueled · · Score: 4, Funny

      Vista is the new WinME, you insensitive clod!

    7. Re:January 2010 by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

      [..]it is sadly shaping up to be nothing more than Vista SP2 with in all likelihood even MORE DRM [..] What do you mean by more DRM?

      From the talk what most will get is a "Win7 Basic" and you'll have to whip out your CC for any "add ons" which from the sound of things will be stuff folks are used to getting for free,like support for "advanced gaming technologies"(DirectX) and "enhanced multimedia"(A DRM laden MCE shell). citation... ?

      OK so maybe I'm biased. I work at MS on the Office team, and I get to use Win7 internal builds every day. Its nothing like what you mentioned. I'm just a code monkey and all the business aspects are way out of my control. All I can say is I think the audience is going to like this one.

      The main reason being ofcource, the Vista drivers by then would have matured. Most people cannot differentiate between the kernel, the shell and the drivers, (not that they should need to), so when things go wrong, the MS is blamed.

      As far as Aero goes, Isn't it obvious? Its a hard sell when you mention to an average consumer they should updrade because Vista has a new TCP/IP stack, or a Kernel Transaction Manager.

      To anybody that cares: The more you flame, the less people are inclined to reply to you.

    8. Re:January 2010 by sarts · · Score: 3, Funny

      You got me confused... which OS was poo-colored again?

    9. Re:January 2010 by cryptodan · · Score: 2, Funny

      Wouldn't it be far wiser to announce this in say, August 2013 - when their OS is legitimately 5-6 months away? There, fixed that for you. No 2013 the world will not be here anymore. so the correct date is Oct 25th 2012 just 2 months before the end of the world as we know it.
    10. Re:January 2010 by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

      What incentive would anyone have now to provide "mature" drivers for Vista? How can any manufacturer know that their stuff will even be allowed to work with Win 7, when it comes out, or that the driver API won't be as changed as to make the improvements they're currently making to their drivers obsolete?
      For that matter, how are they supposed to know that Win 7 will not be another dead horse? Mature = Existing vista drivers that have gone through more than 1 iteration.

      Well if you look around almost all major device manufactures have drivers for Vista for their newer products. When you look at the scale of the PC Devices & Accessories industry, its impossible to have a driver for each and every device for vista.

      We work with a ton of vendors, making sure they know whats coming. Its not like we just spring out a release and tell them to write drivers. AFAIK, the vista driver model will be carried into Win7, so if the driver was written to standard it should work in Win7.

      You wont believe what kind of crappy driver code people write and expect it to work. (not absolving MS here) Hopefully the new driver model should reduce a lot of BSODs from crappy driver code.

  2. January 2010? by OglinTatas · · Score: 4, Funny

    the release date they announce in June of 2010 will probably be a more accurate one.

    --
    More music, fewer hits
    1. Re:January 2010? by tftp · · Score: 2, Funny

      It doesn't take a lot of code to whip up a new window manager theme, new sounds and new, completely different set of keyboard shortcuts for all the functions that exist since Windows 3.0. And don't forget to change the wallpaper images too. Once done, you have your Windows 7, ready to be shipped!

  3. You know... by Ethan+Allison · · Score: 5, Funny

    I actually like Vista.

    --
    I make websites and stuff. Buy one.
    1. Re:You know... by mrbluze · · Score: 5, Funny

      I actually like Vista.

      It's ok ... there is good, anonymous help available. The twelve-step-journey-to-software-freedom. We meet every Thursday afternoon as a group at the church hall. There's complimentary coffee and biscuits.

      You're welcome to join. Bring a friend!

      --
      Do it yourself, because no one else will do it yourself. [beta blockade 10-17 Feb]
  4. I guess I'll settle by hkmarks · · Score: 2, Funny

    I'll probably get a new computer with Vista. I'm just not a Mac person, Linux doesn't support some software and peripherals I need, and my old desktop is, well, 5 years old at the end of July. I'm cheap but not that cheap.

    That doesn't mean I won't install Linux on my old computer and use my old copy of XP on the new one, of course. I'm a real sucker for shiny, transparent, blurry things though. The problem with Mac stuff is that it looks too much like plastic, or fondant, whereas Vista looks more like fogged glass or acrylic. Mac's ferocious pointer-attacking icons worry me. Neither is sparkly enough, frankly.

    I really like that program that comes with Macs though. What's it called? "Pages." I want that. I think I'll go for a bike ride.

  5. Re:As a proud supporter of open source: by Lord+MuffloN · · Score: 2, Funny

    200$? That's like... 18GBP?

