No XP Reprieve; Windows 7 Release Set 609
CWmike writes "Microsoft has laid to rest rumors that it might reconsider pulling Windows XP from retail shelves and from most PC makers next Monday. Microsoft's Bill Veghte wrote to customers reiterating that June 30 would be the deadline when Microsoft halts shipments of boxed copies to retailers and stops licensing the operating system directly to OEMs. However, Veghte did leave the door open to all computer makers, even the largest, who want to continue selling new PCs with XP pre-installed. 'Additionally, Systems Builders (sometimes referred to as "local OEMs"), may continue to purchase Windows XP through Authorized Distributors [such as Ingram Micro] through January 31, 2009,' he wrote in the letter. 'All OEMs, including major OEMs, have this option,' said Veghte. At the same time, Microsoft confirmed Windows 7 would ship in January 2010. Who, if they have not already, would install Vista now?" Microsoft has said they will post the letter, but it's not up yet.
January 2010 (Score:5, Funny)
Yeah right.
January 2010? (Score:5, Funny)
the release date they announce in June of 2010 will probably be a more accurate one.
You know... (Score:5, Funny)
Re:You know... (Score:5, Funny)
It's ok ... there is good, anonymous help available. The twelve-step-journey-to-software-freedom. We meet every Thursday afternoon as a group at the church hall. There's complimentary coffee and biscuits.
You're welcome to join. Bring a friend!
I guess I'll settle (Score:2, Funny)
I'll probably get a new computer with Vista. I'm just not a Mac person, Linux doesn't support some software and peripherals I need, and my old desktop is, well, 5 years old at the end of July. I'm cheap but not that cheap.
That doesn't mean I won't install Linux on my old computer and use my old copy of XP on the new one, of course. I'm a real sucker for shiny, transparent, blurry things though. The problem with Mac stuff is that it looks too much like plastic, or fondant, whereas Vista looks more like fogged glass or acrylic. Mac's ferocious pointer-attacking icons worry me. Neither is sparkly enough, frankly.
I really like that program that comes with Macs though. What's it called? "Pages." I want that. I think I'll go for a bike ride.
Re:January 2010? (Score:3, Funny)
Re:As a proud supporter of open source: (Score:2, Funny)
Comment removed (Score:5, Funny)
Windows 7 before Windows 2000 EOL (Score:2, Funny)
1. Take a shrinkwrapped XP copy off the shelf and upgrade to that
2. Switch to ReactOS
3. "Upgrade" to Windows 7
4. Stick with Windows 2000, hoping that a third party keeps up with security patches
Even though I've bought XP I have yet to switch to that over Windows 2000, so guess how high MY bar for MS is to convince me to switch to Windows 7. Potential customers don't have to buy (or simply use) things just because someone offers them, you know...
Re:January 2010 (Score:3, Funny)
This is really the worst of two worlds for Microsoft.
First they announce it'll come out in 2010, effectively killing what little market they had for the OS.
Second, there's no way it will come out then, effectively cutting off their future income.
Yeah, I could really see Microsoft going the way of Kaypro...
Parent is WRONG (Score:5, Funny)
Hi there! My name is Microsoft shill #59329. I'm here to tell you about the exciting new features in Windows 7, and to assure you all that it will be delivered on-time!
Now, we at Microsoft, are aware that whilst people love Windows Vista, some are having trouble with a few of the more advanced features, and the number of resources required to support them. So allow me to show you, dear Slashdot reader, the two major features in Windows 7 that will make it your best upgrade yet!
We'll certainly be on-time, because we're not actually going to change anything. Didn't see that one coming did you Free software zealots? I prostrate myself at the feet of chairman Ballmer, worshipping his tactical genius. You should too (if you know what's good for you)!
Overall, we're confident you'll find Windows 7 to be the Best OS EVAR, and even if you don't: we've kidnapped Linus and Stallman and have them secure in our secret, underground base.
Re:January 2010 in Microsoft time means... (Score:3, Funny)
More like the Summer Olympics in Chicago/Madrid/Tokyo/Rio de Janiero.
Re:Parent is WRONG (Score:5, Funny)
Dear shill #59329, that app simply removes notepad.
P.S I should warn you that Stallman may be armed with a katana, but tbh you can keep him. If Linus is not released within 48 hours on the other hand, I will be forced to free Reiser in a crazed attempt to free him, much like that general in Rambo: First Blood Part II.
1 GB RAM (Score:1, Funny)
Your hardware has 4 GB RAM. MS can only use 3 GB RAM. You paid an extra 33% for nothing.
Of those 3GB, Vista needs more than 2 GB just to give you the same screen that Fluxbox can give in a few MB, leaving you less than 1 GB to work with out of that 4 GB you paid for.
Re:Who? (Score:5, Funny)
Re:January 2010 (Score:5, Funny)
Great movie idea (Score:5, Funny)
> If Linus is not released within 48 hours on the other hand,
> I will be forced to free Reiser in a crazed attempt
Considering that Linus's wife is a six-time Finnish Karate champion, it would probably be a better movie if she and Reiser have to cooperate in this desperate (but ultimately successful, of course) attempt to free Linus. Reiser would have to wave his "I AM McGyver" card around a lot in order to equalize the power of the main characters, and get killed off dramatically (but redeemingly) at the end after he tries to pull a partial double cross in order to force Linus to add support to the 2.7 kernel tree for the new Reiser5 filesystem (note to scriptwriters: find a nice simple analogy for this for the non-geek viewers).
Re:January 2010 (Score:4, Funny)
That depends on how many promised revolutionary technologies they need to drop to make the deadline.
Re:January 2010 (Score:4, Funny)
2010 is spot on (Score:4, Funny)
...for sufficiently large values of '2010,' which, as used by MS, is a variable name.
Re:January 2010 (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Turtle Mascot? (Score:3, Funny)
I nominate Vista to use a turtle mascot. It makes sense considering it's performance.
Re:January 2010 (Score:5, Funny)
Re:As someone who has Vista Ultimate (Score:5, Funny)
Re:January 2010 (Score:2, Funny)
OK so maybe I'm biased. I work at MS on the Office team, and I get to use Win7 internal builds every day. Its nothing like what you mentioned. I'm just a code monkey and all the business aspects are way out of my control. All I can say is I think the audience is going to like this one.
The main reason being ofcource, the Vista drivers by then would have matured. Most people cannot differentiate between the kernel, the shell and the drivers, (not that they should need to), so when things go wrong, the MS is blamed.
As far as Aero goes, Isn't it obvious? Its a hard sell when you mention to an average consumer they should updrade because Vista has a new TCP/IP stack, or a Kernel Transaction Manager.
To anybody that cares: The more you flame, the less people are inclined to reply to you.
Re:January 2010 (Score:3, Funny)
Re:January 2010 (Score:2, Funny)
Re:January 2010 (Score:2, Funny)
For that matter, how are they supposed to know that Win 7 will not be another dead horse?
Well if you look around almost all major device manufactures have drivers for Vista for their newer products. When you look at the scale of the PC Devices & Accessories industry, its impossible to have a driver for each and every device for vista.
We work with a ton of vendors, making sure they know whats coming. Its not like we just spring out a release and tell them to write drivers. AFAIK, the vista driver model will be carried into Win7, so if the driver was written to standard it should work in Win7.
You wont believe what kind of crappy driver code people write and expect it to work. (not absolving MS here) Hopefully the new driver model should reduce a lot of BSODs from crappy driver code.