Like Michael Myers in the ‘Halloween' movie franchise (or the wasp of my nightmares) Windows XP refuses to go gently into the night. No matter how many times Microsoft sticks an axe into its recalcitrant head, XP just keeps on coming.
Recent reports suggest that Microsoft will allow PC makers to offer XP on new PCs until at least April 2010. And 96 percent of new netbooks - the fastest growing PC market - now ship with XP installed. Viva XP.
But why won't XP stick to the script?
Several reasons. Not the least of which is the failure of Windows Vista to win over PC users weaned on its predecessor. Vista is fine, but at launch it was oversold and undercooked. Microsoft's "most significant" OS had more shiny trinkets than XP, but was less stable.
Once word got around that Vista was far from perfect, the discerning user was always likely to stick with the XP comfort blanket. The more so given Vista's chronic, now cured, peripharel compatibility problems.
More importantly, Vista was punted out to users with existing systems that were never going to be up to the task. I use and like Windows Vista, but I wouldn't let it anywhere near a system with less than 2GB of RAM - despite Microsoft's early party line. Thus was another cohort of potential Vista evangelists once bitten, now made twice shy.
Modern mainstream computers are built to Vista's specification. But the success of low-spec, low-cost netbooks highlights one further reason for XP's bouncebackability. To today's digital natives, the most powerful, feature-rich product isn't necessarily the best. We live in a time of horses for courses computing - the right tools for the right job. In the age of the netbook, the 1GB PC is king.
For all that XP lacks some of Windows Vista's functionality and shine, it became the most popular piece of software in history by being fit for purpose. Functional, familiar, reliable. Able to run on almost any system.
Why won't Win XP die? Simple. It works.
Comments
itisi said: Microsoft are just trying to make more money from selling a new product to the infants that have to have the latest thing with all its fancy aeroface stuff but vista is like many programmes these days too bloated with large hard drives like we have today the programmers have become lazyThey would have to have streamlined a vista type programme years ago and made it smaller I just hope 7 is not the same then maybe they can convince themillions of industrial users to eventually switch to a system thats not carrying excess baggage Then Ms will make its money
king said: XP has never failed me not once why turn our backs on itif msft can tell me one good reason to Upgradeand by upgrade i mean downgrade to vistawdos7 then ill think about it but not one reason justifies getting an OS for a system that runs great on my 512 ram comp I have no reason to add more with XP to get the same speed with vista id need 8 times as much
Christian said: These idiots at M dont get it Not only does XP work but both users and administrators are extremely comfortable using and configuring it and the biggest plus hardware is finally ahead of the ball For the longest time software demanded faster computers Do you remember waiting for countless minutes for your computer to boot up or to open up a program Do you remember what an investment it was to add 8MB of memoryWith XP we finally got to the point in which we can satisfy our need for immediate reward We can actually game surf edit photos and videos with a off the shelf pcI guess Gates thought we could go back in time so that they could bloat their OS and their programs to create a demand on faster computers more memory amp more storageI say slim XP down Make it efficient