Back in 2001, Windows XP was revealed to the world, succeeding disappointing Windows releases. Users of Windows XP hailed it as a new XPerience. The new features that it introduced was quite useful, and the OS as a whole felt solid and stable (more so after Service Pack 2, which improved stability and security).
But all that changes drastically, and on June 30th, Windows XPerience will become Windows XPired. Microsoft decided to drop the hammer on what most people say is the last great OS to have shipped out of Microsoft’s Redmont HQ. The message that Microsoft sends is pretty simple – “we’ve prepared a more shiny and expensive version of Vista, and we’d like you to blow $1000 on hardware upgrades plus $300 on the OS and move to it“.
However, the press, corporates and home users alike have said one thing in unison – “We do not want a bloated, sweetened up version of Windows that offers little more than the previous version”. Though Vista brings a host of new improvements, most people have ignored it. There has been a “Save XP” campaign to appeal to Microsoft to not kill XP.
The problem is more of meeting expectations – Microsoft was expected to bring out an OS that could beat an already established Windows XP. And in the end, XP has become the biggest competitor to Windows Vista. And then, the ultimate embarrassment happened – users migrated back to Windows XP en masse, and even branded PC sellers like Dell and Lenovo began offering downgrades from Windows Vista to XP.
Vista has had hardware incompatibility issues (for an OS whose predecessors had little or no problem), hefty hardware requirements, security flaws and more. While Microsoft hopefuls anticipated improvements in Vista SP1, very little of their expectations have been met.
The days of Start bars will give way to wonky buttons and a refreshed design, stable operation will give way to frequent crashing, and XP will die at the hands of a misguided killer: Microsoft.
- The future is bleak without XP, ITWireADVERTISEMENT
If long-time allies of Microsoft, like Intel Corp., decide to stick to Windows XP, you know Microsoft has got a fight in its hands to move users to Vista.
Problems Galore: Why Vista is so messy
Microsoft wanted to ensure backward compatibility, among other things, and ended up using large parts of XP’s outdated code. Outdated, because multi-user concept and security were not as much an issue when XP was created. With the carry-over of legacy code, Vista has been a leaking ship that Microsoft has forever tried to fix. And it only gets worse.
I have personally been using Windows XP even after I familiarized myself with Vista because of many reasons. I am not a fan of glassy looks, which is why I hate Windows Vista and Ubuntu (sorry Linux fans). Windows XP and Mac OS X Leopard use more solid colours and a more minimalist look, which serves well for me. Of course, that is just me, but others might like the glassy looks.
My only hope is that Windows 7, the next version of Windows, will be better. Windows 7 is expected to be shipped in 2009, and nothing would stop Windows XP enthusiasts from using the antiquated, albeit trouble-free Windows XP. Support issues, and decreasing availability of software will be major problems while moving forward. Of course, I’ll probably be on a shiny new Macbook (Pro?) by the time Windows 7 ships, so it won’t be as much of a concern. Someone tell Redmont that they need to start afresh – which reminds me of the remarkable turn-around that Steve Jobs inspired at Apple, when Mac OS9 was failing and flailing.
Bye bye, Windows XP – we’ll miss you, and I’ll always remember you as the one that saved us from Vista.
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I’m sorry but I’m very surprised at you for writing this article. You normally write good stuff and I have been subscribing for months now, but it looks like you succumbed to the pressure and wrote a ‘vista sucks’ article.
I just don’t understand how anyone who actually USES Vista themselves (and is therefore qualified to make a judgment on it) could seriously consider XP a better OS.
“Vista has had hardware incompatibility issues (for an OS whose predecessors had little or no problem), hefty hardware requirements, security flaws and more. While Microsoft hopefuls anticipated improvements in Vista SP1, very little of their expectations have been met.”
Sure I wouldn’t recommend going out and upgrading, but downgrading is simply ridiculous. Yes, Vista has had a lot of compatibility issues and I wouldn’t have recommended adopting it in the first year or so, but amazingly, XP had exactly the same issues when it came out to! The statement “for an OS whose predecessors had little or no problem” is just complete bullocks. Just have a quick Google and you’ll see.
Intel wouldn’t upgrade back then either and people complained it was resource intensive, unstable, insecure and inferior to Windows 98.
“we’ve prepared a more shiny and expensive version of Vista, and we’d like you to blow $1000 on hardware upgrades plus $300 on the OS and move to it“.
Can I ask who does that? Sure, if you have XP and don’t want a new computer then stick with it. If you want a new computer you can spend anywhere between $800 – $5000 and get Vista. $1300 would get a decent middle of the range comp very likely superior to most users existing machine.
Performance wise suggesting XP is superior is now completely untrue, Vista performs equal to BETTER on the same hardware with the updated drivers.
Security wise Vista is better then XP in every way.
Feature-wise Vista again, blows XP out the water.
