Why XP must be saved (according to Infoworld)

Why XP must be saved

The costs are too high and the benefits too low to be forced to switch
to Vista

By Galen Gruman

January 14, 2008

The clock is ticking: Microsoft will end OEM and shrink-wrapped sales of
Windows XP on June 30, 2008, forcing users to shift to Vista. (System
builders, meaning those who do white-box PCs, can sell XP through
December 31.) Don't let that happen!

Millions of us have grown comfortable with XP and don't see a need to
change to Vista. It's like having a comfortable apartment that you've
enjoyed coming home to for years, only to get an eviction notice. The
thought of moving to a new place -- even with the stainless steel
appliances, granite countertops, and maple cabinets (or is cherry in
this year?) -- just doesn't sit right. Maybe it'll be more modern, but
it will also cost more and likely not be as good a fit. And you don't
have any other reason to move. That's exactly the conclusion people have
come to with Vista. For most of us, there's really no reason to move to
it -- yet we don't have a choice. When that strong desire to stick with
XP became obvious in spring 2007, major computer makers such as Dell and
Hewlett-Packard quietly reintroduced new XP-based systems (but just to
business customers, so as not to offend Microsoft).

But come June 30, even that option goes away. (See InfoWorld's live XP
countdown clock. To use this clock on your own Web site, please e-mail
Executive Editor Galen Gruman for the code snippet.)

So what to do? Let Microsoft decide where your personal and enterprise
software "lives"? Or send a loud and clear message that you don't want
to move?

We're going for the loud-and-clear option. Join us, and tell Microsoft
that you want to keep XP available indefinitely. Not for another six
months or a year, but indefinitely. Sign InfoWorld's petition today. And
consider submitting a "Save XP" video to our site to help spread the word.

And ask your friends and colleagues to join in, too. Just point them to
SaveXP.com.

Don't think Microsoft will listen? Consider this: Although Microsoft
denies that anything is wrong with Vista or that most people don't want
it, the company has already postponed XP's demise by six months. That's
a start, but it's not good enough.

Microsoft doesn't have to admit failure; it can just say it will keep XP
available indefinitely due to customer demand. It can take that
opportunity to try again with a better Vista, or just move on to the
next version that maybe this time we'll all actually want.

There is a precedent for that, too: In many respects, Vista is like the
Windows Millennium Edition that was meant to replace Windows 98 in 2000
but caused more trouble than it was worth. At that time, Windows 2000
was promising but didn't support a lot of hardware, so users were stuck
between two bad choices. Without admitting Millennium's failure,
Microsoft quietly put Windows 98 back on the market until the fixed
version of Windows 2000 (SP1) was available. Microsoft needs to do
something like that again today.

Make your voice heard to Microsoft. Sign our petition to save XP today.
We will present it to Microsoft.

For more on why Vista isn't the right replacement for XP, check out
InfoWorld's analyses:

The (post-SP1) Vista verdict: Wait for Windows 7
Randall Kennedy's assessment is that for the vast majority of enterprise
IT shops, Vista is not -- and likely never will be -- the right choice
for their immediate desktop computing needs.

Service pack vs. service pack: XP SP3 beats Vista SP1
According to tests by Devil Mountain Software comparing the release
candidates for the last Windows XP service pack and the first Vista
service pack, XP SP3 performs twice as fast as Vista SP1 on the same
machine -- and slower than the initial release of the Vista OS as well.

Businesses having second thoughts about Vista
Fewer businesses are now planning to move to Windows Vista than seven
months ago, according to a survey by patch management vendor PatchLink.

Forrester: Businesses still saying no to Vista
An anticipated rush by businesses to adopt Windows Vista hasn't
materialized as IT managers stick with familiar systems and wait for the
release of Vista Service Pack 1.

Microsoft: Vista follow-up likely in 2009
With Vista just out the door, Microsoft is now drawing up plans to
deliver its follow-up client operating system by the end of 2009.

Farewell Vista, hello XP
From PCWorld.com: How to make the switch back and deal with the gnarly
problem of transferring your Vista e-mail, contacts, and user data back
to the old standby operating system.

HP CEO: Vista never had its moment in 2007
From CIO.com: Wondering what's happened to momentum for Microsoft's
Vista operating system in corporate America? Fact is, enterprise IT has
continued to decline the Vista plate like it's an undercooked holiday
casserole. Listen to what Hewlett-Packard CEO Mark Hurd said: HP never
saw a "Vista moment at any time over the past year."

