Farewell XP, you will be missed

On Sunday, the Associated Press reported leading software maker, Microsoft, was set to cease distribution of its ever-popular Windows XP. The operating system will no longer be sold to retail companies or prominent computer manufacturers, the article mentioned, but will continue to be sold to “smaller mom-and-pop PC builder shops” through January 2009.

That’s right, PC boys and PC girls— as of this past Monday it’s Vista or the highway. (Or... a Mac.)

AP reported that Microsoft will “provide full technical support for six-year-old Windows XP through 2009” and “limited support through 2014.”

I’m a personal fan of Windows XP, so this recent decision saddens me. It looks like I’m not alone on this one – the AP referenced a group of protesters looking to preserve the familiar, user-friendly operating system. Petitions such as “Save XP” have sprung up, but it looks like their efforts won’t get very far.

On InfoWorld.com, a computer technology-based news website, campaigners posted requests for the software company to continue selling Windows XP until 2009, when Windows 7 is scheduled for release.

No word yet whether or not the small cyber cries have been heard in Washington, where Microsoft headquarters are located. In the mean time, if you feel your eyes burning with rage and your skin crawling with the thought of installing Vista, keep in mind you can purchase Vista Ultimate or Vista Business operating systems, as the AP maintains, and “legally ‘downgrade’ to XP” to get right back to home sweet home.

The halted sales of XP happen to coincide with Bill Gate’s decision to step down from the company he co-founded more than 30 years ago (though I sincerely doubt the two events are related). Gates left Microsoft to concentrate on his medical-based charity, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.