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Microsoft Downplays Windows XP as Netbook OS

Posted 11/13/09 at 08:30:07 AM  by Paul Lilly

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Right from the very beginning, Windows XP has dominated the netbook scene. Vista is just too demanding for a low-power PC, and Linux hasn't been able to win over the mainstream. But even though Windows XP played an important role in the popularizing ultraportable netbooks, Microsoft appears ready to move on.

"We will continue to make Windows XP available for those devices [netbooks], but it doesn't make sense to put marketing effort behind those devices. As much as we make Windows XP available for a year, we won't see it last in the market that long. We will get through the holidays. My gut is we will walk away from the holidays and see that it's not worth keeping on the market," said Don Paterson, director of netbook PCs in Microsoft's Windows client group.

Moving on is something Microsoft probably would have liked to have done with Vista, but it just sucked up too many resources to be a viable alternative to XP. That changes with Windows 7, which looks to become the new standard.

Image Credit: rootaid.com

COMMENTS:5
TAGS: windows, microsoft, operating system, Software, mobile, OS, XP, netbook
COMMENTS
avatarWhile one can understand

Submitted by MleB on Fri, 11/13/2009 - 1:31pm

While one can understand Microsoft's wish to move on to its new OS, it does not serve them to completely distance themselves from XP on netbooks. Firstly, that OS on those devices has, over the past to years, kept Microsoft relevant as an OS provider and secondly, they have contrived to make the move from XP to Win7 about as expensive and complicated as they can, and those millions of netbooks already out there on XP will not all make the move to Win7.

Win7 seems to have the usual pro / cons for users and users will either take the chance on the OS or stick with something that may work (and is cheaper) for them. Microsoft shouldn't distance itself from its traditional base, entirely based on an OS that has only been in the retail loop for a month.

Remember what we all said about Vista when it came out?

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avatarI for one have to say that

Submitted by jeremiah19 on Fri, 11/13/2009 - 10:44am

I for one have to say that XP was such a huge step up from Win 98.  Vista and 7 just aren't that much different to me.  XP runs perfectly for me and with less bloat.

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avatar And now we wait for all

Submitted by Caboose on Fri, 11/13/2009 - 9:19am

 And now we wait for all the "XP is the best thing since air"people to bitch and complain.

I personally find Windows 7 to run beautifully on a netbook. I found XP to run much slower and have more issues.

 

-= I don't want to be dead, I want to be alive! Or... a cowboy! =-

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avatarwin XP forever

Submitted by logicmaster2003 on Fri, 11/13/2009 - 9:05am

I'm glad winXP is here to stay :)   And I think it will stay for a long period of time because it has proven to be stable but considering the tips from maximumPC on turbo-charging your winXP is highly recommended (such as how to make winXP shutdown instantly without the long delay of shutdown timers in the registries).

 Thank you Maximum PC for those tips !! 

 

 

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avatarforever is 4 years?

Submitted by nekollx on Fri, 11/13/2009 - 10:45am

 considering MS still plans to cut windows update suposrt off in 2014 i don't see forever in the same light as you.

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