And the Interface… the glassness is a non-issue, if you dont like it download a patch and skin it, or just change back to the classic look. Once you’ve used the integrated search and start menu of Vista going back to XP will seem archaic.
And can I remind you that Windows 7 IS Vista. Vista was a major rewrite and architectural upgrade which is why it suffered so much compatibility issues, Windows 7 will simply build upon this..
I’m not a Win fan boy, I just like to see people write balanced and unbiased and actually assessing all the statements they make.
Windows 7 is sure to screw up most larger corporate deployments. My employer was planning to move to Vista in 2009 ( since XP will be dead we have no choice ) but I guarantee that now, we will wait for Windows 7. Who wants to upgrade 30,000 desktops ( hardware and software ) every two years?
@Josh & Khurt: Thanks for your opinions. I’d initially written up a comment that grew too large, so I’ll be writing a post clarifying my views a bit, that should help.
@Josh: This isn’t a ‘vista sucks’ article. This is about bidding farewell to XP.
Well I enjoyed the post, even if you didn’t, @josh.
So far, XP has been my favorite of Microsoft’s OSes (I’ve used 98, Win2k, and XP). I can see why MS is pulling the plug on XP, it’s been seven years since it’s release, an unbelievably long time for an OS. I’ve used XP pretty much since it’s release, and I have to say it’s far better than it’s predecessors, though it’s far from perfect.
I can’t see, though, why they’d fully discontinue it when their current product is a lemon. From what I’ve seen, it’s just XP with a new interface and some security fixes bolted on. It’s overpriced, doesn’t have great hardware support (which is half the fault of the hardware people not supplying working drivers), and it’s bloated. It takes an ungodly amount of RAM and hard drive space, and it *requires* a dedicated graphics card to run (the *OS* thinks it needs accelerated graphics!). I’m betting there will be a lot of people pirating XP…
By the way, I’m writing this from my shiny new MacBook. I’ve been saving up for one for a few years, and my blog finally pulled in enough money to help pay for it. I have to say the Mac OS is excellent, and has been real stable over the past couple months. I’ve pretty much moved over from Windows, but I still have to use the XP-based desktop in the living room once in awhile (for Adobe Premiere and the like).
@redwall: I thought you’d been on Macs for a long time, judging by what you write on your blog. Apparently not
Though Vista is replacing an ageing OS, the fact is that the ‘aged’ is better and a more mature product than the newer one. And that’s where everyone is pissed off. With regards to Macbook, I’m hoping to get one too. Good to know you’ve got good revenues from your blog to pay for it (me too
)
@Sumesh I’d wished I had a Mac for years, and I’d read up on them fairly thoroughly.
I agree that a little aged is better, but I don’t think an OS should have a life of more than 3-4 years, personally.
Oh well, Microsoft tends to release a totally worthless OS once in awhile (WinME, anyone?). Let’s hope the do a better job with “Windows 7″ and get it out the door in a timely manner (but they shouldn’t hurry it, of course, otherwise we could end up with another Vista).
@redwall: You hit the nail on the head. I’m not saying that Vista’s the worst, but XP is aged and at this point, Microsoft doesn’t have a good one to replace it with. Better not fix what’s broken, as they say
And yes, they do have a tradition of releasing good OSes in alternate cycles. I’ve noted that in my next post which I wrote yesterday and published today.
I can say one thing for sure, 90% of the XP lovers (who in fact Hate Vista) have never tried Vista even once. They have heard someone say Vista is bad and start saying XP is better than Vista. I had this personal experience with many people complaining Vista without having tried it even once.
I cant wait to see what happens with Windows 7, because Vista just isn’t doing it for me, sorry.
@Nirmal: I’m certainly not one of those “not-actually-tried-Vista” guys. I’ve used Vista, I’ve also used Ubuntu and Mac OS X. And you know who I root for
As regards your observation with plain Vista haters, I believe that it was true until a year ago, but with the slow but sure proliferation of Vista, I doubt just how large that group of people is.
@George: Indeed, Vista just isn’t doing it for me. I’ve had enough of that ‘Vista’lytic non-sense.
And it gets worst when some notebook vendors move forward to sell “Vista” compatible-only laptops. We’ll sure missed XP!
Unlike XP, Vista, or OSX, Ubuntu lets you change the theme however you want. You can make it not-glassy if you’d like. I’m using the Darklooks theme from gnome-themes-extra (in the Ubuntu repo), and it’s not glassy at all. Clearlooks themes are generally not so glassy. Murrine are very glassy.
@Mackenzie: I’m not comparing themes for Vista, Mac OS X – just the default looks. There are probably patches and themes for even Vista (there’s a theme pack for OS X, though I wonder who’d want to change the already gorgeous interface). But thanks for the info on Clearlooks and Murrine types.
u do know that u can turn off aero and rid of the glassy look. or chose the classic theme.