Posted on 04/07/2007 6:51:09 PM PDT by Halfmanhalfamazing
If you were looking for any glimpse into the mind of Microsoft, this is it: The company has completely abandoned Windows XP, and it has absolutely no plans to ever ship an XP SP3. My guess is that Microsoft will do what it did with the final Windows 2000 Service Pack: Claim years later that it's no longer needed and just ship a final security patch roll-up. This is the worst kiss-off to any Microsoft product I've ever seen, and you'd think the company would show a little more respect to its best-selling OS of all time. But the reality is, Microsoft is looking ahead to new revenue and not behind to money that's already in the bank. And though hundreds of millions of people will be running XP for years to come, despite Microsoft's best efforts at selling them a later Windows version, the company has absolutely no plans to actually support those customers. This flies in the face of its publicly-stated life cycle support plans. And it really freaks me out. It should freak you out as well.
(Excerpt) Read more at windowsitpro.com ...
Yep, time to cut off XP.
Thurrott being the MS koolaid drinker that he is, I don’t see much reason to discount the information.
MS’s own history would also lend validity to it, I’d think.
In fairness, I think you should point out that eliminating SP3 is editorial speculation on the part of the author, not anything that has been stated by Microsoft. Without clicking the link and realizing that the article is basically a blog, it reads as though Microsoft had in fact cancelled SP3.
Also, I didn’t see anything there about Linux?
IB4GE
I’m sure GE can respond better, but internally MS has a SP3 and has been labeling certain hotfixes as SP3 for at least a year.
To those who create their own slipstream winXP install disks, ryanvm.net has continuously updated SP3 slipstreams available. Every few months as more SP3 fixes are added by MS, ryanvm.net recompiles the slipstream and privides a torrent to d/l it.
I have a feeling I’m not saying anything most people here don’t already know though.
It’s hard to say—IIRC, MS announced that they were going to release an SP1 for Vista later this year. Not to mention that they finally released SP2 for Win 2k3...
Could simply be an XP SP3 in the works; just tightly wrapped and possibly putting in some additional crap.
My guess is that MS is going to take its sweet-ass time and try to, er, convince people to upgrade to Vista—all while going ahead on Fiji and Vienna.
Linux is still the superior option; its primary problem is that it is still largely perceived as a geek’s OS.
This is crazy and beyond inconvenient to customers who have XP. If they left it like it is now, someone who installs XP with even SP2 slipstreamed, after the OS install the user has to download and install around 50 updates from Windows Update for bug and more importantly security patches. Even with a fast computer on a broadband internet connection this process takes around 1-2 hours. They could easily create a SP3 with all of these updates rolled into a single install. Not to do so is a slap in the face to existing customers who bought XP in good faith.
Linux has come a LONG way as a desktop OS. The only big problem that still remains, and this has always been a problem, is hardware support. Really this isn't as much of an OS problem as it is hardware vendors not being prompt about creating compatible drivers.
I recently built a new computer using all the best components from newegg. I planned on installing Linux for the OS only to find no Linux distros yet support Intel's DG965WG motherboard. I can't even get a Ubuntu or SLAX live CD to boot because of it. I've read others are having this problem, and I expect drivers will be forthcoming. Right now it's just a waiting game. Who knows, there may be drivers now. I haven't checked in the last month or so.
Quick Linux question. How do you install something? I loaded Ubuntu on my mom’s old computer and tried to install some stuff on it, and it was not as easy as it has been on either Windows or OS X.
I don’t know, but I installed Ubuntu on an older computer (I am on it now actually) and it freezes up frequently. I have basically abandoned the whole idea that linux is more stable than XP.
Yes, I’m well aware of that—however, a lot of the people I work with just can’t use it because even now, it requires some technical savvy (I’ve handled problems with people who don’t know how to do really basic things such as save a file in Word or open IE)
I know I can use it (and I do)—and I recommend Linux to those who’re familiar with their computers (you should know me enough here 8^)
Here, I speak about the public as a whole—which IMHO includes not only people who are simply unfamiliar with computing, but outright n00bs as well. Suffice it to say, these people would be lost if I threw them in front of a Mac desktop, let alone a Linux one.
