And What About Windows XP Service Pack 3?(microsoft is advertising for linux again)

Windows IT Pro ^ | April 9th | Paul Thurrott

[Halfmanhalfamazing]

If you were looking for any glimpse into the mind of Microsoft, this is it: The company has completely abandoned Windows XP, and it has absolutely no plans to ever ship an XP SP3. My guess is that Microsoft will do what it did with the final Windows 2000 Service Pack: Claim years later that it's no longer needed and just ship a final security patch roll-up. This is the worst kiss-off to any Microsoft product I've ever seen, and you'd think the company would show a little more respect to its best-selling OS of all time. But the reality is, Microsoft is looking ahead to new revenue and not behind to money that's already in the bank. And though hundreds of millions of people will be running XP for years to come, despite Microsoft's best efforts at selling them a later Windows version, the company has absolutely no plans to actually support those customers. This flies in the face of its publicly-stated life cycle support plans. And it really freaks me out. It should freak you out as well.

[N3WBI3]

there's hundreds of different versions because not one of them works perfectly well.

So When MS has different versions out (server 2003, Vista (home, ultimate, xtreem, maga super duper cool, ...), Server 2005) is it because not one of their Operating systems works perfectly well? or is it because different situations call for different tools?

You might as well get a real Unix instead of wasting any more time with the foreign clone Linux

Oh yea because there is only one version of that (AIX, HPUX, Solaris, BSD, OSX, ...) Guess non of them work perfectly well either. Your ability to draw two completely different conclusion from a nearly identical set of circumstances is truly astounding!

[sittnick]

Yes, you fell for the linux lies that are posted everywhere on the internet including here by a small group of zealots that claim Linux is the end all when in fact there's hundreds of different versions because not one of them works perfectly well. You might as well get a real Unix instead of wasting any more time with the foreign clone Linux, and use Apple OSX or Sun Solaris if you're not happy with Windows.

The reason I did not ping you originally is that I had a question, and was not interested in a tirade. No OS, various Windows, Linux, BeOS, Coleco Adam, MacOS is perfect of course. There is a place for all of this stuff. But you answered a question I did not ask. (Our Fedora Linux Web Server works just fine!) I guess my Corel WordPerfect is Canadian and hence "foreign", even my Intel brand motherboards are made in Red China. I really don't have anything against the Finnish.

You'll have to trust that I like most operating systems that I get to know (OS/2, CP/M-86 and the DECmate system being notable exceptions). As you know, there have been some crappy Unixes over the years (Apple's earlier AUX, IBM's AIX, anything AT&T did with its crappy Olivetti division running the show in the '80's, IRIS). So, it does not surprise me if there are subpar Linux distros. That doesn't mean they are all bad. I have nothing against ANY of these OSes. They all have their place.

Heck, I even remember when most of us thought of Microsoft as being the hero against "monopolist" IBM in the late '80's because they sold DOS to all comers, and did not yet leverage that into control of the then splintered applications' market (and their leverage sped up the overall fall of pricing. A purchase of Lotus 1-2-3, SSI WordPerfect and Ashton-Tate dBase would set you back quite a bit. Borland (and Mosaic and Paperback Software) started the price wars, but Microsoft made it stick.

So, I understand that you don't think anyone should run Linux, and I'd rather hear reasoned statements than zealotry from either side. I haven't fallen for anybody's "lies."

[Golden Eagle]

Ridiculous, Windows XP will be supported till 2014, nothing in the Linux world comes even remotely close.

http://support.microsoft.com/lifecycle/?p1=3223

Do you really think it’s hard to blow your BS out of the water?

[N3WBI3]

Can you buy a dell desktop with XP on it? can you walk into compusa and buy XP. I tried to be very clear with you so that at the very least we could agree that you and I cant see eye to eye on what ‘supported means’.

“Its not, providing *only* security patches while other produces like IE dont get updated is not full support. Bug Fixes, component updates `, and security fixes make for support.” - N3WBI3

And I was pretty clear about why I think the fact MS has shut down Dell or other PC vendors from selling with XP installed was important.

“If I had a shop with 100 desktops and I had to buy five more (from dell for example) I now can not have a homogeneous desktop environment *unless* I buy XP from a third party (like cdw). Companies dont replace their entire desktop environment in one shot they evergreen out over the course of quarters if not years.” - N3WBI3

Will the next ie be release for XP? what about media player? These are serious issues that can, in effect, force an upgrade.