UK government report: Don’t upgrade to Vista
Report warns British schools not to upgrade to Microsoft's Vista OS and
Office 2007 suite, and to avoid Microsoft's OOXML document format
because of compatibility concerns.

http://www.infoworld.com/article/08/...save-xp_1.html

"Tony Harding" <> wrote in message
news:4795c397$0$6328$...
> Why XP must be saved
>
> The costs are too high and the benefits too low to be forced to switch
> to Vista
>
> By Galen Gruman
>
> January 14, 2008
>
> The clock is ticking: Microsoft will end OEM and shrink-wrapped sales of
> Windows XP on June 30, 2008, forcing users to shift to Vista. (System
> builders, meaning those who do white-box PCs, can sell XP through
> December 31.) Don't let that happen!
>
> Millions of us have grown comfortable with XP and don't see a need to
> change to Vista. It's like having a comfortable apartment that you've
> enjoyed coming home to for years, only to get an eviction notice. The
> thought of moving to a new place -- even with the stainless steel
> appliances, granite countertops, and maple cabinets (or is cherry in
> this year?) -- just doesn't sit right. Maybe it'll be more modern, but
> it will also cost more and likely not be as good a fit. And you don't
> have any other reason to move. That's exactly the conclusion people have
> come to with Vista. For most of us, there's really no reason to move to
> it -- yet we don't have a choice. When that strong desire to stick with
> XP became obvious in spring 2007, major computer makers such as Dell and
> Hewlett-Packard quietly reintroduced new XP-based systems (but just to
> business customers, so as not to offend Microsoft).
>
> But come June 30, even that option goes away. (See InfoWorld's live XP
> countdown clock. To use this clock on your own Web site, please e-mail
> Executive Editor Galen Gruman for the code snippet.)
>
> So what to do? Let Microsoft decide where your personal and enterprise
> software "lives"? Or send a loud and clear message that you don't want
> to move?
>
> We're going for the loud-and-clear option. Join us, and tell Microsoft
> that you want to keep XP available indefinitely. Not for another six
> months or a year, but indefinitely. Sign InfoWorld's petition today. And
> consider submitting a "Save XP" video to our site to help spread the word.
>
> And ask your friends and colleagues to join in, too. Just point them to
> SaveXP.com.
>
> Don't think Microsoft will listen? Consider this: Although Microsoft
> denies that anything is wrong with Vista or that most people don't want
> it, the company has already postponed XP's demise by six months. That's
> a start, but it's not good enough.
>
> Microsoft doesn't have to admit failure; it can just say it will keep XP
> available indefinitely due to customer demand. It can take that
> opportunity to try again with a better Vista, or just move on to the
> next version that maybe this time we'll all actually want.
>
> There is a precedent for that, too: In many respects, Vista is like the
> Windows Millennium Edition that was meant to replace Windows 98 in 2000
> but caused more trouble than it was worth. At that time, Windows 2000
> was promising but didn't support a lot of hardware, so users were stuck
> between two bad choices. Without admitting Millennium's failure,
> Microsoft quietly put Windows 98 back on the market until the fixed
> version of Windows 2000 (SP1) was available. Microsoft needs to do
> something like that again today.
>
> Make your voice heard to Microsoft. Sign our petition to save XP today.
> We will present it to Microsoft.
>
> For more on why Vista isn't the right replacement for XP, check out
> InfoWorld's analyses:
>
> The (post-SP1) Vista verdict: Wait for Windows 7
> Randall Kennedy's assessment is that for the vast majority of enterprise
> IT shops, Vista is not -- and likely never will be -- the right choice
> for their immediate desktop computing needs.
>
> Service pack vs. service pack: XP SP3 beats Vista SP1
> According to tests by Devil Mountain Software comparing the release
> candidates for the last Windows XP service pack and the first Vista
> service pack, XP SP3 performs twice as fast as Vista SP1 on the same
> machine -- and slower than the initial release of the Vista OS as well.
>
> Businesses having second thoughts about Vista
> Fewer businesses are now planning to move to Windows Vista than seven
> months ago, according to a survey by patch management vendor PatchLink.
>
> Forrester: Businesses still saying no to Vista
> An anticipated rush by businesses to adopt Windows Vista hasn't
> materialized as IT managers stick with familiar systems and wait for the
> release of Vista Service Pack 1.
>
> Microsoft: Vista follow-up likely in 2009
> With Vista just out the door, Microsoft is now drawing up plans to
> deliver its follow-up client operating system by the end of 2009.
>
> Farewell Vista, hello XP
> From PCWorld.com: How to make the switch back and deal with the gnarly
> problem of transferring your Vista e-mail, contacts, and user data back
> to the old standby operating system.
>
> HP CEO: Vista never had its moment in 2007
> From CIO.com: Wondering what's happened to momentum for Microsoft's
> Vista operating system in corporate America? Fact is, enterprise IT has
> continued to decline the Vista plate like it's an undercooked holiday
> casserole. Listen to what Hewlett-Packard CEO Mark Hurd said: HP never
> saw a "Vista moment at any time over the past year."
>
> UK government report: Don’t upgrade to Vista
> Report warns British schools not to upgrade to Microsoft's Vista OS and
> Office 2007 suite, and to avoid Microsoft's OOXML document format
> because of compatibility concerns.
>
> http://www.infoworld.com/article/08/...save-xp_1.html