True, there’s xpDE, and KDE has come further along, but it’s still not yet at the point where it can slaughter MS and Windows.
Still, you need to be aware of dependencies.
Are you getting the packages directly, or are you using a manager like Apt-get or Synaptic?
^^^^^^^^^^^6In fairness, I think you should point out that eliminating SP3 is editorial speculation on the part of the author, not anything that has been stated by Microsoft.^^^^^^^^^^^^
You are, of course, correct.
I’m sure this guy has sources somewhere telling him what’s coming down the pipe.
^^^^^^^^^^^^Also, I didn’t see anything there about Linux?^^^^^^^^^^
It was a joke.
LOL
Yeah, that’s what I’m saying.
However, one poster did make a valid point that I didn’t stress enough. It’s not a statement of fact. But one surely has to wonder given how MS has acted in the past.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^How do you install something?^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=5253052326994067125
Here, watch the video. :-)
Why? Because Microslop won't issue any "security" fixes for it? Baaahhhh. If your XP isn't secure by your own hand and efforts....you should be using Linux anyway.
I intend on using XP until the apps I use on it no longer are upgraded by the manufacturers.
THEN it will be off to LinuxLand.
HF
GE Will Discount it because it suits him to. A security patch every now and again = support in his world. Thank goodness he is not running my desktop team..
We’ll be glad to have you here in linux land :-)
I almost can't wait...but I have really grown attached to XP. Someday. Someday.
Then don't. Go to VMware Server, download it, and start playing/working with Linux. It's free.
I already have. As a matter of fact, at this very moment I am sitting in day one of a 4 day class for VMWare Installation and Configuration.
Hopefully, this will be the first step to getting my VCP.
Linux pushers are hilarious, trying to criticize Microsoft for still supporting Windows XP, which was released 6 years ago, when their hokey linux crap isn’t usually supported even 2 years by the original distributor.
Red Hat Linux was version 7 back in 2001. LOL support for it was cut off along with the whole family of Red Hat Linux in 2004. Yet they try to point the finger at others for limiting support ROFL.
Are you sure you want to stand by this statement?
Yep, Red Hat unexpectedly dumped the entire Red Hat Linux product line in 2003 and cut off all support in 2004.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_Hat_Linux
Funny watching you boys complain about Microsoft still supporting XP as if Linux companies were still supporting their software from 2001.
They just released Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5.
RHEL is part of the family, whether you like it or not.
Once again, you don't have a clue what you're talking about. The entire "Red Hat Linux" product line was dumped, read the link I posted. "Red Hat Enterprise Linux" is a completely different product line, no wonder I find so many holes in your arguments, I know the subject better than you do LOL. Back to the subject at hand, better find something else to criticize Microsoft over, since they're obviously smoking you on product support lifespan.
LOL. You don't even read your own posts. You said the entire family--not product line.
BTW--I don't take wikipedia as gospel, and neither do you when it suits you to disagree.
I shouldn’t be surprised you boys constantly get everything wrong, what should I expect from those that dedicate themselves to such a pathetic cause.
http://linuxfinances.info/info/redhat.html
Red Hat Linux - This “family” of distributions...is being discontinued; come 2004.
Red Hat used to sell support and still give away their OS (which was called Red Hat Linux) with entitlements so you could get updates off of their site. Because their OS was free to upgrade they had a rather short life-cycle (4 years if I remember correctly). but you could update to the next OS for free so it was no huge deal.
In 2003(?) Redhat decided to change its business model and cease to provide entitlements for free (They also stopped providing the iso’s or binary packages for their OS for free). To avoid confusion the took the current RedHat Release (Red Hat 9) and renamed it RedHat Enterprise Linux (Version 2.1). Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) was put on a slower development cycle, 18-24 months per release and given a longer support cycle of 7 years.
