Windows XP still has the goods over Vista

In a not so surprising move, Microsoft has issued a press release stating they are going to keep selling Windows XP for an additional 5 months passed their kill date. Why? Because customers demanded it.

"In an effort to respond to feedback the company is hearing from its customers and partners, Microsoft is extending availability of Windows XP editions among original equipment manufacturers (OEM) and retail channels for an additional five months to June 30, 2008." - Mike Nash, corporate vice president, Windows Product Management

Feedback? Yeah, most people, including me, didn't see any compelling reason to shell out the bucks for Vista after paying for a new system. It didn't do very much over its Windows XP predecessor that was worth the reinvestment. And since Microsoft missed both the back to school and holiday shopping season last year with the delay of Vista, all those new computer buyers didn't get computers with the OS already installed.

I'm not saying Vista is bad, far from it. Many people (including personal friends of mine) who have systems with Vista pre-installed are enjoying it and would not go back. It's the rest of us (like me) Microsoft is having a hard time convincing to upgrade.

BTW, if you think corporate spin is as funny as the comics in the newspaper, give the linked press release a read with your morning coffee. It's actually pretty funny to read from a Windows users point of view. Otherwise, just know Vista is continuing to get a smack down in the minds of XP users and the public.

Comments

[Michael Moore]

And so did Windows 2000 (I skipped the whole XP thing, didn't need it) I'm not sure why MS chooses to price thier products in a way that puts most consumers beyond thier reach; it is confusing to say the least. But I will say this: Someone has to pay for the personal soundtrack that follows you around the house that lisgts up or dims and your move through the domicile. Never mind the private jet and yatch...
IBM took over the OpenOffice project: I think the underdog just got a shot of focus on the prize. I just hope IBM moves to try and make an operating system again. I know OS/2 "Warp" failed, but times changes and so do people and by now someone is incharage that can provide a viable non-techie user installable OS (20 years is a lot on R&D time).

[Contributing Writer, Aaron J. Walker]

Thanks for the comment Michael.

I agree with you, one of the things I believe holding back the widespread adoption of Vista is Microsoft missing the delivery window for it to have come preinstalled on back to school and holiday computers and then the confusion on pricing. Two versions are enough. Home and business. Period.

Home should be about $129 and business - not more than double that price. End of discussion.

They created mass confusion and turned off many people who perhaps would have gone for the upgrade but chose not too due to the price. Why spend more when you have a perfectly good OS already in XP?

Also the whole driver issues with their partners didn't help. OEMs had all that extra time to make sure everything worked but didn't.

[Registry cleaner reviews -]

A lot of people and small businesses do not buy seperate licences in a shop, but get a oem version installed when buying a new computer. They will upgrade when buying a new computer. I think Vista does not offer any thing better than Windows XP offers right now. I worked with it a couple of weeks ago and was appalled by the sluggish performance. Starting something simple like windows explorer took some time while with Windows XP its there right away.