macnn/electronista

04/12/2007, 12:40pm, EDT

Thursday, April 12th

Windows XP to disappear in 2008?

Microsoft intends to phase out the OEM version of Windows XP at the start of 2008, isolating those not ready to upgrade, writes APC Magazine. After January, Microsoft's contracts with computer builders will require the installation of Windows Vista -- which, despite a variety of improvements, has received complaints of hardware and software incompatibility, as well as high system requirements. Many shoppers are thus still asking for Windows XP to be installed, even though the death knell for the OS has already been sounded.

Attempting to meet the demand, some companies are themselves resisting the switch. In a recent post to its official blog, Dell insisted that smaller businesses would not be forced to migrate to Vista, and would instead be able to opt for XP when buying specific Dimension and Inspiron computers. Even this offer, however, is planned to expire later this summer, the company says.


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Not Vista
0
04/12, 12:54pm, EDT
Who wants Vista? If i install Bootcamp on my mac its for the games and they don't run on Vista, or slower.
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Typical Microsoft
0
04/12, 1:09pm, EDT
Typical Microsoft to cut off its customers even when the complaints are still rolling in on Vista. That's another good reason to switch to a Mac. Apple listens to its customers while Microsoft say screw you!
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go for it MSFT
0
04/12, 1:10pm, EDT
yeah that's right Microsoft, force everyone to migrate to Vista even though they don't want to. That for sure will make people mad enough to junk their PC and buy a Mac.
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Re: typical microsoft
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04/12, 1:14pm, EDT
Typical Microsoft to cut off its customers even when the complaints are still rolling in on Vista. That's another good reason to switch to a Mac. Apple listens to its customers while Microsoft say screw you!

OMG! That's hillarious! I guess you don't remember when Apple did THE EXACT SAME THING five years ago when they announced that OS 9 was dead (even with a coffin) and OS X was now the way to go. The complaints users had were the same what Vista users are saying (hardware and software compatibility, unstableness, high system demands, etc).

Oh, and maybe you didn't know it, but once Leopard comes out, you can't buy 10.4 anymore from Apple. Doesn't matter if your hardware no longer works, or some software now is incompatible. There's no buying a mac with 10.4 installed.
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test
0
04/12, 1:51pm, EDT
can I post?
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.Mac offline?
0
04/12, 1:57pm, EDT
Is it just me or is Apple having technical problems today with their .Mac accounts?
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Re:Re: typical microsoft
0
04/12, 2:33pm, EDT
They had to dump os9 because of the Intel move and 2e hand copy's of osX 10.4 will still work when 10.5 hits the market, something that is much harder to do with XP's activation BS.

MS can remotely stop you from using XP or Vista whenever they want, very reassuring.
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Ahh, testudo...
0
04/12, 3:33pm, EDT
OS9 still ran in Classic and has only recently been dropped completely. When I moved to OS X on me old iMac, yes, I couldn't get my printer to work but it did run still in Classic.

I think there's a difference here.
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Testudo, this different
0
04/12, 4:03pm, EDT
If I remember well, when OSX came out, Mac were still being sold with OS9 as the default system. When OSX 10.1 came out, you could still get bootable OS9 Macs (and yes, they still came with Classic). When OSX 10.2 (Jagwire, as SJ would pronounce it) came out, Classic was still part of the game. Same with 10.3 (Panther). Tiger has it as an option. Apple (the OS maker) made Classic available for five years after introducing OSX. Apple (the hardware maker) made Macs that boot into OS9 for two years after OSX was introduced.

Now, Microsoft is FORCING everybody who makes hardware to buy Vista. If you are a home builder, you could still go out and buy shrinkwrapped XP later in 2008 and slap it onto your home-built PC. If you want to buy a PC from Dell, they will NOT be allowed to sell it to you with XP. You'll be getting Vista, like it or not. If you want your XP, go buy it separately (like you would if you had a Mac with BootCamp).

Obviously, Microsoft wants to get Vista to the people FAST. Forcing OEMs is the only way to do it. I am not a lawyer (and don't play one on TV), but I wonder if that wouldn't constitute a violation of the anti-trust laws.

Apple will be getting another great chance to capitalise on those who don't want to re-learn Windows next year. If you are in the market for a new PC, and are forced to buy one that has Vista (and have to re-learn your windows, complete with the "Mac has issued a salutation. Cancel or Allow?" security prompts), you'd look hard at Macs.
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Apple did the same?
0
04/12, 4:06pm, EDT
Only thing with apple tho is when they release 10.5 all hardware on 10.4 i bet will work. As they are so far ahead they do not need to rush out new products and ensure they work. Ms on the other hand are SH!Tting themselves and there are talks that they are pressing there next os forward instead of 2009. Thats a lough.
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