ANTenna Blog -- Hardware & Software

Microsoft plans to end full support of Windows XP in just a year and will stop selling XP at the end of June. But a Web petition to save XP is gaining momentum -- and getting attention. Who knew XP-users had such passion for their operating system? Or such hatred for Vista?

Microsoft's Vista has been met with lukewarm reviews since its launch almost a year and a half ago. (The consumer version was launched last January.) Among the gripes, writes Wired, are "Vista's hefty hardware requirements, its less-than-peppy performance, occasional incompatibility with other programs and devices and frequent, irritating security pop-up windows."

ComputerWorld's Australian edition writes: "In late November, a survey of 961 IT professionals conducted by King Research found 90 per cent of respondents had concerns about migrating to Vista. Apprehension stemmed primarily from stability issues, but also due to compatibility problems and the cost in both hardware and software terms of migrating. 44 per cent said they would consider non-Windows operating systems to avoid these migration issues, with many stating that virtualization had made it easier to implement alternative operating systems."

What's fascinating is the sudden fervor exhibited by XP users in response to Microsoft's intention to get rid of the operating system. As Jessica Mintz writes in Wired: "But you'd never confuse a Windows user with the passionate fans of Mac OS X or even the free Linux operating system. Unless it's someone running Windows XP, a version Microsoft wants to retire."

In fact, tech journalist Galen Gruman's "Save XP Web petition", has over 100,000 signatures and thousands of comments.

Writes Galen on his blog: "For most of us, there's really no reason to move to [Vista] -- yet we don't have a choice. When that strong desire to stick with XP became obvious in spring 2007, major computer makers such as Dell and Hewlett-Packard quietly reintroduced new XP-based systems (but just to business customers, so as not to offend Microsoft). Come June 30, however, even that option goes away. So what to do? Let Microsoft decide where your personal and enterprise software "lives"? Or send a loud and clear message that you don't want to move?"

Microsoft has indicated that it aware of the petition and said in a statement to The Associated Press, that it "will continue to be guided by feedback we hear from partners and customers about what makes sense based on their needs."

As Slashdot notes, this is a "somewhat strange response given that the vast majority of people signing the petition ARE Microsoft customers! The Save XP movement has attracted the attention of the software giant, despite its claims that Vista has sold more than 100 million copies and its adoption rate is in line with the company's expectations."

Unfortunately for XP fans, according to Wired, "most people who get a new computer will end up with Vista. In 2008, 94 percent of new Windows machines for consumers worldwide will run Vista, forecasts industry research group IDC. For businesses, about 75 percent of new PCs will have Vista. (That figure takes into account companies that choose to downgrade to XP.)"

Smaller businesses, do you care? Has hatred of -- or fear of being forced to switch to -- Vista inspired a newfound passion for XP? There are those who believe it is time for Microsoft to make a radical change. Do you?

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