At the same time RedHat started the Fedora Project which would continue providing RedHat Linux for free with update support to the Linux community. To avoid confusion they copied RedHat 9 and started calling it Fedora Core. While Redhat Fronted everything needed to start the organization they did not run it (but do provide a huge amount of directional guidance).
The Fedora Project Took over where RedHat left off it is a distribution which is bleeding edge and has a short turn around for updates. The Fedora project also continued providing support for Red Hat Linux 7/8/9 for some years after those names were discontinued.
People using RedHat 7/8/9 had several choices when RedHat made the move:
(1) Continue using RedHat Linux with updates from the Fedora Project (Which many did for a good long time)
(2) Pony up the money and start using RHEL (Which is the direction I took my shop into)
(3) Switch to a different Distro or OS
The move by Red Hat horked off many people (myself included) but it has ensured the health of Red Hat the company and in the end its always nice to have a vendor who will be around awhile. It was a great business decision by Redhat and they have went out of their way to make it up to their customers.
I manage a Win2k environment, and I have been looking at Linux for the future.
I took one of our stock units, an HP Vectra VL420 (which really is based on an ASUS mb) with a 1.6Ghz P4 and 512MB RAM. That machine works just fine with Win2K, or XP (which we have not been using). Only add-ons are a USB 2.0 card and external DVD, USB HD and Epson inkjet printer.
I did a simple install of SuSE 10.1 with Gnome, and found programs taking forever to start up. Evolution and Firefox were horrendously slow, especially Firefox, and many basic sites (e.g. Mapquest and IMDB) would not load at all (tests were conducted at home with wireless 384kb connection, same connection works fine with XP and 2K). I couldn’t get WINE to install at all. OpenOffice worked adequately.
I am sure I am doing something wrong. How does one optimize a friendly version of Desktop Linux? In theory, I thought it would be more responsive than bloated XP. So far I have not found that to be the case. Does anybody make a desktop distro that is actually optimized for the desktop?
P.S. I do not have religious zeal for any of the big players. I do not like Microsoft’s licensing and pricing structure. We use WordPerfect Office at work, but need (for now) Windows for our c/s Acct software.
I am ready to be persuaded, and am picking Free Republic, because conservatives are more honest people on all things, not just politics.
In the past, I’ve stuck with Slackware. The speeds are pretty fast, however the biggest downside is that it definitely requires some tech savvy to use effectively.
That said, I’d recommend SLED 10 with KDE. It’s free to use; but $50 a year for patches and support (which, IMHO isn’t too bad). If money’s not an issue, look into Red Hat Enterprise.
10.1 has been mind-numbingly slow, IMHO—and IIRC, this was one of its biggest complaints.
It's already clear, crystal in fact. The Linux pimps like to try and complain about the manner in which Microsoft supports their operating systems that were released 7-8 years ago, when the fact is no Linux vendor supports anything at all from that far back. When exposed on their hypocrisy they then resort to further absurdities such as trying to claim providing security patches isn't actually providing support. Most everyone is used to their BS by now though, and still runs these old Windows operating systems despite the constant linux lie campaign against them.
Yes, you fell for the linux lies that are posted everywhere on the internet including here by a small group of zealots that claim Linux is the end all when in fact there's hundreds of different versions because not one of them works perfectly well. You might as well get a real Unix instead of wasting any more time with the foreign clone Linux, and use Apple OSX or Sun Solaris if you're not happy with Windows.
Maybe this is where you're getting confused , nobody is upset about the length of time XP was supported. Seven years is a fine lifetime for an OS. What people are upset about is that the overlap between the release of the only other desktop option and the end of life for the only existing desktop option is too short. If MS had released Vista on schedule or even in 2005 and left consumers the option (darn consumers wanting choice) for a year or two they would have made life far easier for their customers.