"petition" ? you gotta be kidding me !

just don't buy the POS ... end of story - take your business elsewhere
and either -

(a). buy a Mac !

(b). get a Linux box

(c). buy it & live with it (not recommended if you're trying to send
a "message").

the idea of a 'petition' is like someone trying to 'petition' the local
grocery store to sell more health food or a particular brand.

it's their "business" - let 'em run it into the ground.

consumers will decide in the end. if it sucks - then stay away and spread
the word to friends, family, everyone that'll listen.

eventually, when the marketing dumbasses get this act together they'll
realize the product was not ready for prime time - OR - step up to the
plate and make it a product that everyone would want.

this is America ! free enterprise, let the market decide.

no one is pointing a gun at the head of the consumer (or business)
forcing them to purchase a crappy OS.

"maverick" <maverick@aol_sucks.com.linux:blows.com> wrote in message
news:. ..
>
> "Tony Harding" <> wrote in message
> news:4795c397$0$6328$...

> "petition" ? you gotta be kidding me !

Yes, petition. Instead of punishing the retailers, let them
know what people really want. At least give them a chance to
be responsive. If, after a clear statement of consumer wishes,
the retailer still refuses to respond, THEN use the boycott.

Tom Lake

"maverick" <maverick@aol_sucks.com.linux:blows.com> wrote in message
news:. ..
>
> "Tony Harding" <> wrote in message
> news:4795c397$0$6328$...
>> Why XP must be saved
>>
>> The costs are too high and the benefits too low to be forced to switch
>> to Vista
>>
>> By Galen Gruman
>>
>> January 14, 2008
>>
>> The clock is ticking: Microsoft will end OEM and shrink-wrapped sales of
>> Windows XP on June 30, 2008, forcing users to shift to Vista. (System
>> builders, meaning those who do white-box PCs, can sell XP through
>> December 31.) Don't let that happen!
>>
>> Millions of us have grown comfortable with XP and don't see a need to
>> change to Vista. It's like having a comfortable apartment that you've
>> enjoyed coming home to for years, only to get an eviction notice. The
>> thought of moving to a new place -- even with the stainless steel
>> appliances, granite countertops, and maple cabinets (or is cherry in
>> this year?) -- just doesn't sit right. Maybe it'll be more modern, but
>> it will also cost more and likely not be as good a fit. And you don't
>> have any other reason to move. That's exactly the conclusion people have
>> come to with Vista. For most of us, there's really no reason to move to
>> it -- yet we don't have a choice. When that strong desire to stick with
>> XP became obvious in spring 2007, major computer makers such as Dell and
>> Hewlett-Packard quietly reintroduced new XP-based systems (but just to
>> business customers, so as not to offend Microsoft).
>>
>> But come June 30, even that option goes away. (See InfoWorld's live XP
>> countdown clock. To use this clock on your own Web site, please e-mail
>> Executive Editor Galen Gruman for the code snippet.)
>>
>> So what to do? Let Microsoft decide where your personal and enterprise
>> software "lives"? Or send a loud and clear message that you don't want
>> to move?
>>
>> We're going for the loud-and-clear option. Join us, and tell Microsoft
>> that you want to keep XP available indefinitely. Not for another six
>> months or a year, but indefinitely. Sign InfoWorld's petition today. And
>> consider submitting a "Save XP" video to our site to help spread the
>> word.
>>
>> And ask your friends and colleagues to join in, too. Just point them to
>> SaveXP.com.
>>
>> Don't think Microsoft will listen? Consider this: Although Microsoft
>> denies that anything is wrong with Vista or that most people don't want
>> it, the company has already postponed XP's demise by six months. That's
>> a start, but it's not good enough.
>>
>> Microsoft doesn't have to admit failure; it can just say it will keep XP
>> available indefinitely due to customer demand. It can take that
