Admitted failure. XP gets support till 2014

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Microsoft Pledges Windows XP Support Through 2014 [informationweek.com]

In an unprecedented move, Microsoft has committed to providing support services for its soon to be retired Windows XP through 2014 -- a full 13 years after the operating system was originally released.
In a letter sent to customers this week, Microsoft senior VP Bill Veghte said the software maker will provide security patches "and other critical updates" for Windows XP until April, 2014.

"Our ongoing support for Windows XP is the result of our recognition that people keep their Windows-based PCs for many years," Veghte wrote.

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So what do they have to lose with this decision? Not much. Since a new copy er... I mean licence of Windows will cost about the same, regardless of its version, what they will lose out on is those who would have "upgraded" from XP. Now, since that was obviously not happening this was the only logical move not to lose customers because of unpatched, unsecure, unworkable XPs.

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They leaked a promise for Windows 7 yet again ( 2010 ) in order to make sure you know the schedule: if Vista is not for you, upgrade to 7 from XP. I just hope they won't *rush* its development beyond reason.

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[edited by: engine at 12:06 pm (utc) on June 25, 2008]
[edit reason] added quote [/edit]