On killing off Win XP

[vasa1]

Here are some thoughts on the matter:
Windows XP Requires Long-Term Microsoft Support: 10 Reasons Why

[Anupam]

I think MS has stopped support only for Win XP SP2... and not for SP3.

[vasa1]

The article seems to be more about the overall implications of withdrawing support to SP2 and SP3 whenever that happens.

I think the author was trying to make the point that Microsoft could end up hurting itself. Right or wrong? Let's see.

[Anupam]

Yes, that way the article is right. There are still many many PCs using XP... and they don't tend to upgrade for long time.

[Doobie]

MS should pull the plug on XPsp2.

Microsoft's primary interest is selling new operating systems, not supporting old operating systems. Ending support for XPsp2 promotes new OS sales. Besides, XP users can easily move to still-supported sp3. And, anyone so conservative as to stick to sp2 shouldn't need MS hand-holding.

The thinking of the writer of the article goes from bad to full-on retard when he bashes Vista. Recent Vista buyers have a much greater right to expect support than old XP users. Ending Vista support won't be as effective at promoting new OS sales. Because Win7 is really Vista.1, so supporting Vista is cheap, much cheaper than supporting XP.

[HeWhoRocks]

Originally Posted by Doobie

MS should pull the plug on XPsp2.

Microsoft's primary interest is selling new operating systems, not supporting old operating systems. Ending support for XPsp2 promotes new OS sales. Besides, XP users can easily move to still-supported sp3. And, anyone so conservative as to stick to sp2 shouldn't need MS hand-holding.

The thinking of the writer of the article goes from bad to full-on retard when he bashes Vista. Recent Vista buyers have a much greater right to expect support than old XP users. Ending Vista support won't be as effective at promoting new OS sales. Because Win7 is really Vista.1, so supporting Vista is cheap, much cheaper than supporting XP.

I would say any recent or non recent Vista purchasers have a right to expect an OS that works properly, but beyond that it's not an issue of rights. To suggest that the OS buyer has some implied "rights" based on version or incarnation is absurd. Anybody who bought Vista post Win7 release deserves exactly what they get. Anybody who bought Vista pre Win7 should be given Win7 for free in my view.

[vasa1]

Originally Posted by Doobie

MS should pull the plug on XPsp2.

Microsoft's primary interest is selling new operating systems, not supporting old operating systems. Ending support for XPsp2 promotes new OS sales. Besides, XP users can easily move to still-supported sp3. And, anyone so conservative as to stick to sp2 shouldn't need MS hand-holding.
...

Yes. MS should pull the plug on whatever it can. Caveat emptor.

[Doobie]

Originally Posted by HeWhoRocks

I would say any recent or non recent Vista purchasers have a right to expect an OS that works properly, but beyond that it's not an issue of rights. To suggest that the OS buyer has some implied "rights" based on version or incarnation is absurd. Anybody who bought Vista post Win7 release deserves exactly what they get. Anybody who bought Vista pre Win7 should be given Win7 for free in my view.

MS explicitly promises support of some length for the software they sell. MS will provided extended support of Vista until 2017. MS will offer full mainstream support of Vista until nearly 2012.

Beyond that, MS customers do have an implied right of support. If MS dropped support of Vista today, even if there were no explicit promise of support to start with, MS would find itself on the losing end of a class action lawsuit.

MS has neither practical, moral, nor legal room to drop Vista support now -- contrary to the thinking of the imbecile who wrote the article.

As for your thinking, it's absurd to insist that MS should give give out free copies of a newer product to old customers (to further the absurdity, you just argued that consumers have no rights beyond a working OS). It's also naive of you to think that every Vista owner would accept even a free Win7. Many home users don't want to mess with installing a new OS. Many businesses don't want to take the risks of a new OS.

[BuzyBee]

Originally Posted by Anupam

Yes, that way the article is right. There are still many many PCs using XP... and they don't tend to upgrade for long time.

So true! And for one of my older desktops, it will have to remain on XP SP2. Tried installing SP3 for the third time back in May (first time was back in 2008) and yet again, HDD somehow got screwed up, requiring complete HDD recovery.

Anyway, I thought forum visitors staying on XP platform might find this 12 Aug 2010 article by Fred Langa [Windows Secrets] to be helpful. Link: http://windowssecrets.com/2010/08/12...-the-long-haul

Personally, I'll be using the steps for my semi-annual PC checkups on both the SP2 and SP3 desktops. Cheers!

[vasa1]

Good stuff in the link! Thanks for that, BuzyBee!

(I'm one of those who'll stay with XP as long as possible.)