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Microsoft Discontinues Windows 3.x

Posted by kdawson on from the an-application-has-expectedly-quit dept.

rugatero writes "The BBC reports that, as of last Saturday, Microsoft is no longer issuing licenses for the 18-year-old Windows 3.x. Many here may well be surprised to learn that anyone still has use for the antiquated software, but it seems to have found a home in a number of embedded systems — including cash registers and the in-flight entertainment systems on some long-haul passenger jets (Virgin and Qantas are cited). Considering Linux's credentials as an embedded OS, this news could very well indicate the possibility of more migrations in the pipeline."

3 of 384 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Incredible by DerekLyons · · Score: 3, Informative

    Considering how unstable 3X was, I'm shocked that anyone is using it for anything.

    Unstable? Maybe to your average Joe Luser who, ignorant of computers, let programs install all kinds of crap in CONFIG.SYS, AUTOEXEC.BAT and WIN.INI... Or didn't know how to properly set paths, or any one of dozens of other ways to tune his machine. But to those who did know how to tune, and how to clean up after crappy installs, Win 3.X was very stable.
     
    I think Windows 3.X got a bad rep because, unlike vanilla DOS systems, you actually had to know what you were doing to set everything up properly. Few people bothered.

  2. Re:Those kids these days! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Informative

    ...then what's that?

  3. It lives on! by dakameleon · · Score: 4, Informative

    Even in Vista, the spirit of Win3.1 still lives on in the Add Font dialog box!

    (Anyone know if they've updated that yet in Windows 7?)

    --
    Man who leaps off cliff jumps to conclusion.