Windows XP Gets a Stay of Execution

Fri Sep 28, 2007 11:28AM EDT

See Comments (16)

Good news, Vista haters and XP lovers: Microsoft is extending the sales period for Windows XP, for both retail buyers and computer manufacturers, to June 30, 2008. Smaller computer builders can preload it until January 31, 2009, and in "emerging markets" with "hardware-constrained ultra-low cost PCs," the reprieve has been granted until June 30, 2010.

Wow, color me stunned. Microsoft is certainly a long way from reaching "acceptance" in the five stages of grief, but at least it is now starting to tiptoe past denial over Vista's poor reception. I guess we're now in the third stage: bargaining. ("Just give me five more months and I'll prove that Vista doesn't suck.")

Then again, Microsoft's faux Q&A on this issue (see link below) is filled with self-aggrandizing praise for Vista, how much consumers love it, and how it's going to be the fastest-selling OS of all time. But all the bluster doesn't change the fact that something is down-right rotten in the state of Redmond. In all my years of following the company, I've never heard of backpedaling like this: First it's allowing users to downgrade to XP, now it's un-killing a six-year-old product so people can keep buying it in lieu of a brand new one. Does this sound like a company genuinely pleased about a product that's breaking sales records?

Still, it's nearly inevitable that the day will come when XP is finally given the Old Yeller treatment. But perhaps if customers continue their protests, they'll at least give XP enough of a life extension to survive until Vista's successor comes out... which may just be less tragic. Maybe.

LINK: Microsoft Extends Sales Availability of Windows XP 

Comments on Windows XP Gets a Stay of Execution

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  • 1 Posted by rtilt on Thu Sep 3, 2009 8:55PM EDT Report Abuse

    Hopefully Microsoft is starting to listen to the customers about their products. With the dismal performance of Vista, IE7, and Media player 11 you would think they would learn that people know what they want and are not going to take half-baked products anymore. There are always going to be a few bugs in something new that is a given, but these 3 products Microsoft has tried to PUSH onto the public has made the consumer start to look for alternatives.

  • 2 Posted by agustin2489 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 2:47PM EDT Report Abuse

    I want a Vista or XP clone that works rather nicely. I am absolutely tired of hearing about how bad Vista is. What ever happened to making it better? If Microsoft won't do it, I want someone else to do it. Linux is not necessarily the answer. I seriously wish there was some more competition than that of Microsoft and Apple. They monopolize their own markets. Coincidentally, I remember hearing about an XP clone that was actually legitimate (ie: the code was altered so much so that Microsoft couldn't pounce on it and shut it down). I can't really migrate to it since I use Vista but it's only an idea.

  • 3 Posted by k3nt91 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:45PM EDT Report Abuse

    wasted my money to buy a vista home premium when i have xp, because i thought Microsoft says that xp will be dead in 2008.

  • 4 Posted by free24oz on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:03PM EDT Report Abuse

    I will not buy Vista!!! Only reason people buy it is because they have no choice or they are brainwashed into it. If I no longer had access to XP then I would go to an Apple. I will not buy Vista!!!

  • 5 Posted by argeebee2002 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 2:57PM EDT Report Abuse

    Sure glad I didn't get swept up in the Vista mania! Using Windows 98 on one computer, and XP on my second machine. Microsoft has sure damaged it's reputation on this one! Obviously only in it for the fast buck.

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