Despite Microsoft's best efforts, Windows XP is the operating system that just won't seem to go away. Seems as sticky as DOS 3.3 was back in the day. Microsoft's officially cut ties with selling new copies of XP but PC manufactures can still downgrade new Vista PCs to Windows XP until June of 2009. Microsoft just extended that date from January 2009 until June 2009.
Is the "I'm a PC" and Windows Mojave advertising even making a dent in bettering Vista's market penetration? Not by much has to be the current assessment. Pretty soon it all won't matter much, as XP users will just upgrade to Windows 7. Some speculate that's actually true, believing Microsoft essentially already hinted this is going to happen.
A direct jump from Windows XP to Windows 7 is an option that's still quite a ways off. Windows 7 is supposed to be out in early 2010 but we all know there's a pretty good chance Windows 7 will get pushed out. Windows Mobile 7 OS couldn't even ship on time so how would a full desktop OS be able to make such a date. As my wife says to me "could happen" when she's not fully in belief of one of my predictions.
We're essentially looking at a 1 1/2 to 2 1/2 years for Windows 7 to come out. I expect XP to still be alive and well, powering many organizations desktops, just like Windows 2000 has hung around for quite some time. The question is will Vista ever go mainstream and become the standard of Windows OSs. Even though I've converted my business fully over to Vista, I think XP will be here with us for quite a long time.
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Mitchell Ashley is principal consultant at Converging Network LLC where he provides product, technology and social media consulting to emerging technology companies. A successful CTO and product innovator, Mitchell has created many successful, award winning products in the networking, security, convergence, Internet and IT industries. In addition to blogging for NetworkWorld, Mitchell regularly blogs at TheConvergingNetwork and co-hosts the widely popular StillSecure After All These Years podcast.
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XP - why would it die?
Now, what does Vista offer over XP?
MS made XP a little too good, the talk about security is just marketing, there is no real difference. The interface is just more candy - how fast people forget going from 3270 (or teletypes) to DOS to Windows? Enhancements? More eye candy, not much functional enhancements. Of course good for selling to the public but this generation (which I'm not part of) sees better in their gaming consoles. And of course the Vista problems needing more resources - not good, not good at all!
The real change might / could be "windows 7" but I doubt! It is not technology, that's easy - adapting legacy (do they really mean legacy, 60's and 70's? - ouch, forgot MS is still young) systems to run on 7 is not difficult - at all!, sorry, developing systems a long time, but (IMHO) MS has to change the thinking, the culture before that happens.
So - XP (and I vote for (late) SP3) is not a bad system. 7 (or rather 8) may change that but no signs yet - the management style, structure, ideas, etc is still back from 90's. The technology, even they have a lot of very bright people and resources, is still hanging on 90's, they still think that headcount beats thinking, they still have organizations and departments even in same buildings not talking to each other, they still think that marketing is more important than well designed and developed systems, etc - AND maybe they are right, seems selling well even today?
Windows XP vs Vista
I have 3 computers which I use during the week, 2 have XP, the other has Vista. I have had Vista Business Premium since Dec 07 and after all this time I still find XP to be realiable and easy to use. Vista constantly a problem. One is that every once in a while it goes to a blank black (but lit) screen and the only response is to reboot. Microsoft has no fix to offer for it. Also, several Control Panel items have been moved, such as "Remove Programs". I still haven't found "Arrange Icons".
Ron
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