Proposal to Keep WinXP Support "Alive"

[jaugustine]

Hi,
I am a fan of WinXP (and Win98se). Most of you probably
know by now that Microsoft is suppose to end WinXP support
next year (I think April).

We all know that Microsoft's major income source is a new
OS. I would like to propose that we "petition" Microsoft to
continue WinXP support after the "ending date", but they can
begin charging a fee.

What do you think?

Thank You in advance, John

 

[Bruce Hagen]

Hi,
I am a fan of WinXP (and Win98se). Most of you probably
know by now that Microsoft is suppose to end WinXP support
next year (I think April).

We all know that Microsoft's major income source is a new
OS. I would like to propose that we "petition" Microsoft to
continue WinXP support after the "ending date", but they can
begin charging a fee.

What do you think?

Thank You in advance, John

"Support" refers to Windows Updates and they will never continue to do that
when they have three newer Windows versions to keep up to date.

 

[dadiOH]

Hi,
I am a fan of WinXP (and Win98se). Most of you probably
know by now that Microsoft is suppose to end WinXP support
next year (I think April).

We all know that Microsoft's major income source is a new
OS. I would like to propose that we "petition" Microsoft to
continue WinXP support after the "ending date", but they can
begin charging a fee.

What do you think?

Thank You in advance, John

If it works fine now, why do you want support?.

--

dadiOH
____________________________

Winters getting colder? Tired of the rat race?
Maybe just ready for a change? Check it out...
http://www.floridaloghouse.net

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

I would like to propose that we "petition" Microsoft to
continue WinXP support after the "ending date", but they can
begin charging a fee.

What do you think?

Three points:

1. You will get a tiny number of people to join you in your petition.

2. No matter how many you get, Microsoft will never do it.

3. As far as I'm concerned, Windows XP has been superseded by three
newer and better versions, and I have no interest in keeping it alive.

Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP

 

[JJ]

Hi,
I am a fan of WinXP (and Win98se). Most of you probably
know by now that Microsoft is suppose to end WinXP support
next year (I think April).

We all know that Microsoft's major income source is a new
OS. I would like to propose that we "petition" Microsoft to
continue WinXP support after the "ending date", but they can
begin charging a fee.

What do you think?

Thank You in advance, John

Such petition won't work, because the majority of users are using Windows
7.

Depending on what you need from the support, there might be alternative
solution(s) from fellow Windows XP fans. Even DOS still have some, you
know. It doesn't have to be from the creator. Heck some goodies are even
available *only* from fans.

 

[Andy]

I guess a related question is, what is meant by "better". But there may

not be a definitive answer to that, however. I expect it depends on the

user's wants and/or needs - which, in turn, spans the spectrum.

In regards to the comment that more people use Win 7, I am afraid that is false
and not by a little margin.

Last I heard, roughly half of all computer users use Win XP.

Some of the support that was in those updates took away a few features.
But nothing major.

Vista, Win 7, and Win 8 have one known flaw that has existed since Win 95.

The production side of the chemical industry usually don't update software unless it is required to maintain production.

There are laboratory instruments that use Win 98.

XP has low memory and hardware requirements.

So, I think XP users have nothing to worry about.

Andy

 

[Greegor]

Microsoft's big opportunities to sell new versions of
Windows used to accompany hardware 6x faster
than the previous hardware.

This entails huge costs, much greater than the
mere cost of computers and Windows.

Adapting or replacing old, expensive or proprietary
software is a huge expense, as is any retraining
caused by such changes.

But these huge expenses were seen as
worthwhile because of the 6x speed increase.
Those days are over.

The applications that pay the bills for large
corporate users are things like order entry,
order recall, inventory, database, telephone
services scripts (Oracle) and word processing.

One outfit has about 150 computer workstations
in one room alone, plus about 30 more among
offices and operation center. But they have
about 25 such locations. Upgrading from XP
would offer them no advantage whatsoever.

Even though an operating system is crucial
for a computer, it is nonetheless a minor fraction
of the overall cost. If Microsoft is going to force
that MASS of old computers to be replaced with
no real advantage and for no real reason aside
from the marketing needs of Microsoft, it becomes
a bit like the tail wagging the dog.

What does Microsoft get per new OEM computer
with Win8? Maybe $30? Yet they expect to
force old systems to be scrapped and new computers
which provide no actual advantage to be purchased
at about $700 per system?? Just to fulfill Microsoft's
MARKETING NEEDS??

To force corporate customer service centers to
landfill/scrap all of those WinXP-Pro computers
by cutting off revised SECURITY UPDATES
is blatantly a MARKETING PLOY by Microsoft.

And not a very nice one.

Cutesy tiles instead of icons? Big deal.

How about that Android, eh?

 

[knuttle]

Microsoft's big opportunities to sell new versions of
Windows used to accompany hardware 6x faster
than the previous hardware.

This entails huge costs, much greater than the
mere cost of computers and Windows.

Adapting or replacing old, expensive or proprietary
software is a huge expense, as is any retraining
caused by such changes.

