Ballmer: You want XP, we'll keep XP

[Midwest-Linux]

Ballmer: You want XP, we'll keep XP

http://www.news.com/8301-10784_3-9927721-7.html?tag=tb

"Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer said the company could re-evaluate its plans to phase out Windows XP by June 30, if customers demand that it stick around. So far, they have not.

"XP will hit an end-of-life. We have announced one. If customer feedback varies, we can always wake up smarter, but right now, we have a plan for end-of-life for new XP shipments," Ballmer said during a Thursday news conference in Belgium, according to Reuters."

[SunnyRabbiera]

well once this gets around then for sure XP's shelf life will probably last another 2 years...
They will be getting a lot of requests to be sure, even from me (to keep my XP machines maintained)

[Midwest-Linux]

Notice that this story comes out on the same day Ubuntu 8.04 was released. Must be a coincidence.... lol

[gsmanners]

You could just as easily say that Ubuntu stole Ballmer's thunder. ;)

There's a bit more to that story:

Ballmer said most retailers sold computers with Vista, the latest version of its Windows operating system, and most consumers were choosing to buy Vista. Some consumers have complained they were unable to buy XP at retail stores, or as consumers. They say that in order to get XP they must buy their computers as small businesses. "In the business environment, we still have customers who are buying PCs with XP" because information technology departments often have to work with old machines, Ballmer said.

[smoker]

Ballmer is caught between a rock and a hard place - if he extends the life of xp, he's admitting how despised and unwanted vista is. if he retires xp, then ms have nothing to fight linux on low-spec hardware with.

imo, ms should develop a modern slimline xp, or lose percentage on the desktop ever more rapidly. who wants an os like vista that will eat your computer from the inside out?

[MetalMusicAddict]

I have to build the wife a new desktop. So for me, they either still sell XP or I pirate it. I'm usually not that candid about this choice but it's the simple fact of the matter.

Do you want my money Microsoft? I will never buy Vista.

[jrusso2]

Ballmer: You want XP, we'll keep XP

http://www.news.com/8301-10784_3-9927721-7.html?tag=tb

"Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer said the company could re-evaluate its plans to phase out Windows XP by June 30, if customers demand that it stick around. So far, they have not.

"XP will hit an end-of-life. We have announced one. If customer feedback varies, we can always wake up smarter, but right now, we have a plan for end-of-life for new XP shipments," Ballmer said during a Thursday news conference in Belgium, according to Reuters."

By customer Balmer means OEM's and Big Business not the end users. If they demand a stay of execution for XP then we might see it happen.

[tashmooclam]

I think it's really interesting how Linux is getting so good, they're selling computers with Linux pre-loaded. Do you realize that Microsoft spent 50,000 man years to create Vista? That probably cost them more than buying Yahoo. You spend $45 billion here and there and eventually it starts to become expensive to be losing on all fronts.

[smoker]

... Do you realize that Microsoft spent 50,000 man years to create Vista?

they must get long lunch breaks at ms
:lolflag:

[insane_alien]

49999 of those man years were spent playing WOW on XP though.

if enough people want XP that he has to make that statement then enough people want it to extend its life.

personally, i don't care. i use neither and both bring me business in the form of virus infected computers.

[izanbardprince]

I don't think Vista is that bad, especially with SP1.

Of course Vista is 1-10% slower than XP on some tasks on some configurations, but then again consider that XP was the same vs Windows 2000, but that didn't stop anyone from upgrading, heck NT 4 would run on a "fast" 486, I don't see anyone running back to it.

[WestAussieUbu]

It's just a parting shot, to re-ignite the linux-windows war a bit further.

[Twitch6000]

I think he will extend the life further because SP3 just now came out and if he discontinues it now,that is like closing the store after its been open for 5 minutes.