[Golden Eagle]

Another perfect example of the linux lies, took me literally about 15 seconds to find XP boxes on Dell’s website. Go to Dell.com, highlight Desktops, select Small Business. There on the left, you see Windows Vista (11 choices) and Windows XP (11 choices). Here’s the link:

http://www.dell.com/content/products/category.aspx/desktops?c=us&cs=04&l=en&s=bsd

The other link I already gave from Microsoft said XP mainstream support goes till April 2009 and extended support till April 2014. Why you think your BS won’t be exposed in about 3 mouse clicks is beyond me, but that’s all it ever takes.

[N3WBI3]

Oh will you give it a break!

I was not lying I was wrong, and if MS continues to sell XP through companies like Dell and off the shelf then I agree with you that this article is bunk. You could have just put up a link saying “you can still buy it here” and I would have been on board with you. But unless you get to call someone here a liar you're not happy.

I still stand by extended support as Microsoft defines it is not support and I would not risk my enterprise on that kind of ‘support’

[Golden Eagle]

If you're not a liar you're incredibly incompetent, took me less than 20 seconds to find those systems on Dell. If you’d rather claim you’re completely incompetent then fine, but you’re obviously far off from reality either way, and posting bogus information constantly is a disservice to all.

[N3WBI3]

How about all my desktops are apples and I have not looked at dells site in months (other than their idea storm site). I was under the impression from a schedule I had seen some time ago that when vista was released XP was no longer available for OEM sale.

Leave it to you to be right, be told you’re right and still work hard enough to make yourself look like an ass..

[Golden Eagle]

profanity now huh lol...just what I’d expect.

[N3WBI3]

Ass is not profane, colorful maybe.. but I stand by it you made yourself look like a a stupid, foolish, or stubborn person and that is the definition of ass.

[N3WBI3]

American Heritage:

Ass: A vain, self-important, silly, or aggressively stupid person.

or

Ass: Any of several hoofed mammals of the genus Equus, resembling and closely related to the horses but having a smaller build and longer ears, and including the domesticated donkey.

Take your pick.

You were being aggressively stupid..

[Golden Eagle]

More lies, to cover up your profanity now. Better ping shadowdude next ROFL.

[N3WBI3]

Read the American Herritage dictionary and let me know what yours says..

[N3WBI3]

Saw an article on slashdot so take it for what its worth

http://apcmag.com/5835/vendors_in_no_rush_to_ditch_xp_for_vista

“By early 2008, Microsoft’s contracts with computer makers will require companies to only sell Vista-loaded machines. “The OEM version of XP Professional goes next January,” said Frank Luburic, senior ThinkPad product manager for Lenovo. “At that point, they’ll have no choice.””

“Dell recognizes the needs of small business customers and understands that more time is needed to transition to a new operating system,” the post read in part. “The plan is to continue offering Windows XP on select Dimension and Inspiron systems until later this [northern] summer.”

So it seems that within less than a year of the launch of Vista XP is gone. So again we are left with large companies being forced to evergreen thousands of desktops in a year or go with a split environment. You can be right about the specific (as you were) and yet wrong about the issue (as you were). 6-12 months is not a healthy overlap for systems and does not give large consumers the time they need for a gentle transition.

[Golden Eagle]

So it seems that within less than a year of the launch of Vista XP is gone. More lies, of course.

[Halfmanhalfamazing]

Bah. Take your time. We’re not going anywhere. :-)

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

Bah. Take your time. We’re not going anywhere.

Actually...I am making plans to Frankenstein an eval box out of the 'dead soldiers' in my basement so I can install Mepis and see how she works with Windows apps and CrossOver Linux.

[Halfmanhalfamazing]

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^Linux pushers are hilarious, trying to criticize Microsoft for still supporting Windows XP, which was released 6 years ago, when their hokey linux crap isn’t usually supported even 2 years by the original distributor.^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Linux pushers mostly run a free OS.

If/when microsoft releases a free OS, expect it to have a 3 month support cycle.

Furthermore, AFAIK Red Hat and Novell support their pay-for OS’s(RHEL and SLES/SLED) in roughly the same timeframes that microsoft does.

[Golden Eagle]

Red Hat and Novell support their pay-for OS’s(RHEL and SLES/SLED) in roughly the same timeframes that microsoft does.

Microsoft has pledged to provide security patches for Windows 2000 till 2010. What 2000 year products do Red Hat and Novell still support, and will support till 2010? Their automatic installs of patches actually cost more than Microsoft too, I'm sure you're aware.

[N3WBI3]

Their automatic installs of patches actually cost more than Microsoft too, I'm sure you're aware.

An uninformed half truth is worse than a lie.

RHEL can cost as little as 50$ a year or as much as 2400$ Per year depending on what environemnt youre running and what kind of support you need.

And if your interested in a free os with a seven year support lifecycle you might want to look at CentOS. which cost nothing and provides support for seven years.