But these huge expenses were seen as
worthwhile because of the 6x speed increase.
Those days are over.

The applications that pay the bills for large
corporate users are things like order entry,
order recall, inventory, database, telephone
services scripts (Oracle) and word processing.

One outfit has about 150 computer workstations
in one room alone, plus about 30 more among
offices and operation center. But they have
about 25 such locations. Upgrading from XP
would offer them no advantage whatsoever.

Even though an operating system is crucial
for a computer, it is nonetheless a minor fraction
of the overall cost. If Microsoft is going to force
that MASS of old computers to be replaced with
no real advantage and for no real reason aside
from the marketing needs of Microsoft, it becomes
a bit like the tail wagging the dog.

What does Microsoft get per new OEM computer
with Win8? Maybe $30? Yet they expect to
force old systems to be scrapped and new computers
which provide no actual advantage to be purchased
at about $700 per system?? Just to fulfill Microsoft's
MARKETING NEEDS??

To force corporate customer service centers to
landfill/scrap all of those WinXP-Pro computers
by cutting off revised SECURITY UPDATES
is blatantly a MARKETING PLOY by Microsoft.

And not a very nice one.

Cutesy tiles instead of icons? Big deal.

How about that Android, eh?

I don't have Windows 8, but I am in a situation where my computers are
getting old and may need to be replaced. In my investigations I have
been told that the that horrible new interface can be turned off and you
can use a XP like interface.

I sure hope this is true because I don't want to spend a large chunk of
my time on the computer chasing my programs around the screen. It is
bad enough having to open multiple menus and then when you find the one
you want, have the open menus collapse and you have to start over.

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

I don't have Windows 8, but I am in a situation where my computers are
getting old and may need to be replaced. In my investigations I have
been told that the that horrible new interface can be turned off and you
can use a XP like interface.

You call it a "horrible new interface." I'm not crazy about it either,
but in my view, calling it "horrible" is a big overstatement.

But more important, there is *no* need to turn it off. Windows 8
has *two* interfaces; the Modern/Metro Interface (which is probably
what you are talking about when you call it "horrible new interface")
and the traditional Desktop Interface. That traditional
Desktop Interface is almost identical to Windows 7's interface; the
biggest difference is that there is no Start Orb to click to bring up
the Start menu. But note that you can get the Start Orb back by using
one of several third-party programs, either free or very inexpensive
(Classic Shell at http://classicshell.sourceforge.net/ and Start8 at
http://www.stardock.com/products/start8/; my personal preference is
Start8, but they are both very good). And going from one interface to
the other is very easy; there are several ways, but simply pressing
the Windows key is perhaps the easiest.

Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP

 

[Greegor]

I don't have Windows 8, but I am in a situation
where my computers are getting old and may
need to be replaced. < snip!>

How old?
Are you under pressure to get faster processors?
What type of processors do you have now?

 

[Auric__]

I don't have Windows 8, but I am in a situation where my computers are
getting old and may need to be replaced. In my investigations I have
been told that the that horrible new interface can be turned off and you
can use a XP like interface.

I sure hope this is true because I don't want to spend a large chunk of
my time on the computer chasing my programs around the screen. It is
bad enough having to open multiple menus and then when you find the one
you want, have the open menus collapse and you have to start over.

I've read, and been told be people who I tend to believe, that Win 8 is
*very* nice on a touch screen... and absolute crap on regular, non-touch
workstations.

 

[caveman]

I've read, and been told be people who I tend to believe, that Win 8 is
*very* nice on a touch screen... and absolute crap on regular, non-touch
workstations.

I wonder why they didn't just flip over to the other interface.

(I also wonder why this is being crossposted to hell and back.)

 

[Greegor]

Windows 8 can't even play a DVD unless you buy
a more expensive Media Center edition?? WTF?


ROFL Look at the comments from UPGRADE purchasers!

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832416562

Microsoft Windows 8 Professional Upgrade $ 69.99

“Tasks that use to be simple are now quite complex, such turning off
your computer is now more multistep.
”
— 11/28/2012
-------------------------------------------------
At least Microsoft fired the culprit
“After looking at the various prerelease versions, I was sure
Microsoft would come to see the error of their ways and have ...
”
— Dennis 11/17/2012
------------------------------------------------

 

[Paul]

Windows 8 can't even play a DVD unless you buy
a more expensive Media Center edition?? WTF?


ROFL Look at the comments from UPGRADE purchasers!

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832416562

Microsoft Windows 8 Professional Upgrade $ 69.99

“Tasks that use to be simple are now quite complex, such turning off
your computer is now more multistep.
”
— 11/28/2012
-------------------------------------------------
At least Microsoft fired the culprit
“After looking at the various prerelease versions, I was sure
Microsoft would come to see the error of their ways and have ...
”
— Dennis 11/17/2012
------------------------------------------------

Enough with the crossposts already!

Julie had a lot to do with the new OS design. Sinofsky leaving,
doesn't fix things. The design direction will have continuity.

