It gets really hard to write in the defense of an operating system I don't even have, but here goes anyway.
InfoWorld is spearheading an on-line petition drive to convince Microsoft to save XP from the OEM chopping block after the June 30th deadline passes.
On June 30, 2008, Microsoft plans to stop selling XP retail, either shrink-wrapped or on OEM PCs. But here at InfoWorld, we don't think an operating system that has lots of miles left in it should be headed for the scrap heap. That's why we're launching a program to save Windows XP.
The idea is simple: we're hosting a petition to convince Microsoft to keep selling Windows XP indefinitely rather than force users to upgrade to Vista.
Ouch.
I don't know about the ultimate viability of this effort. Microsoft would be crazy to continue to let XP float around in the PC space while they have a new OS they really, really (really) want you to use. And Microsoft isn't savvy enough to look for and promote a silver lining that XP users like it so much, they don't want to upgrade. Especially since Apple is having a field day bashing Vista in the their ad campaign.
As you may remember, yours truly is still wonderfully XP (Tablet edition, Media Center and XP Pro at the job) but I honestly don't have a problem going with Vista when I upgrade my personal systems (IT at the day job said "no way"). Most of the folks who have it now (as opposed to then) report all bugs gone and are pretty happy.
In the meantime, Microsoft can't let something fly unless all the PC makers jumped on board as well.
No here comes the but. Vista problems are directly traceable to two issues at launch. One is kinda Microsoft's fault, the other, in my opinion, really had nothing to do with Microsoft (okay, maybe they had something to do with that too but I digress).
- Vista is a hardware hog. To get all the pretty gadgets, widgets and gizmos going, you need to be pumping some serious RAM and graphics capabilities. Most Average Joe PC buyers weren't aware of it.
- PC makers played dumb when the need for these upgraded specs were not included on all the new systems they were building. Drivers weren't ready or didn't work, and the included hardware didn't support what Average Joe PC buyer thought he was getting with his new fancy-shmancy Vista machine. Average Joe blamed OEMs, OEMs blamed Microsoft and Microsoft couldn't really blame OEMs, so they had to eat this one. The rest is history.
So, save XP? I'd almost vote for that. The thing that is saving XP is that it still works very well on so many systems. Even if Microsoft were to slash Vista prices (which I think they need to do anyway to lure users like myself), Vista still wouldn't necessarily run very well unless you just happen to have upgraded to a decent machine very recently. That would leave many current PC users out in the lurch.
Now, eventually all of these people are going to need a new PC anyway and there will be Vista, waiting patiently for assimilation. In the meantime, there's going to be a whole lot of ballyhoo made about this which Microsoft will probably ignore.
Whether you like Vista or not, it is certainly here to stay.
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