Dell rumored to be selling XP until 2012, Ballmer says MS can "wake up smarter"
By Nilay Patel 
posted April 24th 2008 4:18PM
posted April 24th 2008 4:18PM
Windows XP has a date with destiny scheduled for June 30, but it looks like the plucky OS just isn't ready to go: Ultraportable OEMs will be able to preload XP until "one year after the general availability of Windows 7," whenever that is, and now we're hearing reports that Dell's telling customers it'll sell XP on professional systems until 2012. The Dell thing is just a rumor for now, but what's Steve Ballmer doing telling reporters that although XP is EOL, "if customer feedback varies, we can always wake up smarter" and extend XP sales? Um, Steve? Customers have been feeding back like crazy and Microsoft has kind of ignored them, remember? Maybe it's time for a quick nap.Update: That was pretty funny for a totally unintentional typo, wasn't it?
Read - CNET article quoting Ballmer
Read - Dell rumors
Unintentional? The U is nowhere near the D or the L, so you had to reach for it (unless you use Dvorak or some other keyboard layout I'm not familiar with). Sounds a little Freudian to me...
Vista may be "perfectly fine", but XP is even better... XP is wickedly fast on hardware where Vista is merely "fine". Plus, laptop batteries last longer and CPUs run cooler, because XP is happy to sit idle conserving power while Vista is busy pre-loading stuff and using more power render the same applications.
Windows XP + Minor interface overhaul [Aero Lite] = Windows 7
All the conflicting availability estmates now make sense :)
All the power/battery problems with Vista come down to Aero using DX9.
Your GPU runs as well as the CPU using power and creating heat.
Pity they didn't just buy Stardock and integrate Windowblinds, no more sluggish GUI problems.
hey, who fixed the typo, i tought it was pretty accurate "Dull rumored to be..."
What's the fuss?
As PCWorld noted:
http://www.pcworld.com/article/id,128669-page,1/article.html
1. Vista is incomplete.
2. Vista is expensive
3. Vista needs new hardware.
4. Windows XP Isn't Obsolete
Unless you are a M$ fanboy, Vista won't be a compelling buy until 64-bits apps and drivers are ubiquitous & they've wrung the kinks out of the 64-bit version of Vista.
You are really quoting from a story that dates from launch? Of course there were plenty of reasons not to be an early adopter. However, much of those objections are now moot.
I still don't understand why Microsoft didn't really get behind the 64-bit version of Vista to push more product out the door. They've let it languish instead of lighting a fire under developers. Or maybe I've drunk too much Kool Aid and there's not much of a performance benefit.
I heard that Dell would continue to sell XP on their computers till 2012 a couple weeks ago in one of their corporate webinars showing their next line of corporate computers.
Dull made 1100 people lose their jobs in Ottawa yesterday.
Dull jobs I hope.
Windows XP for the 23rd century. Let's campaign to end the sales of Vista and wait until Windows 7 which may come out in 2011. If that isn't any good then bring out a few more service packs for Windows XP. To heck with Ballmer, he isn't using Vista. All he does is funky dances.
Let's face it, the best upgrade from Vista is Windows XP Service Pack 3. WinXP FTW. Vista FTL.
isnt the world gonna end in 2012
Come and get your XP here!
Looking at Dell Canada, it pay around 100$ for the same computer but with XP. Which is something I don't get.
I mean you purchase a DX10 video card and a multi-core CPU 64-bit. and you go "Nha, to good for me, I have to block it down with XP 32-bit".
I don't' know about you, but it is like on the old old computer when you had the turbo button, and you go "Nha, my computer is too fast for me, let me remove the Turbo."
Oh, the memories!! I had a machine running Windows 3.1, and when that turbo button was pushed it, it ran at a blazing rate of 33mhz!
The longer people hang on to XP, the harder it will be for people to switch when all that is available is Windows 7.
I can actually confirm that Dell is in fact informing it's customers that it'll be shipping XP on computers until 2012.
The exact e-mail I recieved from them, names redacted, is as follows:
"Recently I have been receiving a lot of emails regarding Windows XP end of life.
· Please be aware that Dell will continue to offer XP Pro preloaded through 2012.
· We will ship XP Professional on Dell Optiplex, Latitude and Precision machines with a free upgrade path to Windows Vista.
Regarding Microsoft office 2003, this will continue to be available as a downgrade from 2007 through the open license program. Please let me know if you would like a report showing your open licenses so we can ensure you are compliant.
Let me know.
------
-------------------- I Dell Inc
Preferred Account Manager"
That typo was like a self fulfilling prophecy.