Yeah I've heard of people having boot problems with SP3 too. I mean; I already have a hard enough time booting properly with the issues I'm having. I don't think I'd be able to boot at all with SP3

Sorry I was on holiday and missed most of this

Thanks for that information Platypus is was appreciated ;)

Looks like XP haven't pulled out of this yet?

David

Similar to buddy215's post, but maybe with a bit more of info. GO DELL!
http://www.computerworld.com/action/articl...ticleId=9080638

I'm hoping that HP won't pull all their remaining XP stuff off... because I really want this labtop, even though its probably a tad underpowered now for the price, its still got XP and its pretty good none the less.

Its almost all a matter of if you've got the money now or not to get a computer to last until the next decent release of a windows OS.... or just build your own and get linux or self install XP.

Microsoft Corp. CEO Steve Ballmer offered a glimmer of hope on Thursday to fans of the company's Windows XP operating system, saying the company may reconsider its decision to stop selling it soon.

http://www.comcast.net/news/articles/techn...4/Microsoft.XP/

Sunday April 27-2008

Hmm lets hope that they decide to listening to what the people want and do what the people want. I think they are forgetting that without us paying customers, they wouldn't be around so in favour they could do us a favour.

a side note,

even tho sp3 wasn't going to be released to the devlopers network, it was

even tho the admin install was pulled from the open web page at windows update, the download links are still active

I conservatively estimate 300,000-500,000 downloads so far, based on majorgeeks reporting 200,000 so far

Interest in XP is far from dead it would seem

Of course. I personally have no idea where Ballmer (that's his name, right...?) bases his idea that the home user and large corporation companies don't want it.
Is it out of beta though? I am worried for my life that it'll make me order reinstallation discs

Im glad to see xp go.

i had vista for 6 months and had ZERO!! problems with it. its fast and i love it.


I think most of you just need to get over that xp wont be around forever. Vista may have probs but they can be worked out. I remember xp having alot of problems when it first came out


just give it some time

Well, if Vista sucks to the point Ballmer declares it an official "work in progress" there's something to infer about that. Also, if Vista caused sales to plummet a few times more than XP, that definitely suggests something.
While I don't disagree that Vista issues can work out, I don't like the new features. Running as administrator for every little thing and a UAC that's just a pain to disable... sigh.

Just to input my two bits, If Microsoft cares so little about their customers as to force-feed a obviuosly inferior product on them, why should we as consumers continue to line their pockets with our gold? The customer rules, and if they are refusing to sell and support the product we prefer, then in my eyes they have forfeited any right of protection under the law. I am sure the courts will disagree, but if enough people refuse to buy Vista regardless, the giant will eventually have to do something (either go broke or change his attitude)

Because we're not used to Macs, and besides Linux is kinda hard to understand.
Besides, Windows is the most dominant OS, so almost everything is compatible with Windows. Not Vista though.

My Husband bought computer with Vista preinstalled a couple of months ago. He wanted XP, but the vendor was allowed to offer only Vista, and told that it is not hard to get accustomed to a Vista machine. It is not hard, if you want it to be a toy.
Here are his impressions (I never touch this thing, don`t like it):
1. Hardware - Vista requires a lot of resources. It doesn`t work smoothly with 4 GB RAM installed.
2. Looks - pretty, if you go for it. He doesn`t. I`m the proof.
3. OS stability - it is harder to mess with system settings.
Finally: he doesn`t like Vista. If he wants to do some serious work, he sneeks to my 6 yrs old, 256 MB RAM, XP3 laptop. It is just more comfortable.
I talked to some friends in IT industry. Generally, they agree:
- MS has invested some big money in Vista, and has limited time to return it, because they will soon (next year ?) release Windows 7. They need to dump XP, and what Ballmer is talking can be called "damage control". They hope we will gradually accept Vista.
- XP is designed to work on any HW configuration, and leave as much as possible resources to applications. Vista is designed to provides for itself first, and what`s left can be used by other applications.
- Second reason Vista requires so much resources is the idea to be frequently in touch with Microsoft and report about users habits and preferences (yup! sounds like spyware).
- Companies and US Government still use XP. To switch on Vista, they must invest in new HW, because what they currently have cannot support Vista. Some companies have hundreds, or thousands XP machines, so do some calculations.
- Environment - how can we safely dispose so many good, yet obsolete computers in next two years?
- Besides HW, here`s also a SW problem. Business applications are often created for specific type of work, or even for a single (medium or big) company. Costs for SW upgrades will be at least 10 times bigger than expenditures on HW.
- Here should be added costs for extra work hours, staff education, time for transition on new HW/SW, time to establish information reliability (they will probably work parallel on both systems), etc, etc.
It will be interesting to watch Microsoft getting out of the hole they dig for themselves.
Crazy idea: Apple bought Microsoft and forgot to tell us about it?

