What does Windows XP's tenth birthday mean to you?

[FunkY]

What does Windows XP's tenth birthday mean to you?
By Peter Bright | Published a day ago



For all its wide usage and market share, I never liked Windows XP, and never ran it on any system I've owned. I stuck with Windows 2000 until the release of Windows Server 2003, bought a license for that—I was a software developer at the time, and I needed access to IIS 6—and used it as my desktop system until the release of Windows Vista, switching as soon as I could buy it. I couldn't stand Luna—it was so bulbous and blobby, so faux-organic, so garish—but I loved the Watercolor theme that Microsoft used during Windows XP's beta, and so duly patched Windows Server 2003 to let me use a Watercolor theme.

I was happy with my Windows XP-free existence. Then I got an office job, and I had to use it as part of the corporate install. I still didn't care for it. Sure, it more or less worked, but I never really liked it. My workplace stuck with Windows XP after Windows Vista was released, and with this my dislike turned to disgust. Windows Vista's searchable Start menu was a fantastic feature, and I resented every moment that I had to spend deprived of its convenience.

But for many, Windows XP became the pinnacle of operating systems. Time can be cruel to old software—it can make its shortcomings, its missing features and clunkiness, all the more apparent—but it can also be kind. With time, even the most sluggish and oversized of programs can become lightning quick. Windows XP was never bloated, and as hardware improved, it became downright lightweight. Its system resource usage was basically negligible. It did its job well enough, and it did so with a minimum of burden.

It's the enterprise, more than anything else, that has fallen in love with Windows XP. It took a while to warm to the new operating system, but once companies were on board with it, the lure of an operating system that they wouldn't have to change for years on end became intoxicating. In the eyes of many, Windows XP "just works"; no fuss, no messing around. Yes, stability is important, and yes, changing the operating system costs money—but with Windows Vista and Windows 7 you get something for that money. You get much better security track record, much better support for modern hardware and standards such as IPv6. You get more powerful deployment, imaging, and management capabilities. There are many good reasons to move on.

To me, the fact that Windows XP is still widely used a decade later is a cause for dismay. It means that people are missing out on better software and better experiences. Windows XP works, just, but it's time to move on. We have technologies today that just weren't a factor for Windows XP; ubiquitous powerful 3D accelerators, abundant multicore processors, USB3, Thunderbolt, and SSDs with TRIM support. Laptops now outsell desktops, making power efficiency, cloud connectivity, and data security more important than ever. The Internet is a much more hostile place, making robust operating system security essential. The world of 2011 isn't the same as the world of 2001, and software needs to reflect that.

So as we observe the tenth anniversary of XP's release, what feelings does it evoke in you? Will you (or your workplace) stick with it to the bitter end, continuing to use it into 2014 and beyond? Will the advance of technology slow down such that Windows 7 will enjoy a similar lifespan? Or is goodbye and good riddance to Windows XP? Weigh in with your comments below.

Photograph by normanack

Source
http://arstechnica.com/microsoft/new...ean-to-you.ars

Good article to read and think

[JayCub]

Despite what the misgivings of the author im happy to have used XP and still like the operating system today, he mentioned people missing out of new software, not for myself anyway i have tried most of what is on offer and often change from XP Vista and 7, the article sounds like something written by a Mac user(although he is not)... Im happy to try anything and it was windows XP that gave me the options i have today...

The last time i ran Vista a month ago, it was a great experience.

Thank you FunkY i think the author is a bit too negative... it's all about choice.

[Raymond]

Wow it's 10 years already?
Oh yeah I remembered when XP released and it was on my mother's birthday. The next day there was a hotfix to update Windows XP.

[JayCub]

lol thank you Raymond gave me a laugh, the joys of been a windows user hotfixes...

[Raymond]

http://youtu.be/IW7Rqwwth84

[hellnoire]

Windows 7 and Windows XP are definitely some of the best operating systems in today's Windows market.

Now 98 was good too, but was Raymond demonstrated, it wasn't the most stable of systems...

[Ceyfer √]

Windows 7 and Windows XP are definitely some of the best operating systems in today's Windows market.

I will add Windows 95, if that happened to be me saying that list of yours. Currently, Windows Xp is the one Microsoft made Os, that Pc users will never forget, simply because it's the Windows version for the masses, and its already embedded deeply in the hearts of most of users. Remembering the days, when it was just 2-3 years old, it used to be the most controversial Os of its time, considering the fact that it has more holes than the pores of your skin in the face and been subjected to numerous scandals...in-spite of some serious setbacks, It's the longest MS made Os I've use so far.

[Kees]

I still like XP, and use it daily, but my favourite Windows OS is of course W7 by now.

[luffy]

I feel old .
And who cares about Windows XP's tenth birthday?

[Bearcat]

Thanks for the interesting read FunkY! Oh boy, I certainly have a different point of view about Windows XP than the auhtor of the article. I still vividly remember the days I struggled with Millenium and then along came XP to the rescue. Like the author pointed out, "it just works". I still run it on my older PC and will for as long as it continues to run.