I have given you the impression I think 7 years is not a nice life-cycle you have gotten the wrong one and I apologize. If I had a shop with 100 desktops and I had to buy five more (from dell for example) I now can not have a homogeneous desktop environment *unless* I buy XP from a third party (like cdw). Companies dont replace their entire desktop environment in one shot they evergreen out over the course of quarters if not years.
when the fact is no Linux vendor supports anything at all from that far back.
Again its not just about the length of support 5 years to most people is due diligence from a software vendor but you have to give people a few options to upgrade while the other product is still for sale (well you dont have to but dont be surprise if a number of people complain).
When exposed on their hypocrisy they then resort to further absurdities such as trying to claim providing security patches isn't actually providing support.
Its not, providing *only* security patches while other produces like IE dont get updated is not full support. Bug Fixes, component updates `, and security fixes make for support.
still runs these old Windows operating systems despite the constant linux lie campaign against them.
If you need IE7 you aint running 2000 as I predicted two years ago.
Its not just the Linux folks harping on MS for this we have seen noise from the Apple community and from long time Windows users who are ditching windows, in part, because of licensing. Will MS be hurt by this? I dont know with so much windows software out there consumers will be forced to stick with their BOHICA platform. But with Dell now seriously toying around with selling Linux desktops and Apple always keeping their growth up (though I do tire waiting for 10.5) MS very well could see some trouble
-Regards
So When MS has different versions out (server 2003, Vista (home, ultimate, xtreem, maga super duper cool, ...), Server 2005) is it because not one of their Operating systems works perfectly well? or is it because different situations call for different tools?
You might as well get a real Unix instead of wasting any more time with the foreign clone Linux
Oh yea because there is only one version of that (AIX, HPUX, Solaris, BSD, OSX, ...) Guess non of them work perfectly well either. Your ability to draw two completely different conclusion from a nearly identical set of circumstances is truly astounding!
Ridiculous, Windows XP will be supported till 2014, nothing in the Linux world comes even remotely close.
http://support.microsoft.com/lifecycle/?p1=3223
Do you really think it’s hard to blow your BS out of the water?
“Its not, providing *only* security patches while other produces like IE dont get updated is not full support. Bug Fixes, component updates `, and security fixes make for support.” - N3WBI3
And I was pretty clear about why I think the fact MS has shut down Dell or other PC vendors from selling with XP installed was important.
“If I had a shop with 100 desktops and I had to buy five more (from dell for example) I now can not have a homogeneous desktop environment *unless* I buy XP from a third party (like cdw). Companies dont replace their entire desktop environment in one shot they evergreen out over the course of quarters if not years.” - N3WBI3
Will the next ie be release for XP? what about media player? These are serious issues that can, in effect, force an upgrade.
Another perfect example of the linux lies, took me literally about 15 seconds to find XP boxes on Dell’s website. Go to Dell.com, highlight Desktops, select Small Business. There on the left, you see Windows Vista (11 choices) and Windows XP (11 choices). Here’s the link:
http://www.dell.com/content/products/category.aspx/desktops?c=us&cs=04&l=en&s=bsd
The other link I already gave from Microsoft said XP mainstream support goes till April 2009 and extended support till April 2014. Why you think your BS won’t be exposed in about 3 mouse clicks is beyond me, but that’s all it ever takes.
I was not lying I was wrong, and if MS continues to sell XP through companies like Dell and off the shelf then I agree with you that this article is bunk. You could have just put up a link saying “you can still buy it here” and I would have been on board with you. But unless you get to call someone here a liar you're not happy.
I still stand by extended support as Microsoft defines it is not support and I would not risk my enterprise on that kind of ‘support’
How about all my desktops are apples and I have not looked at dells site in months (other than their idea storm site). I was under the impression from a schedule I had seen some time ago that when vista was released XP was no longer available for OEM sale.
Leave it to you to be right, be told you’re right and still work hard enough to make yourself look like an ass..
profanity now huh lol...just what I’d expect.
Ass is not profane, colorful maybe.. but I stand by it you made yourself look like a a stupid, foolish, or stubborn person and that is the definition of ass.
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