>> opportunity to try again with a better Vista, or just move on to the
>> next version that maybe this time we'll all actually want.
>>
>> There is a precedent for that, too: In many respects, Vista is like the
>> Windows Millennium Edition that was meant to replace Windows 98 in 2000
>> but caused more trouble than it was worth. At that time, Windows 2000
>> was promising but didn't support a lot of hardware, so users were stuck
>> between two bad choices. Without admitting Millennium's failure,
>> Microsoft quietly put Windows 98 back on the market until the fixed
>> version of Windows 2000 (SP1) was available. Microsoft needs to do
>> something like that again today.
>>
>> Make your voice heard to Microsoft. Sign our petition to save XP today.
>> We will present it to Microsoft.
>>
>> For more on why Vista isn't the right replacement for XP, check out
>> InfoWorld's analyses:
>>
>> The (post-SP1) Vista verdict: Wait for Windows 7
>> Randall Kennedy's assessment is that for the vast majority of enterprise
>> IT shops, Vista is not -- and likely never will be -- the right choice
>> for their immediate desktop computing needs.
>>
>> Service pack vs. service pack: XP SP3 beats Vista SP1
>> According to tests by Devil Mountain Software comparing the release
>> candidates for the last Windows XP service pack and the first Vista
>> service pack, XP SP3 performs twice as fast as Vista SP1 on the same
>> machine -- and slower than the initial release of the Vista OS as well.
>>
>> Businesses having second thoughts about Vista
>> Fewer businesses are now planning to move to Windows Vista than seven
>> months ago, according to a survey by patch management vendor PatchLink.
>>
>> Forrester: Businesses still saying no to Vista
>> An anticipated rush by businesses to adopt Windows Vista hasn't
>> materialized as IT managers stick with familiar systems and wait for the
>> release of Vista Service Pack 1.
>>
>> Microsoft: Vista follow-up likely in 2009
>> With Vista just out the door, Microsoft is now drawing up plans to
>> deliver its follow-up client operating system by the end of 2009.
>>
>> Farewell Vista, hello XP
>> From PCWorld.com: How to make the switch back and deal with the gnarly
>> problem of transferring your Vista e-mail, contacts, and user data back
>> to the old standby operating system.
>>
>> HP CEO: Vista never had its moment in 2007
>> From CIO.com: Wondering what's happened to momentum for Microsoft's
>> Vista operating system in corporate America? Fact is, enterprise IT has
>> continued to decline the Vista plate like it's an undercooked holiday
>> casserole. Listen to what Hewlett-Packard CEO Mark Hurd said: HP never
>> saw a "Vista moment at any time over the past year."
>>
>> UK government report: Don't upgrade to Vista
>> Report warns British schools not to upgrade to Microsoft's Vista OS and
>> Office 2007 suite, and to avoid Microsoft's OOXML document format
>> because of compatibility concerns.
>>
>> http://www.infoworld.com/article/08/...save-xp_1.html
>
>
> "petition" ? you gotta be kidding me !
>
> just don't buy the POS ... end of story - take your business elsewhere
> and either -
>
> (a). buy a Mac !
>
> (b). get a Linux box
>
> (c). buy it & live with it (not recommended if you're trying to send
> a "message").
>
> the idea of a 'petition' is like someone trying to 'petition' the local
> grocery store to sell more health food or a particular brand.
>
> it's their "business" - let 'em run it into the ground.
>
> consumers will decide in the end. if it sucks - then stay away and spread
> the word to friends, family, everyone that'll listen.
>
> eventually, when the marketing dumbasses get this act together they'll
> realize the product was not ready for prime time - OR - step up to the
> plate and make it a product that everyone would want.
>
> this is America ! free enterprise, let the market decide.
>
> no one is pointing a gun at the head of the consumer (or business)
> forcing them to purchase a crappy OS.
>

