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Microsoft Counts Down To XP Death

mikejuk writes "Microsoft have just released an end-of-support countdown gadget that ticks off the days until XP is no longer supported — but it only runs under Vista or Windows 7! It focuses the mind on the fact that XP is being forcibly retired. It is a wake-up call to think hard about the unpleasant situation and consider the alternatives.So as you watch the count down to XP's death tick by think about the problems created by using software that actually belongs to someone else..."

9 of 766 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Hmm by Mascot · · Score: 3, Informative

    How the hell is a company choosing, after _13 years_, to no longer support a piece of software "abuse of power"?

    Nobody's forcing you to uninstall XP. You'll just have to come to terms with the reality that at some point it will no longer be supported.

  2. Re:derp derp by h4rr4r · · Score: 3, Informative

    Ubuntu. You can just keep upgrading in place for 0. Debian is another, you could go get a 10 year old disk and if it would install dist-upgrade your way all the way up.

    When did MS start giving XP users free win 7 disks?

  3. Re:Really? by LWATCDR · · Score: 4, Informative

    Except Microsoft is still selling XP. I mean new copies of it to day. I can still buy a PC that comes new from the factory with XP.
    How long did Microsoft support 98 after it stopped selling it? Windows 2000?
    That is the difference. Stop XP should have five years from the day they stop selling it.

    --
    See my blog http://ilovecookes.blogspot.com/ for light hearted technical information.
  4. Re:Uh, unless you're a programmer... by Red+Flayer · · Score: 4, Informative

    Support on that level would cost more than updating your OS every decade from a stable company

    RHEL desktop self-support subscription is $49 a year. Windows 7 Home Premium is $200. Cost is roughly equivalent on a 4-year upgrade cycle, though RHEL support gives you more than a Windows license does.

    RHEL Workstation self-support subscription is $179/yr. Windows 7 Pro is $300. Ditto on the qualification re: getting more.

    If you're looking at a standard subscription for RHEL Workstation, it's $299 a year. Compare to the same level of support from Microsoft: probably Technet Pro, which is $349 for the first year and $249 for renewals.

    How is the parent spreading FUD when you're the one comparing apples to oranges? You're either misinformed, or being disingenuous. If it's the first, then I hope I've opened your eyes. If it's the latter, then GTFO.

    --
    "Trolls they were, but filled with the evil will of their master: a fell race..." -- J.R.R. Tolkien on Olog-hai
  5. Re:Uh, unless you're a programmer... by h4rr4r · · Score: 3, Informative

    The windows license does not include support only updates. Phone support costs money, call MS and ask.

  6. Re:Uh, unless you're a programmer... by peragrin · · Score: 4, Informative

    XP was forced onto netbooks because Vista, and 7 are to much for netbooks, and MSFT forced manufacturers to install bigger processors and actual hard drives to get XP onto those machines.

    Remember the first netbooks were a lot like the ipad in terms of hardware. small flash memories(4-8 gb) low power processors etc all running Linux. MSFT realized the threat and extended XP's life because that was easier than cutting down windows 7 to fit on the first few Netbooks.

    The only thing that really surprises me much any more is just how easy people forget reality and their own history.

    --
    i thought once I was found, but it was only a dream.
  7. Killing Windows XP by DERoss · · Score: 3, Informative

    Micro$oft is killing Windows XP only because not enough users have switched to something newer.

    Per W3Schools, Windows XP is used on 42.9% of computers while Windows 7 is used on only 34.1%.

    Per StatCounter, Windows XP is used on 47.32% of computers while Windows 7 is used on only 30.6%.

    (Both sets of stats from March 2011.)

    The major problem is that I use software with Windows XP that will not run on Windows 7. Those applications do exactly what I want, but there are no new versions for Windows 7. Not only will I have the expense of upgrading Windows, I will also have the expense of replacing otherwise good applications.

  8. Re:Uh, unless you're a programmer... by Risen888 · · Score: 4, Informative

    If SuSe or Red Hat goes belly up tomorrow, or it's announced it will no longer be supported, you seriously expect that someone will *100% for sure* support it to the level required by an enterprise customer?

    Well, considering that Oracle will do that very thing for RHEL right now, I'd say the answer is obviously yes.

    --
    Hey, I finally got my first freak! Took you long enough!
  9. Re:Uh, unless you're a programmer... by pla · · Score: 4, Informative

    I laugh at your naive assessment that competing/alternate Linux vendors/contributors will support something that isn't theirs. If SuSe or Red Hat goes belly up tomorrow, or it's announced it will no longer be supported, you seriously expect that someone will *100% for sure* support it to the level required by an enterprise customer?

    Yup. Because if RedHat won't, and Novell won't... I will.

    That counts as one of the best features of Linux. Company-X might not have any desire to help you keep an old box running and secure. But unlike EOL'd Windows versions, if we hear about a new critical vulnerability today, by tomorrow a patch will exist; and unlike Windows (EOL'd or not), it doesn't matter if that vulnerability affects Solitaire or the deepest recesses of the kernel, a sufficiently knowledgeable user still has the power (and legal right) to repair it.

    So yeah, in many cases, it might make more sense to upgrade to a newer version. But if you absolutely, positively need to keep an old Caldera 2.2 box up and running, and have enough money to throw at me, we can keep that sucker up and running until the Sun swallows the Earth.