They've extended the availability of XP an extra 5 months. I'm strongly considering buying as many copies as I can find come May or so, and hawking them at scalper-blush prices when folks realize they're stuck with Vista otherwise.
From the article:
Microsoft, for its part, sought to downplay the impact of the move, disagreeing with the notion that there is still strong demand for XP.That's your spin? You get paid to paint pretty pictures of ugly situations, and that's the best you can do? Way to go, Kevin.
"We wouldn't term it strong," said Kevin Kutz, a director in Microsoft's Windows Client unit. "We would describe this as accommodating a certain element who needs more time."
Dell also said it support's Microsoft's decision."Prepare"? How are people going to "prepare" for the transition? Go get a book on how to use your new easy-to-use OS? What you mean is help some customers get used to the idea that they're stuck with Vista. But of course you can't say that, because you're sleeping with the enemy.
"We believe the additional time will help some customers to prepare for the transition from XP to Vista," the company said in a statement.
If I were a linux flavor, I'd be going after some serious funding to do a marketing blitz to bill yourself as the new alternative to Windows. You come free with Open Office, you have a better history of security, etc.
Not that I personally would be swayed -- not until the game makers start porting their stuff over to Linux. But, you know, the consumers who only need routine stuff out of their computer. Them folks. Grab a chunk of their marketshare.
Vista sucks, but Linux still doesn't have any good games,
Randy
