While the Windows XP operating system (OS) might not have trailed a procession of dedicated and impassioned fans prior to the emergence of its Windows Vista successor, the tide of fervent opinion has certainly turned in its favour in the year since Vista was officially launched.
Microsoft CEO suggests XP may yet get a reprieve. Credit: DBegley/Flickr.
And the gathering weight of opinion that seeks to secure the continuance of XP might yet deliver an influential gut-punch to American software titan Microsoft ahead of its schedule to retire XP from retail shelves on June 30 of this year.
Specifically, speaking in a news conference on Thursday, Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer has indicated that the company may yet reverse its decision if customer feedback clearly demands it.
“XP will hit an end-of-life. We have announced one,” outlined Ballmer. “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.”
According to Microsoft’s plan, major computer vendors carrying Windows are expected to abandon the remnants of XP in favour of Vista on June 30, while core technical support for the OS will continue through to April 2009 and limited support will stretch to April 2014.
Microsoft has also confirmed that Windows XP will continue through to 2010 on low-cost small form computer systems such as the acclaimed ASUSTek Eee PC and OLPC XO laptop.
However, that’s seemingly not enough to placate dedicated fans of XP who remain unconvinced by its Vista replacement. Those supporters insist XP is more secure and reliable than Vista (even after the SP1 fix update) and duly want Microsoft to impose a 2010 stay of execution for the six-year-old platform on conventional PCs and laptops.
2010 is when the Redmond-based company is expected to release its upcoming ‘Windows 7’ operating system, which is already in development.
Current pro-XP feedback being directed at Microsoft is coming from a rash of online blog posts, cartoons and petitions. One such Internet petition (Save XP) has already collected some 160,000 names from those pleading with Microsoft to hold off on pulling the XP plug.
However, while Ballmer’s comments echo Microsoft’s supposed willingness to listen to user feedback, the CEO also noted that adoption of Vista is extremely good and that customers have not yet shown a clear desire to extend XP’s availability. Evidently 160,000 names is a mere drop in the ocean of Vista’s profit margins and certainly not sufficient reaction to sway Microsoft’s plans.
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