Microsoft Not Ditching Vista Until At Least 2011

CWmike writes "Microsoft will not dump Vista when Windows 7 launches, and plans to keep selling it to computer makers, system builders, volume licensees and consumers at retail until at least January 2011, a Microsoft spokesman said, citing long-running policy. Earlier today, a Microsoft general manager hinted that the company might ditch Vista as soon as Windows 7 ships. He also said that support for all versions of Vista will end in April 2012. Neither is true, according to the company. Michael Cherry, an analyst with Directions on Microsoft, said, 'to try to stop Vista or make it unavailable, that would just draw attention... The truth is, few people will be likely to order it once Windows 7 is available.'"

Re:Why?

[Lonewolf666]

I can confirm that Windows 2000 was quite popular in corporate environments. But it had no cheap "Home" version, so GP may have gotten the impression that it was unsuccessful from not seeing much Windows 2000 use on home PCs.

But even in that environment, some people happily pirated and used it. Of course, the same people also have no qualms about pirating XP, and by now hardware vendors often don't bother with Windows 2000 drivers anymore. Which makes the Windows XP Corporate Edition more desirable these days, as it is activation free like Windows 2000 and still has good driver support ;-)

Win 3.11

[Hadlock]

I recall being able to buy win 3.11 (or at least it was available, new, on the shelf at gamestop) when win98 was out. No reason to kill the product if customers are willing to pay for it (XP SP3 excluded of course). Somebody has to help make the Vista sales figures look better and not immediately axing it will do that.

Re:Ah, Vista

[Anonymous Coward]

you could, of course, use the windows classic theme (ie, turn off aero), and the computer will run fine on 1gb of ram.

but, i know, groupthink is so much easier.

Re:Why?

[misexistentialist]

Windows 98 and XP actually worked. Vista has several unacceptable flaws that need to be fixed. Windows 7 fixes these, and adds a few new features and cosmetic changes. I don't care about getting the new dock, etc., but if MS won't make the frustrations of Vista go away, my hand-outs to MS are over. I certainly feel like I paid for several lunches over at Redmond without getting what I expected in return. Next time I'll be taking Linux to lunch.

Re:Buying a new computer?

[Extide]

Machines currently sold with vista come with free upgrade certificates to windows 7 in most cases I believe, so it's a non-issue.

Re:Millenium 2

[zamboni1138]

Are you sure that's right?

I thought it was:

Windows NT 4 = Windows NT 4
Windows 2000 = Windows NT 5
Windows XP = Windows NT 5.1
Windows Vista = Windows NT 6
Windows 7 = Windows NT 6.1

Re:Millenium 2

[LoRdTAW]

I bought a Sony P3-600 64MB laptop around 200/2001 or so that shipped with ME. Jesus Christ, I never had so many headaches trying to get a computer to work and not crash. It was like an early version of Vista, it ate memory like a hog eating slop. I blew the ME install away after only one week and installed windows 2000. Best move I could have made. Win2k ran great on just 64MB and when upgraded to 256MB it flew.