OT: Let's SAVE Windows XP

[BigAl07]

I know many people (especially in Corp America) who aren't or CAN'T migrate to Vista. I know in my Corp environment some of our "Design Software" is not Vista friendly at all and we HAVE To use this software to stay in business. We have no choice (but I'd still chose NOT to ) but to stay with XP.

Just in case anyone else is wanting Uncle Bill Gates to continue support for XP go to this link and sign up and put your name on the list! If you don't you can't complain about the outcome

Save Windows XP | InfoWorld

Let's SAVE XP

Allen

[deaclauderdale]

Vista has been a nightmare for Microsoft.

[CAVINCA]

signed.

i absolutly LOVE how microsoft forces everyones hand. this is not a good way to develop customer relations (well good ones..). although i love the vista interface and all, they still have some major backward compatibility issues in the corp. world. The release of vista IMO was immature and came during a bad software development cycle... everyone was upgrading software only to find out vista wouldnt handle it.

None of this probably makes sense to u, but i completely understand myself.

[BigAl07]

Originally Posted by deaclauderdale

Vista has been a nightmare for Microsoft.

Yes since day one! It's a big OWIE for Uncle Bill!!

Originally Posted by CAVINCA

signed.

i absolutly LOVE how microsoft forces everyones hand. this is not a good way to develop customer relations (well good ones..). although i love the vista interface and all, they still have some major backward compatibility issues in the corp. world. The release of vista IMO was immature and came during a bad software development cycle... everyone was upgrading software only to find out vista wouldnt handle it.

None of this probably makes sense to u, but i completely understand myself.

Huh? I completely understand!! What did you say again? Just kidding!

Yeah I've battled this since it came out. We bought several new PC's directly from Dell and got them with Vista. I ended up going out, buying XP Pro and reformatting the machines with XP Pro (by MS standards that's a Downgrade). Just too many issues and in a business world we can't afford down-time.

[goldenmean]

I have vista on one of the computers at work.
It is just awefull. This brand new computer is slowed down and hindered by vista. Luckily the computer I mostly use runs XP but the people that use the vista computer HATE it. We do not have the version of vista that would allow for a free downgrade.

Personally I kind of hope microsoft is not swayed by their customers dislike of vista. The world would be a better place if more people and business used Apple! JMHO.

[tbittner]

When I first loaded Vista, I hated it. Now that I've used it a while, I won't ever go back to XP. But you're right, it required upgrades of some of the software I use and that should NEVER be a requirement for an OS. Unless they market it AS a NEW OS.

[BigAl07]

Originally Posted by goldenmean

I have vista on one of the computers at work.
It is just awefull. This brand new computer is slowed down and hindered by vista. Luckily the computer I mostly use runs XP but the people that use the vista computer HATE it. We do not have the version of vista that would allow for a free downgrade.

That's exactly why we "Downgraded" ALL of our Brand NEW Vista machines. Talk about taking a financial HIT to PAY for a new machine with Vista then go back, invest the time to re-format a BAND NEW MACHINE and then BUY Windows XP Pro for each machine. Looking back I would have been "money ahead" to have thrown the NEW machines in the trash and ordered new ones with XP Pro installed instead. Oh well... live and learn!!

Originally Posted by goldenmean

Personally I kind of hope microsoft is not swayed by their customers dislike of vista. The world would be a better place if more people and business used Apple! JMHO.

Well to be honest I have to admit... I contacted my Dell Customer Rep (we have a Corp account with them) and told him (after he mentioned no more XP on new machines) that if it comes to that... we will drop Dell and Windows at the same time and migrate 100% to a MAC OS environment. I would HATE for my old college buddies to hear me say that but that's what it's come to. Who would have thunk it?

