Microsoft's Attempt to Force XP Users to Upgrade

[Windows i7 920]

Microsoft isn't particularly pleased about the continuing success of Windows XP, which has more than twice the installed base of Windows Vista and 7 put together. So it's trying its hardest to kill the operating system that won't die, including refusing to issue security patches for XP SP2, putting many XP users at risk. Is that the right way to get people to upgrade?

A report out yesterday from Net Applications shows that Windows XP has more than twice the market share of Windows 7 and Windows Vista combined -- 61.87% for XP in July, compared to 14.46% for Windows 7, and 14.34% for Windows Vista.



Microsoft's Not-So-Secret Plan to Cripple Windows XP - PCWorld

Looks like Microsoft is having trouble with one of their own releases.

 

[CarlTR6]

I still have an XP machine. Lot's of businesses still run XP.

 

[logicearth]

The keyword here is Service Pack 2. Service Pack 3 was released for Windows XP a while ago (April 2008). Anyone who is still running on Service Pack 2 should upgrade to Service Pack 3 already. This only effects Windows XP machines that do not have Service Pack 3. And this has been known for YEARS!

 

[Vertex]

Its not something I am surprised about but I believe that time will come that Windows XP will fade out.

 

[mikedl]

Its not something I am surprised about but I believe that time will come that Windows XP will fade out.

Indeed, it will, eventually. I still get PC's from friends running Win 98. I "upgrade" them to Win XP so their grade school kids can play games.

Usually, only a RAM upgrade is necessary (plus the cost of the XP OS, minimal, as well) and my friends get a practically free system for their tykes.

 

[LiquidSnak]

Things get phased out all the time. Microsoft announced quite a while that it would be discontinuing support for XP users without SP3.

 

[Windows i7 920]

The article is new according to the date, but I did just notice that it is a bit outdated for it's date.

 

[HJA]

Things get phased out all the time. Microsoft announced quite a while that it would be discontinuing support for XP users without SP3.

I cannot understand why someone would not install SP3. I have to admit though Win7 has been much smoother in the update process.

 

[mikedl]

The article is new according to the date, but I did just notice that it is a bit outdated for it's date.

:huh:

I'm not sure what you are mentioning. It's an August 4th article. Do you mean some of the information contained therein is outdated?

Often, an article will reference older material as a means to support the new material contained within.

 

[Barman58]

A lot of the installed base for XP is in the corporate sector, which is starting to look at their upgrade cycles again after a long time where they held of for cost and other reasons - all support for XP ends in 2014 so the situation should change dramatically in the next year or so.

another major reason for the hanging on of XP is the bespoke software vendors who refuse (or are unable to), upgrade their corporate software to work with later operating systems this is more of a concern as they can virtually hold corporations to ransom until an alternative solution is available.

This is also a reason for the numbers of users forced to use unsafe browsers such as IE6, which have little protection against today's internet nasties

 

[Vertex]

When people are still using Windows 98 today, assuming that Microsoft would release Windows 8 on late 2012, we can say that Windows XP is still widely alive when that comes.

 

[deepakumar]

All i know is that i would never QUIT XP SP2/3 i just love given the fact that i'm using Windows7 for quiet some time but how can i forget my old friend who have been with me for the last 6 years...

I don't remember when i actually asked Microsoft for help, so, i don't see any reason for quiting/stop using XP...its so far (personally) has been best OS (along with Linux) that i've used...

 

[Barman58]

..... I don't remember when i actually asked Microsoft for help, so, i don't see any reason for quiting/stop using XP...its so far (personally) has been best OS (along with Linux) that i've used...

Do you not use the security updates that a provided by Microsoft for XP, this is the help and support that will be withdrawn.

Every Operating system eventually comes to the end of it's life cycle - due to various reasons XP has been supported for longer than usual, however we are getting to the stage that it is not technically possible to patch the system any longer.

It's akin to the faithful old jacket, eventually you cannot keep adding patch on top of patch, you have to buy a new coat

 

[Tews]

..... I don't remember when i actually asked Microsoft for help, so, i don't see any reason for quiting/stop using XP...its so far (personally) has been best OS (along with Linux) that i've used...

Do you not use the security updates that a provided by Microsoft for XP, this is the help and support that will be withdrawn.

Every Operating system eventually comes to the end of it's life cycle - due to various reasons XP has been supported for longer than usual, however we are getting to the stage that it is not technically possible to patch the system any longer.