  6. Re:Windows 7 ? by vbraga · · Score: 5, Funny

    WinFS?

    --
    English is not my first language. Corrections and suggestions are welcome.
  7. Windows 7 before Windows 2000 EOL by Windcatcher · · Score: 1, Funny

    Windows 2000 EOL is July 13, 2010, so I'll have roughly six months to decide among four choices:

    1. Take a shrinkwrapped XP copy off the shelf and upgrade to that
    2. Switch to ReactOS
    3. "Upgrade" to Windows 7
    4. Stick with Windows 2000, hoping that a third party keeps up with security patches

    Even though I've bought XP I have yet to switch to that over Windows 2000, so guess how high MY bar for MS is to convince me to switch to Windows 7. Potential customers don't have to buy (or simply use) things just because someone offers them, you know...

  8. Parent is WRONG by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Hi there! My name is Microsoft shill #59329. I'm here to tell you about the exciting new features in Windows 7, and to assure you all that it will be delivered on-time!

    Now, we at Microsoft, are aware that whilst people love Windows Vista, some are having trouble with a few of the more advanced features, and the number of resources required to support them. So allow me to show you, dear Slashdot reader, the two major features in Windows 7 that will make it your best upgrade yet!

    1. No longer will DRM checking be bound to every system event. We know our users love Vista, and Hollywood movies! We're working hard to make DRM checking a little more selective, so things like moving the mouse pointer will no longer trigger a string of DMCA takedown notices from the MPAA. Innovative!
    2. Our dedicate Windows 7 software team is working tirelessly to reverse engineer speed improvements to Vista, if someone could help us figure out how this app speeds things up, drop us a line! Exciting!

    We'll certainly be on-time, because we're not actually going to change anything. Didn't see that one coming did you Free software zealots? I prostrate myself at the feet of chairman Ballmer, worshipping his tactical genius. You should too (if you know what's good for you)!

    Overall, we're confident you'll find Windows 7 to be the Best OS EVAR, and even if you don't: we've kidnapped Linus and Stallman and have them secure in our secret, underground base.

    1. Re:Parent is WRONG by RiotingPacifist · · Score: 5, Funny

      Dear shill #59329, that app simply removes notepad.

      P.S I should warn you that Stallman may be armed with a katana, but tbh you can keep him. If Linus is not released within 48 hours on the other hand, I will be forced to free Reiser in a crazed attempt to free him, much like that general in Rambo: First Blood Part II.

      --
      IranAir Flight 655 never forget!
  9. Re:January 2010 in Microsoft time means... by ameyer17 · · Score: 2, Funny

    More like the Summer Olympics in Chicago/Madrid/Tokyo/Rio de Janiero.

  10. 1 GB RAM by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    Your hardware has 4 GB RAM. MS can only use 3 GB RAM. You paid an extra 33% for nothing.

    Of those 3GB, Vista needs more than 2 GB just to give you the same screen that Fluxbox can give in a few MB, leaving you less than 1 GB to work with out of that 4 GB you paid for.

  11. Re:Who? by TheLink · · Score: 5, Funny

    But Vista doesn't have a reality distortion field that's as strong :).

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  12. Great movie idea by Mathinker · · Score: 5, Funny

    > If Linus is not released within 48 hours on the other hand,
    > I will be forced to free Reiser in a crazed attempt

    Considering that Linus's wife is a six-time Finnish Karate champion, it would probably be a better movie if she and Reiser have to cooperate in this desperate (but ultimately successful, of course) attempt to free Linus. Reiser would have to wave his "I AM McGyver" card around a lot in order to equalize the power of the main characters, and get killed off dramatically (but redeemingly) at the end after he tries to pull a partial double cross in order to force Linus to add support to the 2.7 kernel tree for the new Reiser5 filesystem (note to scriptwriters: find a nice simple analogy for this for the non-geek viewers).

  13. 2010 is spot on by Tumbleweed · · Score: 3, Funny

    ...for sufficiently large values of '2010,' which, as used by MS, is a variable name.

  14. Re:Turtle Mascot? by rossz · · Score: 2, Funny

    I nominate Vista to use a turtle mascot. It makes sense considering it's performance.

    --
    -- Will program for bandwidth
  15. Re:As someone who has Vista Ultimate by Slashcrap · · Score: 5, Funny

    We're human: constantly finding new ways to have things done for us with as little effort as possible. This sort of progression is expected. You mis-spelled American. Also you accidentally typed "slashdot" instead of "digg" in your address bar. Also you should suck my geek cock.