Techtree News Staff, May 13, 2008 1850 hrs IST
Windows XP won't be available to OEMs and general retailers from June 30.
Come June 30, Microsoft will pull the plug on its very popular Windows XP operating system. This -- despite last month's widely-reported speech by Microsoft Chief Steve Ballmer wherein Ballmer famously said the company could re-consider phasing out Windows XP beyond June 30 if customers so wish -- and despite the 'Save XP Web' petition that garnered wide-spread support mainly from XP fans hankering after the system, should it meet with a sad demise!
It was in September last year that Microsoft said it would stop licensing Windows XP to computer makers, ending retail sales by June 30. Prior to that, the software maker had said it would take XP off of the market by Jan 2008. Now with June 30 fast approaching, it's becoming increasingly clear there are going to be no more fresh leases of life for the operating system.
Talking to a leading business daily, Microsoft India Windows Client Business Group Director Prasanna Meduri said Windows XP would "cease to exist" and that though there's a policy in place for specific segments, Windows XP wouldn't be available to OEMs and general retailers from June 30. System builders would get an extension of six months while new-market segments like low-cost PCs (priced below Rs 20,000) would get an extension till June 30, 2010.
Put simply, this means that if you're about to buy a new computer, you'll get Windows XP only if you happen to buy an unbranded or low-cost machine. In case you should settle for a branded machine costing anywhere above Rs 20,000, you'll have no option but to go with Windows Vista. Meanwhile, it might be interesting to note that low-cost PCs (the kind that will get Windows XP on them for long after June 30) constitute less than 5 percent of the existing market.
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wINDOW XP, SP-2 IS MERVELLOUS, I WORK MORE THAN 8 HOURS BOTH AT OFFICE & HOME WITH THIS MIRACLE OPERATING SOFTWARE. I HAVE USED Win-98, Win-NT,Win-2000 & NOW THIS ONE FACING NO PROBLEM.
Manoranjan Pand | Rourkela | 01/06/08 09:40 AM | Report abuse Reply
The best is Windows XP-2 than other
Vish | MSN | 30/05/08 07:48 PM | Report abuse Reply
MS Best Operating system in windows xp.Windows xp is good but the vista is not good i`m using the windows xp.
T.Abhay Rm Sing | Hyderbad | 27/05/08 08:49 PM | Report abuse Reply
MS best operating system is Windows XP. MS should continue the win xp because the vista is not a good os at all, it is lac of simple user interface lac of stability and lot of other things. We are prying to MS to continue the win xp and wish to see SP4.
black bat | Dil | 23/05/08 06:32 AM | Report abuse Reply
XP will continue to survive as a Pirated Version. But SW and HW manufacturers will develop applications that will run only on Vista! Bill Gates order - "Fall In Line"
Ramesh | Shillong | 19/05/08 07:36 AM | Report abuse Reply
Out of all MS OS the XP was the best. Now MS withdrawing this to push their VISTA (still not stable) and wants to recover the cost of research back. This is not fair from the customer view. They would have continued XP for five more years at least in the country like India. However, piracy will continue and rule.
Chiradip Das | Bangalore | 15/05/08 12:03 AM | Report abuse Reply
Socked about it.
Chinmay | Kolkata | 14/05/08 07:17 PM | Report abuse Reply
Its TOTALLY not fair, Microsoft PLUGGINNG OFF XP....JUST TO BOOST VISTA SALES as still its ALIVE in the market providing a good COMPATIBILITIY, STABILITY & a allround systems support in.... It only gonna add more probs further....
velly | Mumbai | 14/05/08 02:17 PM | Report abuse Reply
With my little experience with the way that Vista functions, by phasing out XP windows will only be alienating its retail customer base pushing them towards the open source systems already gaining wide popularity due to the unpopularity of Vista.
Anant Bhushan | Bangalore | 14/05/08 12:50 PM | Report abuse Reply
truly a disastrous decision, time will tell, either they should sell lisences to any other company for updates or further development of xp, that will be good for customers, but discontinuation of xp is a mistake. well lets see if they iron out vista.
naveenchaudhary | meerut | 14/05/08 12:20 PM | Report abuse Reply
good going Microsoft
Nitin | Pune | 14/05/08 10:36 AM | Report abuse Reply
we have to pay more for system configurations if we are forced to use Vista. Otherwise, the system performance will be low with lower RAM and Processor speed. XP will not be having these constrains.
SivaKrishna Ber | Hyderabad, India | 14/05/08 09:26 AM | Report abuse Reply
By discontinuing XP against the wishes of market, Microsoft will have to bear the wrath of the consumers as company's this act is creating lot of negative mind-equity for Microsoft. Almost every IT professional is talking against this decision. It is certainly going to adversely affect Microsoft's image and business in the mid to long terms if not in the short term. Now consumers will start looking around for using even distant alternative to MS products.
Vinod Beri | Delhi | 14/05/08 10:31 AM | Report abuse
XP or Vista both are bad enough i have already shifted from MS OS to Linux Fedora... its simply awesome.
Sirish | Hyderabad | 14/05/08 07:40 AM | Report abuse Reply
So where can we get a copy of xp until June 0?
Kreig | Aztec, NM | 14/05/08 06:48 AM | Report abuse Reply
A foolish thing MS is doin. They are not hanging XP, hanging themself.
Marun | Chennai | 14/05/08 05:56 AM | Report abuse Reply
this is some thing foolish...that microsoft is doing...it depends upon the customers what os they want to use and the cust would decide whether they wanna use xp or vista..i think microsoft is pushing on vista...i prefer xp..
ralph dsouza | mumbai | 14/05/08 02:20 AM | Report abuse Reply
Windows XP is quite popular and efficient in handling various tasks. More than anything else, it doesn't ask for huge resources, like Win Vista. A common man is forced to upgrade or buy a new PC just to accommodate Win Vista, many times which may be quite unnecessary. This is only a ploy to make you buy something even though you may not need it.
MN RAVI | Bhadravati (Karnataka) | 13/05/08 08:45 PM | Report abuse Reply
True, Microsoft is thinking that computer world will go as it wants. This will be the biggest mistake of Bill Gates
saurabh | bangalore | 13/05/08 09:23 PM | Report abuse
Windows Vista is actually a box of unwanted stuff if you would ask me!i mean, why would anyone want to go through 3 steps in vista, where the same can be finished in just 1 in XP?Makes sense doesnt it? Its just the "extra" security factor that Vista platform offers and the graphics that some people would love to get their hands upon. A few 3rd party security apps work best for me on my XP. The panorama of the "VISTA" is good, but not to the likes of many who work on it day in - day out!
Joshua | Goa | 13/05/08 09:29 PM | Report abuse