Reason for editing: broken language I call "english".

Yep. I couldn't believe how hard it was to use Vista on my friend's computers. And they use NORTON O.O Lag ftl >:(

I'm all for it. I would donate for the cause
Better yet, Linux bought Microsoft. Then told Bill Gates "Boo. Source codes own you now."

Hmmm...

It seems the petition has now gathered over 200,000 signatures and Microsoft still won't listen

I think this isn't going to be saved.

'thread watching' with interest; my XP is 'in need of attention' BUT maybe not worth the effort?


? do we know when support for and microsoft updates FOR XP from their site will end?

Yes we do:

http://support.microsoft.com/lifecycle/sea...Filter=FilterNO

Mainstream support continues until 14th April 2009. For the duration of mainstream support updates will include security hotfixes and may include updates to address non-security issues of functionality.

Extended support continues until 8th April 2014. During extended support phase, MS provides security hotfixes but doesn't provide non security related software updates.

*ahem*

Linux.

nuff said

I'm not complaining

If I can atleast still get updates till that time!

And, by the time the updates stop I am sure Vista will be more worthy of installing

Whut O.O The evil Ubuntu CD won't install because my VAIO Sony is 256MB RAM...
Looks like it will continue to be slow

One thing I wish Vista would have would be none of that Run as Administration and UAC trouble. Simply reminds me of an overprotective mother T_T

And where in the Land of Nod is Ballmer in now? >:(

I was thinking about dual booting when the time comes. Not all games run in xp any more. I believe they can but Microsoft is using this to help force people to upgrade to vista. Halo 2 is a good example.

Vista is making people pose even more faith in MS, I have been computing since the late 60's. Back then a whole OS was on one floppy, the advancements in needs required building bigger and bigger OS's but the bloat and the accompanying problems are just getting to be too much. I have been anti MAC but they are looking very good these days, my feeling is Vista will erode MS's OS base and many will jump off the rickety band wagon!

You, my friend, should first considering getting free Linux. Operates similarly to Mac

Correction: Mac OS operates similarly to Linux.

Is there a difference?
I mean, there's this law in physics that A touching B is the same as B touching A. Shouldn't that apply here?

Linux predates MacOSX.

Dang it. Guess you're right.

XP is getting pretty hard to come by over here.
I have Vista Home Basic and Home Premium on 2 machines, but still my XP Pro Media Centre 2005 is by far my favourite. I managed to track down a new copy the other day and it should be here tomorrow. Won't do me much good when support is dropped, but I just feel happier knowing it is sitting in the drawer.

I was taking fortran







Mac roots go back to unix and developement was along parrallel paths to linux developement


It all boils down to the gui and open vs closed/propriatry kernels

one further note, back in 98 or 99 the NT kernel was so bad many new server board manufacturers abandoned writting drivers for NT in enterprise enviroments

Bill and redmond started hiring a lot of linux/unix and java programmers

My Ubuntu is more than ready to take the challenge.

So we're stuck with Vista??

WHAT?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!
When, where, why, how????

And in what twisted reality?!

As I don't mind vista too much after the latest fixes, I think it's dumb they kill off XP, even though it is a 6 year old OS, and you know in the computer world, 2 years is like 10 years. People use it, people like it and they could still sell it for a few more years.

Vista is a work in progress, as was XP when it came out. Back in the day, and I remember this very well, when XP came out most people thought it was a joke (same feeling most people have about vista), then AFTER Sp1 and a ton of updates, people started saying that it was the beta OS Microsoft ever made. It will take time, and after everyone says what they want about it, Microsoft will start doing stuff. I just don't like the overhead that it needs to run and I feel that sp1 was a joke, it didn't make it run better, maybe files transfered a little better but, very disapointed in it.

time will tell....

