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Microsoft Responds to 'Save XP' Petition
Posted by
samzenpus
on Wed Feb 06, 2008 09:38 PM
from the we-like-the-old-ways dept.
from the we-like-the-old-ways dept.
DaMassive writes "Computerworld Australia is running a story with a response from Microsoft to Infoworld's SAVE XP petition Web site, which has gathered over 75,000 signatures so far. Apparently Microsoft is aware of the petition, but says it is "listening first and foremost to feedback we hear from partners and customers about what makes sense based on their needs, that's what informed our decision to extend the availability of XP initially, and what will continue to guide us" — a somewhat strange response given that the vast majority of people signing the petition ARE Microsoft customers! The Save XP movement has attracted the attention of the software giant, despite its claims that Vista has sold more than 100 million copies and its adoption rate is in line with the company's expectations. "We're seeing positive indicators that we're already starting to move from the early adoption phase into the mainstream and that more and more businesses are beginning their planning and deployment of Windows Vista," the company said. Nevertheless vendors such as Dell, Hewlett-Packard, Lenovo, Fujitsu, and more recently NEC, all offer the opportunity to downgrade to XP Pro."
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Ian Lamont writes "Microsoft says it will extend the sales of Windows XP Home to OEMs by several years, but it's not in response to the SaveXP petition. Microsoft is supposedly making the move in part to ensure that Linux doesn't dominate the market for certain types of 'ultra-low-cost' laptops. XP will be available for OEMs until June 30, 2010, or one year after the availability of the next client version of Windows, whichever date comes later. This greatly extends the earlier XP deadline of June 30 of this year (which was an extension itself), and means XP will potentially be installed on new computers nearly a decade after its original release. The author of the article suggests that the post-June 2008 release of Atom-based laptops encouraged Microsoft to extend XP, even though Intel says Atom can support Vista. Intel also claims that 'Moblin' Linux will be available on Atom-equipped mobile devices starting this summer."
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OH GOD (Score:5, Funny)
Re:OH GOD (Score:5, Funny)
To quote a Monty Python episode
Parent
Re:OH GOD (Score:5, Informative)
That's because Halo 2 doesn't actually need directx10. It has a 'is this vista check', and it might use a couple of minor new directx 10 direct3d calls (which can easily be captured and reimplemented in direct3d 9).
The real features of directX10 like Video memory virtualization and gpu multitasking (which allows Vista to have multiple direct3d accelerated applications (including the desktop) all running at the same time in (possibibly overlapping windows).
-That- is (amongst other reasons) why Vista has a new driver model, which in turns needs kernel support. -That- is why it hasn't been backported to XP. -That- is why its not likely to ever get backported to XP.
DirectX10 itself is a MAJOR milestone for windows, for the windows desktop, a step that brings it to parity with what linux and osx can do, in fact.
You aren't going to get a proper Compiz or Aqua class desktop for XP because XP simply can't do this stuff. Vista/DirectX10 can. But, this isn't really important 'for games' and games requiring directx10 is mostly marketing puff using minor features that can be easily redirected via a directx9 wrapper.
This is unfortunately because it undermines just how major directX10 really is, leaving gamers with the impression that its just a cheap tactic to sell Vista. (Which, to the extent of its use by current games; requiring directX10 IS a cheap tactic to sell vista.) But directX10 is quite a bit more than what these games are using. And this cheap tactic is masking that.
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Give 'em time (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:Give 'em time (Score:5, Insightful)
"...listening first and foremost to feedback we hear from partners and customers about what makes sense based on their needs..."
Hearing Microsoft use the term partners and customers always strikes me as resellers and vendors not consumers of Microsoft products.
Parent
Downgrade??? (Score:5, Insightful)
I'm sorry, did I see the word downgrade there? I'd consider Vista to XP an upgrade myself. Anyhow, kudos to the OEM's for providing XP as an option. It would be nice if more of them also offered linux as an option when selecting the OS. At least Dell does. (Thanks.)
It would be nice if Microsoft would at least extend the System Builder and OEM licenses for a while longer; there's really no reason not to people like XP, and they get money whether people buy Vista or XP. If they stop offering XP, then people may choose to use Linux or macs, and in the end MS may end up losing money.
Re:Downgrade??? (Score:5, Funny)
Everyone should be running the newest of Windows, which is Windows Vista! People who still get by with XP are uncool and stick-in-the-muds. Windows Vista on a Wacom-enabled Tablet PC is the way to go! And Windows Vista to me seems much faster with the new wallpapers! I love Microsoft and everything they do. Products like Vista, silverlight.NET and OOXML powered Office 2007 are brilliant. Going forward vista will be the only way to get the latest version of
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Re:Downgrade??? (Score:5, Interesting)
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Re:Downgrade??? (Score:5, Insightful)
So in other words, they are providing what the customers want... instead of providing what the customers want? I see...
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Definition of business partners and customers (Score:5, Insightful)
if (isBusinessPartner(user))
return TRUE;
if (isCustomer(user) && accountSize(customer) > TenMillion)
return TRUE;
return FALSE;
}
Compiler Error: (Score:5, Funny)
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No Thanks, Microsoft. I'll Run Linux (Score:5, Funny)
Vista marketing strategy: (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Vista marketing strategy: (Score:5, Funny)
Funny. I read it as "We can year you. You're just unimportant".
Parent
Funny,,, (Score:5, Funny)
Wow. (Score:5, Funny)
Then again, these days, Nixon would be considered a step up from the current state of affairs, so...
Re:Wow. (Score:5, Interesting)
And since XP is getting pretty old, the recommended specs to run it fairly well is still just about 256-512 MB RAM or so on a 300+ MHz CPU.
Parent
Incompetence hangs in the air like... (Score:5, Interesting)
So much of what comes from Microsoft seems depersonalized, as though employees just go through the motions, realizing that nothing they do will change the basic nature of the fundamental failures in the company.
Incompetence hangs in the air like the cold stench of death. [dilbert.com]
Funny. (Score:5, Interesting)
It is a strange world.
Gullible fools... (Score:5, Insightful)
Evil corporations cannot change. Well, they could change, but they WON'T. Terefore, they must be defeated. I wonder what would happen if all of the 75,000 people signing for XP would have donated 20 dollars to the ReactOS project [reactos.org]. $1,500,000 bucks doesn't sound any bad at all.
On the other hand, this democratic exercise can help to open the eyes of the ignorant masses so they can realize that Microsoft won't change.
Same shit, different date (Score:5, Insightful)
Except back then people were bitching about the upgrade from 2000 to XP.
The end result is Microsoft will fix some of the most annoying things in Vista (or offer alternatives), but 95% of their customers will swallow Vista within the next 2 years, and only the anal-i-will-die-proving-my-point types will still run XP... err excuse me, Windows 2000.
Windows 7? (Score:5, Interesting)
If only Microsoft can make Windows 7 blazing fast again, I have no doubt it will be a huge success. Imagine the millions of users out there who switch from Vista to Windows 7 to notice that things are running fast like hell now. That's what we need. Linus was right.
Re:what about small businesses! (Score:5, Informative)
Try again, grasshopper.
Parent
Re:what about small businesses! (Score:5, Insightful)
Parent
Re:what about small businesses! (Score:5, Informative)
Parent