It's akin to the faithful old jacket, eventually you cannot keep adding patch on top of patch, you have to buy a new coat

Well said Nigel!

 

[deepakumar]

..... I don't remember when i actually asked Microsoft for help, so, i don't see any reason for quiting/stop using XP...its so far (personally) has been best OS (along with Linux) that i've used...

Do you not use the security updates that a provided by Microsoft for XP, this is the help and support that will be withdrawn.

Every Operating system eventually comes to the end of it's life cycle - due to various reasons XP has been supported for longer than usual, however we are getting to the stage that it is not technically possible to patch the system any longer.

It's akin to the faithful old jacket, eventually you cannot keep adding patch on top of patch, you have to buy a new coat

I know Nigel but i don't use the updates for XP its always turned off...
yeah i agree with you that everything eventually comes to an END ...i know patching gets difficult over a period of time but Thnx for your view...

 

[Layback Bear]

I still don't understand why vendors haven't cough on. It was obvious to me and others that 64 bit was here and growing fast. Sitting on there back sides just is not the way the computer world works. Locking forward and then moving forward is the way it has always been and I think will always be. Any Vendor that doesn't see that won't be around long. If Vendor can't or won't keep up with Windows Operating Systems there are gone because another company will keep up.

 

[jimbo45]

A lot of the installed base for XP is in the corporate sector, which is starting to look at their upgrade cycles again after a long time where they held of for cost and other reasons - all support for XP ends in 2014 so the situation should change dramatically in the next year or so.

another major reason for the hanging on of XP is the bespoke software vendors who refuse (or are unable to), upgrade their corporate software to work with later operating systems this is more of a concern as they can virtually hold corporations to ransom until an alternative solution is available.

This is also a reason for the numbers of users forced to use unsafe browsers such as IE6, which have little protection against today's internet nasties

Hi there
True -- but also remember a lot of "Back Office" stuff like corporate database applications, Oracle, CRM, SAP etc STILL require the front ends (the GUI that users use to logon to these applications) to be XP in a lot of cases (or even still Windows 2000).

Until THESE people also change / upgrade THEIR software too then people are still forced to use XP.

This stuff takes FAR LONGER than a single home user who can install a new OS at will -- and change it back again if he doesn't like it.

Corporates take a LOT longer -- and they have to be SURE it works as they can't usually go back to the previous OS either.

Training 1000's of people takes a LONG time and also if you are running any sort of large PRODUCTION systems you have to make 100% sure that ALL the applications work --from bog standard HR to complex warehouse procedures, logistics and procurement systems -- and if manufacturing is involved all these work such as Workshop tasks, equipment maintenance etc etc.

These projects even WITHOUT an OS upgrade can take YEARS to complete too.

I often read posts on this Forum stating " surely it's time to upgrade to XXX".

For a single user at home maybe yes but I think quite a few people have either never taken part in a large new production system rollout like SAP or do not understand the sheer complexity of an operation of this kind.

While W7 is beginning to make inroads into this sector it will still be a few YEARS yet before XP is overtaken by W7 in the corporate sphere.

This has very little to do with the relative merits of XP or W7 BTW -- it boils down to sheer cost AND PRACTICALITY.

Cheers
jimbo

 

[NeroDevil]

Wow...Microsofts world domination quest has made them attack its own forces...XD

I still use Windows XP on my rig, in fact, right now. Windows 7 is on another drive, but I'm waiting to upgrade my specs a bit before I use it. Microsofts strategy might work to a certain extent. Users of XP are going to eventually have no choice whatsoever to upgrade, and since the number of "Vista - 7" exclusive applications is slowly increasing, Windows XP is inevitably doomed. Like every other OS that's upgraded.

That said, Microsoft aren't being very consumer friendly here. What if the typical familly computer, is running Windows XP and the familly genuinely can't afford to upgrade with their current income? The adults may have important programs and files that they will wan't kept secure from threats and system issues, which Microsoft have pulled away from for XP. They're in deep water for sure. Although, come to think of it, they could just upgrade to SP3 and survive a little longer till 2014 I guess.

 

[Arfer Daley]

i have two identical rigs one running xp pro the other running win7 i find my xp rig far better for video encoding etc where as w7 stutters i love both operating systems but a year on win xp is still my system of choice everything just works smother i liken win7 to a stroppy little rich kid that needs to learn some manners
i will grow up one day till then i will still run both

 

[mickey megabyte]

another example of very poor journalism.

i suppose these people have to write something to keep their jobs, but how about starting with truth and accuracy?