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Why Microsoft Shouldn't Patch the XP Internet Explorer Flaw

Hugh Pickens DOT Com writes: "Sebastian Anthony argues that Microsoft is setting an awful precedent by caving and issuing a fix for Windows XP. 'Yes, tardy governments and IT administrators can breathe a little easier for a little bit longer,' writes Anthony, 'and yes, your mom and dad are yet again safe to use their old Windows XP beige box. But to what end? It's just delaying the inevitable.' Lance Ulanoff argues that Microsoft can't turn a blind eye the security of XP users, even though the company ended support for the 12-year-old operating system on April 8, a fact that Microsoft has been warning about for, literally, years. But this won't be the only vulnerability found in XP, says Dwight Silverman. 'If Microsoft makes an exception now, what about the flaw found after this one? And the next? And the one after that, ad infinitum?' Even though Microsoft has released a patch for the IE flaw, and Windows XP is included, it's time to move on – really. 'I don't want to hear that tired "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" line. Hey, XP IS broke, and it will just get more so over time. Upgrade to a newer version of Windows, or switch to another modern operating system, such as OS X or Linux.'"

4 of 345 comments (clear)

  1. "or switch to another modern OS such as..." by Blaskowicz · · Score: 2, Interesting

    That isn't helpful, XP is a modern operating system. It has user accounts, processes and all that stuff. It misses a desktop compositor but do we have to care about windows flying around?

    In fact I would like linux to catch up. Using LXDE makes it relatively close to XP in speed and stability, MATE is a slower but decent, but it could use some more driver quality and importantly I hope there'll finally be a way to fix backwards compatibility and game availability, which go hand in hand.

    Get me right, I know that XP has to be abandoned and advocate for it , I tell people to use Mint and do all updates (almost security only) that show up. The updates are pleasant instead of being a hassle. Though as usual I need to wait again. Wait for Mint 17 to be out, since Mint 16 will be deprecated despite coming out in last November.

  2. Re:Microsoft Opened Themselves Up for Lawsuits by Tough+Love · · Score: 1, Interesting

    Maybe he doesn't, but I think he's right. What is the chance that nobody will sue Microsoft for, among other things, fraud? Does it say on the package that the product becomes unfit for use at time X? No? Fraud. Lawyers start panting.

    --
    When all you have is a hammer, every problem starts to look like a thumb.
  3. Re:Is This Friday's Troll Topic? by fustakrakich · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Yes, I paid for XP, and it still works well enough for me. Anybody who demands that I replace it should pay for it.

    --
    “He’s not deformed, he’s just drunk!”
  4. Re:Microsoft Opened Themselves Up for Lawsuits by Sable+Drakon · · Score: 3, Interesting

    True. but most people with older Macs don't have to spend 100+ dollars just to upgrade their system to the most recent build of Mac OS. You can run Mavericks on 7 year old iMacs and MacBooks with few issues, while trying to run Win7/8 on a 7 year or older machine is nothing but issues.

    --
    The Amarri pray for god, the Caldari pray for profit. the Gallente pray for peace, but the Minmatar pray their ships hol