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Microsoft Ending Mainstream Support For XP

Posted by kdawson on from the population-inversion dept.

Slatterz writes "Come next week, Microsoft will be in the unusual position of no longer offering mainstream support for its most widely used product. Windows XP will pass another milestone next week on the road to retirement when mainstream support ends on 14 April 2009, over seven years after the OS originally shipped. While the company said that it will continue to provide free security fixes for XP until 2014, any future bugs found in the platform will not be fixed unless customers pay. Windows XP accounts for about 63 percent of all Internet-connected computers, according to March 2009 statistics from Hitslink, while Windows Vista makes up about 24 percent."

9 of 580 comments (clear)

  1. ok.. so where is it? by way2trivial · · Score: 5, Funny

    I went to microsoft.com and looked around- I did not find the "donate now" button anywhere

    how exactly are we supposed to pay?

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    1. Re:ok.. so where is it? by Shakrai · · Score: 5, Funny

      how exactly are we supposed to pay?

      I'm not sure how the whole process works but I'm guessing that it involves bending over at some point.....

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      I want peace on earth and goodwill toward man.
      We are the United States Government! We don't do that sort of thing.
    2. Re:ok.. so where is it? by Opportunist · · Score: 5, Funny

      Damn. I knew using Open Office would backfire on me one day.

      --
      We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
    3. Re:ok.. so where is it? by Jason1729 · · Score: 2, Funny

      You pay with your soul every time you boot Vista.

    4. Re:ok.. so where is it? by MiniMike · · Score: 2, Funny

      If a bug is detected, a window will pop up titled "Microsoft Antiflaw2009" with instructions on how to pay, and then download the fix. If you close that window without paying, a few dozen more will take its place just to make sure you're aware of this opportunity.

    5. Re:ok.. so where is it? by fartrader · · Score: 4, Funny

      Its a good thing that the devil has infinite patience.

    6. Re:ok.. so where is it? by adunstan · · Score: 2, Funny

      how exactly are we supposed to pay?

      You phone them and choose from a simple list of extended hotfix support:

      Home Basic - We pretty much leave the bug as is.
      Home Premium - We fix the bug, but introduce more bugs.
      Home Professional - Same as Home Premium but with 'Professional' in the name.
      Business Basic - Same as Home Basic, but with a higher cost.
      Business Premium - Same as Home Premium but with a higher cost.
      Ultimate Basic - We kind of fix the bug.
      Ultimate Premium - We fix the bug, and only introduce a maximum of 1 more bug.

  2. Re:XP Sucks, Vista is Better by SpinyManiac · · Score: 3, Funny

    Vista is just XP service pack 3 anyway.

    Service packs are supposed to fix things.

    --
    It's never too late to have a happy childhood.
  3. Re: Dilbert's Boss by Abreu · · Score: 4, Funny

    Who the hell is going to run out and buy Vista just because XP left mainstream support?!?

    Pointy Haired Bosses?

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