Windows XP Died Today. RIP.

If you would like a retail copy of Windows XP for future use, you might want to run out and buy it today. Today is the day that Microsoft is officially ceasing the sale of Windows XP to retailers and major computer makers.

The major computer manufacturers will only have what is left in inventory in order to sell you a Windows XP machine. After that is gone, you’ll have to buy your computer with Vista on it whether you like it or not and then pursue options to downgrade it. Smaller mom-and-pop computer stores will still be able to get XP for their computers through the end of January.

Microsoft’s official support for Windows XP does not end until the end of 2009, and limited support (just patches and security releases) will be available through 2014.

The Save XP petition didn’t really sway Microsoft from plans to force everybody into Vista. 210,000+ people are being dragged kicking and screaming.

So, we lie to rest Windows XP. It was a good operating system. Yes, flawed, but overall dependable, tried and true. It was the kind of operating system that you could depend on (for the most part). XP will be remembered for it’s green and blue interface, for drivers that actually worked and for not hosing your system’s performance with over-engineered interfaces. We wish you well, Windows XP, and we look forward to seeing you on the old, beige boxes back in the corner of the warehouse.

Rest in peace, Windows XP. You will be missed.

Vista? Say hello to your new nemesis: Mac OS X.

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Chris
One thing is for sure, I still can’t install XP Sp3 without it going into random reboots. This is even with installing a clean copy and nothing else. I think it has to do with the mb, ASUS A8n32 Sli Deluxe, but other than that it runs good, and is still my favorite of the current two offered XP, Vista..
Lespaul20
I like XP a lot. I like Vista as well. I’m really looking forward to what they come up with for Windows 7. As long as it’s not like XP and not as hated as Vista I’ll be happy. MS should move forward with a new OS and price it reasonably for retail. XP is like that 20 year car you have that has 200,000 miles and still runs good but lack the new features and looks that make a new car appealing. On with the new, and hurry up MS.
http://www.csretreat.com Jumala
I really like XP a lot. As the poster above noted, it’s the trusted car that you continue driving just cause it still works. I do not hate Vista, but I really dislike Microsoft for “doing” Vista the way they have. I will never buy it for just that reason. I will continue to use XP (pirating it if I have to – did I say that?) as long as possible and if MS dun do sumtin better next time, I will go to Linux instead.
Freddy
According to Ed Bott at ZDNet, Vista adoption is no different than Xp. Sometimes, we just have to move on. Give it up. Xp, while good, isn’t really that good. Vista is better, but it is still a work in progress in the same way Xp was.
I’m still disappointed with Xp in some ways. It still boots up slowly and it needs lots of ram.
Okay, it’s time to give Vista a break. Just buy it with your next computer instead of buying an upgrade disc.
Michael Leftin
In my humble opinion I believe Microsoft is going in the right direction with Vista, notably in security. As annoying as it may be they make us actually think before going to that good looking website. It may take another year or two before we accept Vista as our own. We didn’t take XP under our collective wings until it became an acceptable operating system. And so we shall do the same with Vista. Until then we bid a fond farewell to a tried and sometimes true XP.
dan
i’ve had both, Vista Home Premium and 2 versions of XP-Professional and the Home version. Actually i’ve had them all, from dos and 3.1 up to this version of Vista. while i did like both versions of Xp both ended up crashing and causing me to reload and lose a butt load of stuff. i bought a new machine with Vista Home Premium and have kept up with the updates faithfully, only loading the ones that were necessary,(luckily you can check out what they are and load only the ones that are of some use). so far i haven’t had any problems with any hardware or software so far. which now that i’ve said that it means i have a chance to prove Murphy’s Law and this pig will crash and i’ll get yet another chance to cuss bill gates.
as someone has already stated a business only moves forward by bringing out new products, hey we suffered through 95 and its bretheren we’ll just have to deal with what we’ve got or switch to Lynux.
Frank Wagner
Damn few people have a good word to say about Vista. Recalling the history of Microsoft–they haven’t innovated a damn thing but have stolen many things, and their support is the support from hell–I can’t think of a single good reason for going along with their attempt to foist Vista upon us. My next microcomputer will be a Mac

David Risley
I don’t know if I’d go so far as to say they stole anything, but I would say they haven’t been too innovative lately when it comes to Windows. Nonetheless, you wouldn’t be the only person who has been seriously considering a Mac.