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May 15, 2008

Developers snub Windows Vista for XP

Only eight percent writing apps for Vista

Heather Havenstein, Computerworld US

Software developers in North America are still not targeting Windows Vista when writing new applications, according to a survey released by Evans Data Corp, with many still focusing their energies on Windows XP.

Only 8 percent of 380 developers surveyed by Evans Data Corp in April were writing applications for Windows Vista, while 49 percent were still writing apps primarily for XP. In addition, 11 percent said they write developing applications mostly for Windows 2003, while 9 percent are focused on Linux-based apps.

Many developers have taken a "wait and see" approach before deciding to write applications that can take advantage of new features in Vista, said John Andrews, president and CEO of Evans Data.

"The general theme has been a slower uptake [of Vista] in the user market so most people at the corporate enterprise and commercial world are staying with XP," Andrews said.

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"Open source alternatives like Linux continue to take on interest," he added. "As well, Mac OS is also acquiring significant interest among North American developers. Although unlikely to displace Windows volume, MacOS experienced 50 percent growth as a primary development platform and 380 percent growth as a targeted platform during the period."

Microsoft did not reply to a request for comment.
The survey also found that 29 percent of the developers surveyed will primarily target XP next year, with 24 percent targeting Vista. Overall, 67 percent of developers will primarily target a Windows version while 15 percent write applications for Linux.

"[Developers] see a market shift from XP to Vista and that is why they are saying they are going to be moving from XP to Vista (in 2009)," he added.

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Comments received


J.B. said on Thursday, 15 May 2008

So what, or should I say why worry about it in the first place. One question I have to ask is this: When Windows 7 comes along are they going to change their mind? It is going to very interesting to find out, or maybe by the time the answer is known everyone will be using Mac equipment and the humble PC will become irrelevant.

Mark Wallace said on Thursday, 15 May 2008

Hopefully Linux will take is share by the time micro$oft
will release a competitive OS

BOB said on Friday, 16 May 2008

Apple and Linux will take this opportunity to try make inroads into the "I just use it to surf the internet" crowd. Unfortunately gamers are stuck with XP (which is not too bad) and VIsta might end up being bypassed completely.
If Microsoft manages to pull one like Win2k with windows 7, they might get their lost part of the market back. If they do another VIsta, well, I don't know how they are going to survive.

Dave said on Tuesday, 20 May 2008

I don't know of a single business using Vista. In addition as far as I know none of our customers have plans to move to Vista. Vista is a massive flop. It is just what Linux needed.

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