If you order the downloadable version of Windows 8, for
a limited time, Media Center is free. The downloadable version
is Pro.

http://blogs.msdn.com/b/b8/archive/...dows-media-center-available-in-windows-8.aspx

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-8/feature-packs

"For a limited time, get Windows 8 Media Center Pack for free **

To receive a free product key and get Windows 8 Media Center Pack,
provide a valid email address in the space provided. Once you
receive your free product key through the email address you
provided, follow the instructions for adding Windows 8
Media Center Pack that appear later on this page."

"** Windows 8 Media Center Pack is available at no charge for
a limited time only through this promotional page on Windows.com.
If you obtain Windows 8 Media Center Pack through any other
location fees might apply. Offer valid from October 26, 2012,
until January 31, 2013, and is limited to one product key per
email address. You qualify for this promotion if your PC is
running Windows 8 Pro."

So the only time to buy Windows 8, is now, not later.

http://web.esd.microsoft.com/W8DL/W...C5B1D8956B5B1D8/Windows8-UpgradeAssistant.exe

Start here, for $39.99 (may be limited to North America only).
Do the procedure from a 64 bit computer OS, if you want a 64 bit
download image. You can be sitting at another computer, when
you make the order. For example, in my house, this computer
is WinXP 32 bit and my laptop is Win7 64 bit. I would place
the order, using the 64 bit laptop OS, download 64 bit image,
and walk the installer over to my WinXP 32 bit machine.

http://www.microsoftstore.com/store...69f5ebc-44ac-4122-b61a-26e5990b5de4csncvIZhMB

The process starts, with something like this. That tool might
indicate bits of your current setup that aren't compatible.
I don't know if it detects NX/XD support or not (which they
decided to boil into Win8).

http://web.esd.microsoft.com/W8DL/W...C5B1D8956B5B1D8/Windows8-UpgradeAssistant.exe

Once all the special offers disappear some time in January,
then it won't be worth buying.

HTH,
Paul

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

I've read, and been told be people who I tend to believe, that Win 8 is
*very* nice on a touch screen... and absolute crap on regular, non-touch
workstations.

Then the people who told you know very little about Windows 8, and you
should *not* believe them. You do *not* have to use the Modern/Metro
interface, and if you don't, it's hardly distinguishable from Windows
7, especially if you add a third-party program like Classic Shell
(free) or Start8 ($4.99).

Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP

 

[Tim Rude]

In "Ken Blake, MVP"


So, what's the "value add" from Windows 8 for people who use their PCs
for more than children's games?

Not much that I can see.

It seems to start and shut down a little bit quicker (once you can find the
shut down option), and I thought the on-the-fly benchmarking when copying
files was kinda neat. But otherwise, meh.

The wasted drive space from having all of the duplicated metro cr'apps is a
downer. And if you don't run something like Start8 to give you back a
sensible desktop and start menu, it's a nightmare.

Tim Rude

 

[HankG]

Not much that I can see.

It seems to start and shut down a little bit quicker (once you can find
the shut down option), and I thought the on-the-fly benchmarking when
copying files was kinda neat. But otherwise, meh.

The wasted drive space from having all of the duplicated metro cr'apps is
a downer. And if you don't run something like Start8 to give you back a
sensible desktop and start menu, it's a nightmare.

I believe that I read that 8 does not contain a compatability mode. Not
good. I'm still running Office Professional '95 & 97 (all legal, by the
way). My Word and Excel work just fine in OpenOffice. Tried Access, but
having difficulty. Since retiring, don't really need it anymore.

HankG

 

[BillW50]

In HankG typed:

I believe that I read that 8 does not contain a compatability mode.
Not good. I'm still running Office Professional '95 & 97 (all legal,
by the way). My Word and Excel work just fine in OpenOffice. Tried
Access, but having difficulty. Since retiring, don't really need it
anymore.
HankG

Naw... Windows 8 *does* have compatibility mode. It lists:

Windows 95
Windows 98 / Windows Me
Windows XP (Service Pack 2)
Windows XP (Service Pack 3)
Windows Vista
Windows Vista (Service Pack 1)
Windows Vista (Service Pack 2)
Windows 7

 

[knuttle]

Would you tell us how to lock it so it defaults to the Desktop mode not
the "Modern/Metro interface"

Or are we going to be stuck with starting in "Modern/Metro interface",
like we are stuck with collapsing menus from earlier Windows versions

 

[Zaphod Beeblebrox]

On Thu, 20 Dec 2012 08:48:10 -0500, "knuttle"

Would you tell us how to lock it so it defaults to the Desktop mode not
the "Modern/Metro interface"

Or are we going to be stuck with starting in "Modern/Metro interface",
like we are stuck with collapsing menus from earlier Windows versions

Closest you can come is to start in TIFKAM (The Interface Formerly
Known As Metro) and have it switch to the desktop shortly after (just a
few seconds, depending on your system speed) and provide a start menu
by using a start menu replacement utility like Start8, Classic Shell,
etc.