Microsoft Ending Mainstream Support For XP 580
Slatterz writes "Come next week, Microsoft will be in the unusual position of no longer offering mainstream support for its most widely used product. Windows XP will pass another milestone next week on the road to retirement when mainstream support ends on 14 April 2009, over seven years after the OS originally shipped. While the company said that it will continue to provide free security fixes for XP until 2014, any future bugs found in the platform will not be fixed unless customers pay. Windows XP accounts for about 63 percent of all Internet-connected computers, according to March 2009 statistics from Hitslink, while Windows Vista makes up about 24 percent."
ok.. so where is it? (Score:5, Funny)
I went to microsoft.com and looked around- I did not find the "donate now" button anywhere
how exactly are we supposed to pay?
Re:ok.. so where is it? (Score:5, Funny)
how exactly are we supposed to pay?
I'm not sure how the whole process works but I'm guessing that it involves bending over at some point.....
Re:ok.. so where is it? (Score:5, Funny)
Damn. I knew using Open Office would backfire on me one day.
Re:ok.. so where is it? (Score:2, Funny)
Re:ok.. so where is it? (Score:2, Funny)
If a bug is detected, a window will pop up titled "Microsoft Antiflaw2009" with instructions on how to pay, and then download the fix. If you close that window without paying, a few dozen more will take its place just to make sure you're aware of this opportunity.
Re:ok.. so where is it? (Score:4, Funny)
Its a good thing that the devil has infinite patience.
Re:XP Sucks, Vista is Better (Score:3, Funny)
Service packs are supposed to fix things.
Re: Dilbert's Boss (Score:5, Funny)
Who the hell is going to run out and buy Vista just because XP left mainstream support?!?
Pointy Haired Bosses?
Re:ok.. so where is it? (Score:2, Funny)
how exactly are we supposed to pay?
You phone them and choose from a simple list of extended hotfix support:
Home Basic - We pretty much leave the bug as is.
Home Premium - We fix the bug, but introduce more bugs.
Home Professional - Same as Home Premium but with 'Professional' in the name.
Business Basic - Same as Home Basic, but with a higher cost.
Business Premium - Same as Home Premium but with a higher cost.
Ultimate Basic - We kind of fix the bug.
Ultimate Premium - We fix the bug, and only introduce a maximum of 1 more bug.