[Frankie]

What really needs to happen is the OS they have planed to come out in 2010 needs to come out now.
I use a hacked up version of XP pro that works a bit better then the original but not since 98 se has a good solid OS been out. Vista is a joke. We need another space craft to fall out of the sky so we can simulate some new tech. Bill really screwed the world with windows imo. My next operating system will be mac i have no doubt. Corporate America needs to go mac also. It is much more solid then windows.

[rlcline76]

Signed.
Helps that I am a petition junkie.

[goldenmean]

That's exactly why we "Downgraded" ALL of our Brand NEW Vista machines. Talk about taking a financial HIT to PAY for a new machine with Vista then go back, invest the time to re-format a BAND NEW MACHINE and then BUY Windows XP Pro for each machine

What is involved in reformating?
To downgrade to XP is there more to do than just buying XP and installing it.
Do you need to remove or in some way deactivate vista?
I think part of our problem at work is that our little 2 computer network has one machine running XP while the other machine is running vista.

At home our network has 5 apple machines one of which runs windows XP and there is no problem working between the different OS/formats.

[BoomerD]

I have XP Pro on my machine now, and a new Vista Ultimate install set (got it free from MS) sitting in my desk hutch waiting for installation. The MS Vista advisor says I'm ok, but with all the reported problems at more than a year since it came out, I'm more than just a bit hesitant...

[AQTCJAK]

Well my take on this subject is this. Most businesses & individuals are unaware you can purchase support from MS for versions of thier Software that is "no longer supported". I have several Customers of mine that cant get a few systems away from one version of an OS or another. It is not cheap to go this route however it is avaiable MS just like Novell did will not support anything publically that is over a few years old.

As for Bullet proof Business OS's as far as I cam concerned there have only been 2 thus far not saying that they needed tweaking & fixing have been WINNT 4.0 & Win2K.

As far as Novell is concerned it was the most stable NOS ever I had a Netware 3.11 Server up for 997 Days we wanted to see if it would roll to 1000 days however 3.11 was not W2K Compliant niether was the Hardware. Guess I will never see a Novell server close to rolling again.

JMPO

[BigAl07]

Originally Posted by rlcline76

Signed.
Helps that I am a petition junkie.

GOOD! Then you'll be sure to tell ALL of your friends about it so they can sign and pass it on Right?

Originally Posted by goldenmean

What is involved in reformating?
To downgrade to XP is there more to do than just buying XP and installing it.
Do you need to remove or in some way deactivate vista?
I think part of our problem at work is that our little 2 computer network has one machine running XP while the other machine is running vista.

At home our network has 5 apple machines one of which runs windows XP and there is no problem working between the different OS/formats.

Formatting is WAY easy but you have to make sure you have 1 of 2 things handy before hand.. either download any specific utliities (CD Burning and Sound Software) before hand or have another non-offline PC handy to download any forgotten items. Fortunately XP comes with a GREAT selection of drivers so it's really no big deal.

By formatting you basically wipe the hard drive clean and start with a clean slate. There is NO Vista once the format is done.

Yes we had a similar problem when we installed a Vista Business machine in our XP setting. Vista didn't like talking "down" to the other machines and we had a HOST of file server and printer issues. Since we "downgraded" the users are much happier (FASTER too) and I'm happier because I don't get THOSE phone calls every 10 minutes....


Happy Users make HAPPY IT

[BigAl07]

Originally Posted by BoomerD

I have XP Pro on my machine now, and a new Vista Ultimate install set (got it free from MS) sitting in my desk hutch waiting for installation.

Run FORREST RUNNNN!!

Save yourself the time and heart ache. Open the box.. take the DVD's out and use them for COASTERS! No more water rings on your furniture and nothing to "Fix"

[CAVINCA]

I have a Mac and love it, but you'd run into all kinds of software problems if you switched over to them for Corp. stuff. theres just way to much support for windows required software, yet not enough for vista to be effective in corp. america. but as with the switch from 2000 to xp, it took time... we still have machines running 2000 because the company whos software we use refuses to upgrade to xp support.