The comment in the original post of "Product support, including security updates, for mainstream users of Windows XP continues until April 2009" is incorrect. According to Microsoft (http://support.microsoft.com/lifecycle/?LN=en-gb&x=16&y=12&C2=1173) the security updates will be available until 08 Apr 2014. The dates in the link are in the form of dd/mm/yyyy.

The statement in the first post is correct. You are referring to Extended Support which is not the same as Mainstream Support which is what the first post is about. Extended Support is for Business and Developer Products only.

MADNESS!!!! D:


I had read these news before, but then I am not sure if someone told me or where I read it... That apparently they will extend the life of XP a bit more than June 30 since a BIG percentage of the users that buy a new PC with Vista in it have XP installed LOL

I do have a friend that works in a computer repair store that tells me recently half the customers he has want an emmm... dont think the word is "upgrade" but they want to switch back to XP and I would too!!

I've been trying to switch to Ubuntu but just can't get used to it... it's too complicated for me!! I need a tutorial that is meant for kindergarden because I had tried one and everytime something came up and I asked friends for help theyd talk to me like I'm all knowledgable and know a lot of stuffs about comps!! When in reality I dont

Anyways there's no way in hell Id use Vista!! So now I'll just try to get used to new Operating System while I still have my XP ;) or cough cough-get a copy cough!!! *hopes doesnt get banned* >.>

Business and Developer Products includes operating systems.

The quoted statement in the original post is incomplete and phrased in such a way that people think it means security updates will only continue until April 2009 hence they will not be able to safely continue to use XP. The Mainstream designation is confusingly applied to users, rather than products.

A more complete and accurate version of the original quote would be something like:

Mainstream product support, including security updates, for users of Windows XP continues until April 2009, Extended product support, including security updates, continues until April 2014.

gs2088 is correct in pointing this date out, as have I and others previously.

We can see which software falls into which category here:

http://support.microsoft.com/gp/lifeselect

OSes have the cutoff dates shown in the Extended Support column. If you select a Consumer software title like Money 2006 or Age of Empires, the Extended Support Retired column shows Not Applicable.

I see what you're saying, the phrasing is confusing. Microsoft's site has always been setup in a way that gives names to things but doesn't accurately explain what products that includes, or something that makes more sense, it's 3am. The way the XP SP3 chart is setup with the notes and the link is not exactly clear to me, any insight there? Doesn't really matter to me much, as I mostly use Vista which after 6 years of ME doesn't seem that bad. I went back and read the topic since I wasn't here when it was posted, and noticed something about MVP. So, you are/were one? I'm stopping now cuz it's 3:15am and it's taken me 1/2 hour to type this. I need some sleeping pills or something...

I doubt seriously that Microsoft has set anything in stone and even if they did, I wouldn't expect them to follow it. Most of what I have read from them regarding the demise of XP has been spindoctored and hopelessly entwined with vista marketing.

The notes link you to the explanation of the way the rolling retirement of support for service packs works. (Support for service packs is shorthand for support for a product updated to that service pack level.)

When an OS service pack is released, the previous service pack level continues to be supported for two years, then support for that level is retired (ceases). As SP3 is the current level for XP, it is assumed to have future support in the way stated for XP generally. If a service pack 4 is ever released, SP3 will then have 2 years of support from SP4 release date. (This suggests that if none of the stated dates change, and if an SP4 is released, it would become available prior to April 2012.)

When service pack support is retired, software at that service pack level can no longer obtain online updates, as is now the case for XP SP1. Two years from now, a fresh XP SP2 install will be unable to get online updates, SP3 would have to be installed, then all the updates released since SP3 would be obtainable through Windows Update.

Does that clarify it, or have I not understood your query?

My MVP profile

That helps and thanks for the link to your profile - checking out a site in it now.

Thanks for that, Platypus. We should all know that, but this one regarding XP has become entangled with emotional issues. Most users seem to love their XP, me included, and prefer it to Vista. I have 2 Vista laptops but find the differences to XP infuriating.

Cheers

this is sad...

Hey I haven't been keeping up with the topic but has InfoWorld done anything else?

Arg on the day of my birthday XP the only M$ OS that i bear to use will no longer be in circulation? Well tux let's go for a for a stroll shall we

I hear you man... but just a tought starcraft emulates perfectly in wine or even a virtual machine... that's what i do for homeworld

I really do think this is wrong..

We can't change it Samuel - that InfoWorld petition still isn't going to work