Windows XP market share dips below 50 percent (After a healthy 10-year run, now losing users)

CNET ^ | 08/02/2011 | Lance Whitney

[qam1]

Before I go to Windows 7 I want to know two things

1) IS the up one folder button back or do they still make you use the !@*# ribbon?

2) Can the search actually find something? XP had a great search while Vista’s search can’t find §¶¡+, even Freerepublic’s horrible search is 1000x than Vista’s

[Ronin]

I’m driven by my industry which is a bit stuck-in-the-mud when it comes to computer issues. Even if I had Windows 7, I’d still have to keep an XP machine around just for compatibility with industry software. I can’t even use the latest versions of Word without getting grumbles from clients who claim it screws up their document formatting.

[cashless]

Guess people still don't understand the supposed rocket science where you push a START button to shutdown the machine, can't find that damn ANY key and for the 12 millionth time, Yes, I'm sure. But not to worry Uncle Bill is busily working on another version kind of like ME on steroids to really pi$$ off more of his consumer base. Oh and they will be upgrading all the security protocols so no User or Group can access any files other than the important one, ....Games. Your new username will be a retina scan by a laser which will blind you over time, say 2 weeks and your password will involve a drop of blood for DNA analysis and as an side benefit will keep you logged onto MSN.com until you agree to all patches and upgrades, even though you will never need 90% of the Crap Programs on every PC and the first upgrade is for safety but it tends crash hard drives. So be careful when you answer, Install upgraade now. You probably will need 8 - 12 hours for the expedited upgrade. Yeah, I can see how some people are moving away from MicroSoft. Why do you think Apple stock is 15 times more expensive than MushySoft?

[buccaneer81]

Truth be told, I miss being able to go into MS-DOS

My wife shares your lament.

[buccaneer81]

I cannot play Youtube videos reliably - but on my XP computers on the same ISP Router - I can.

My experience is the exact opposite.

[buccaneer81]

Well, I got a $300 laptop that has win7 and it is rock solid. I got no complaints.

Same here. Toshiba Satellite C655.

[Personal Responsibility]

That’s the immediate future. The near future will be devices which contain memory (short and long term) that you will sit on a surface that pop a virtual display and keyboard with which you will interact.

Eventually, we’ll be the Borg :-)

[Seizethecarp]

I had lots of problems with McAfee failing to catch stuff using Vista 64 Home, but the attacks all went away went I switched to free Microsoft Security Essentials...

[Yosemitest]

Take a look at Computer Question: Security, Windows XP vs Windows 7 Ultimate.

I'm thinking about buying an IMac, and due to my military friends and other reasons,
I might want a copy of Windows XP or Windows 7 on it with Parallels Desktop 6 for Mac
to go between the Windows Operating System and the Snow Leopard or OS X Lion .

I realize that the Apple/Mac Operating System has very few security problems, and that I'd be inviting all those security problems into my MAC by running windows in it.

[doc1019]

And they will be less with Windows 7 firewall. Mayhap Microsoft is starting to get it together.? Only time will tell.

[Rodney Dangerfield]

I’m running WXPP SP3 with 3.5GB RAM and won’t upgrade to a newer O/S until absolutely necessary as Vista and 7 are memory hogs.

I remember when W95 first came out - the min. RAM requirements were 8 MB with 12 MB recommended.

These Operating Systems just get more and more bloated with useless crap, but if they didn’t, then no one would be buying new computers, or upgrading RAM, etc...

I just hope my HDTV doesn’t have built in obsolescence like PCs do.

I have a Mitsubishi TV from 1993 in a guest room and the pic is great.

The pic is nowhere near the quality of my HDTV, but I doubt my HDTV will be around and working after 18 years.

Same with my iPhone 3G - I just bought it a couple of years ago but it’s already a relic and painfully slow compared to the newer models.

I’ll have to upgrade when the iPhone 5 comes out.

[Rodney Dangerfield]

BTW - W7 is this decade’s version of WinME

[Falconspeed]

XP on a Dell was awesome and flawless for six years. Glad I switched to an HP and 7 a few months ago. Very sweet.

[brandon24]

An IT tip for fellow Freepers... Here is a great site to pair with your Windows OS of choice. It makes maintaining (updating) all the popular programs a breeze. You can check everything you want/use, save the executable, and it will install it all in one click. Save the executable and re-run it later and it will update everything in one click.

http://ninite.com/

[BenKenobi]

Because they have 30x fewer shares?

I’m here all night folks, Try the veal.

[donozark]

WIN XP here. For 7 years now. Same PC. No major problems.

Will upgrade to WIN 8 when it comes out, supposedly before Christmas, or spring of 2012.

[Paladin2]

How is the tactile feel of a virtual keyboard?

I prefer a large screen too.

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

I think I’ll be the last one to give up XP. I have it on too many machines that will never need to have the OS changed.

[Personal Responsibility]

Not sure if you’re being facetious but on the chance that you’re not....

A virtual keyboard has no tactile feel. It is broadcast onto the surface upon which the device sits. I guess the tactile feel is that of your kitchen table, your desk or even your lap.

I haven’t seen a screen yet but they’re working on them. Whoever does the best job on that device will be TNBT.