Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT) says it will sell its older OS Windows XP for another two years. The company announced that "the extension is designed only for ultra-inexpensive desktop and laptop PCs too limited to run the Windows Vista system," according to The Wall Street Journal. XP was supposed to go away because it is old.
The explanation sounds bogus. Microsoft's new OS Vista has had reasonable sales, but reviews of the software say that it is full of bugs and does not help PCs work well with other devices like printers. Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL) has been pushing its OS not just for Macs but directly into the PC market. The company claims that its product works better than Vista and it appears that some consumers are buying into that claim.
There have also been reports that some corporations do not want to upgrade to Vista and will keep the old Microsoft OS running until a version after Vista is produced.
The Microsoft move may have a silver lining. Customers and businesses that want the latest and most powerful Microsoft product can buy Vista. Those who are concerned about the software can use XP, instead of considering the Apple alternative.
Douglas A. McIntyre is an editor at 247wallst.com.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
4-04-2008 @ 1:45PM
JFSSDCA said...
Too late. I bought an iMac rather than be forced to get a new PC with Vista. It was a good move for Microsoft to retain XP because so many are unhappy with Vista. Had they not, they'd have permanently lost a lot of customers to Apple. As they did with me. I would never go back. I have become a Mac lover and could not recommend it enough or sing Mac's praises enough......unless you'd rather spend far too much time in updates, maintenance and troubleshooting XP/Vista. I wish my first computer had been a Mac. I'd have wasted much less time and hours of frustration.
4-04-2008 @ 1:21PM
Pat Kenmir said...
I have purchased and tried all of the Microsoft OS's. This includes XP & VISTA, 32 bit & 64 bit versions. I also have a very high end computer system. Most of my software runs much better on XP 32 bit. I was hoping I would get better results, more speed, under XP & Vista 64 bit, but I actually saw them slow my system, so I decided to return to the XP 32 bit OS. Vista 32 bit & Vista 64 bit are all hype and they are really buggy, much worse than XP, even after Vista SP-1. I experienced lots of BLUE SCREEN crashes with the Vista OS's and they just lock up and I have to reboot too much. Microsoft is smart to contiue to support XP 32 bit as it is the most stable of all 4 OS's. Prettier Vista screen graphics do not make a better OS.
4-10-2008 @ 7:59PM
Turley Muller said...
"Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL) has been pushing its OS not just for Macs but directly into the PC market.The company claims that its product works better than Vista and it appears that some consumers are buying into that claim."
Apple has been marketing its OS for use on non-Apple machines? So how many PCs are running Mac OS? Are you saying MSFT is worried because people are running out to buy Mac OS to install on their Dells and HPs?
I don't think so.
Problem is MSFT started installing Vista on new PC shipments, so consumers didn't have a choice when they wanted a new Dell.
That prompts users to think about buying a Mac, but some users can't abandon Windows altogether. So, PC owners will put off buying a new machine and keep their current one with XP.
MSFT realized that this is not good for PC sales and Dell et al won't be happy if it's OS hampering sales. Especially if some people are migrating to Mac as well.
Many switching to Apple machines bought Windows XP- running dual OS platform.
Most users who switch to Apple claim that MSFT OS sucks, whether it be XP, 98, or Vista. Especially Vista. Everyone who has bought a new PC is pissed off.
So, if MSFT is going to lose users to Apple, why not still sell XP so they can buy it for their Macs and be able to use all their old software?
Most of those switching to Mac probably won't fool with installing Vista if they had XP on their PC. Thus MSFT can still gain from users switching to Apple.
They got me- Bootcamp- free, VMware- $60, and I paid 350- for XP when I bought a Mac.
"Those who are concerned about the software can use XP, instead of considering the Apple alternative."
Or they can use both. Users are switching to Apple regardless, as Mac sales indicate, - they want the Apple alternative, but they can still keep using XP- if they shell out the dough for the software.