sadly, in many cases you have to buy it. many machines come preloaded with
vista. despite the fact that i never use it, initially boot from a xp cd
and install a fresh copy of xp, from microsofts perspective they have sold a
copy of vista. if they just look at the sales figures they might interpret
sales as ok, but in fact use is extremely low to non-existent in any
business that i have seen. but having said that, i am confident that as
major corporation balk at vista, microsoft will change it tune again.
microsoft does not want to **** off these people who could just as easily
switch to some other platform if microsoft decides to only offer them vista.

maverick wrote:
> "Tony Harding" <> wrote in message
> news:4795c397$0$6328$...
>> Why XP must be saved

<snip>

> "petition" ? you gotta be kidding me !
>
> just don't buy the POS ... end of story - take your business elsewhere
> and either -
>
> (a). buy a Mac !
>
> (b). get a Linux box
>
> (c). buy it & live with it (not recommended if you're trying to send
> a "message").
>
> the idea of a 'petition' is like someone trying to 'petition' the local
> grocery store to sell more health food or a particular brand.
>
> it's their "business" - let 'em run it into the ground.
>
> consumers will decide in the end. if it sucks - then stay away and spread
> the word to friends, family, everyone that'll listen.
>
> eventually, when the marketing dumbasses get this act together they'll
> realize the product was not ready for prime time - OR - step up to the
> plate and make it a product that everyone would want.
>
> this is America ! free enterprise, let the market decide.
>
> no one is pointing a gun at the head of the consumer (or business)
> forcing them to purchase a crappy OS.

Is that you, Milton?


Dude, chill (& trim). Infoworld has this petition, not me, I posted the
article as a FYI.

BTW, what's the problem with asking your local store to carry a product
or brand you like?

I love to see MS have problems with Vista. "Where's the beef?" --
there is none.

If I was product manager at a large corporation, I would see no reason
to upgrade to Vista. That can be a huge undertaking, of effort and
money.

If MS ties things to Vista that can't run on XP, trying to force an
upgrade, I hope lawsuits will follow.

"maverick" <maverick@aol_sucks.com.linux.blows.com> wrote:

AOL may suck, and linux may blow, but a special spot in Hell is
reserved for people who quote the entirety of a 100+ line post
just to address a single line comment in it.

--
OJ III

Journey wrote:
> I love to see MS have problems with Vista. "Where's the beef?" --
> there is none.
>
> If I was product manager at a large corporation, I would see no reason
> to upgrade to Vista. That can be a huge undertaking, of effort and
> money.
>
> If MS ties things to Vista that can't run on XP, trying to force an
> upgrade, I hope lawsuits will follow.

Sounds like a business opportunity for some clever programmers.

On Tue, 22 Jan 2008 09:57:21 -0500, Tony Harding <>
wrote:

>maverick wrote:
>> "Tony Harding" <> wrote in message
>> news:4795c397$0$6328$...
>>> Why XP must be saved
>
><snip>
>> the idea of a 'petition' is like someone trying to 'petition' the local
>> grocery store to sell more health food or a particular brand.

>BTW, what's the problem with asking your local store to carry a product
>or brand you like?

Last week there were 12 of us here in Madison in frigid weather
petitioning a local supermarket to carry Campbell's Oyster Stew.

In the meantime I have to put canned oysters in New England Clam
Chowder. A travesty :-)

On Tue, 22 Jan 2008 17:51:36 -0600, Journey <> wrote:

>On Tue, 22 Jan 2008 09:57:21 -0500, Tony Harding <>
>wrote:
>
>>maverick wrote:
>>> "Tony Harding" <> wrote in message
>>> news:4795c397$0$6328$...
>>>> Why XP must be saved
>>
>><snip>
>>> the idea of a 'petition' is like someone trying to 'petition' the local
>>> grocery store to sell more health food or a particular brand.
>
>>BTW, what's the problem with asking your local store to carry a product
>>or brand you like?
>
>Last week there were 12 of us here in Madison in frigid weather
>petitioning a local supermarket to carry Campbell's Oyster Stew.
>
>In the meantime I have to put canned oysters in New England Clam
>Chowder. A travesty :-)


Personally I like Progresso New England clam chowder myself <g> .