XP vs. Vista: Forcibly Replacing Old with Bug-ridden New

As I recall, the news that XP was being phased out by Microsoft came out as early as February 2007. The buzz was, Microsoft was going to pull the plug on XP sales before January 2008 comes to a close. Today is January 19, 2008 and so I recalled the news bit and went online to check out what’s the update on XP’s summary execution. Apparently, Microsoft postponed the death penalty to June 30, 2008.

I found that out in http://weblog.infoworld.com/save-xp/archives/2008/01/save_windows_xp.html. Interestingly, this web address also links to an online petition to “Save Windows XP.” The petition claims that “Microsoft will end OEM and shrink-wrapped sales of Windows XP on June 30, 2008, forcing users to shift to Vista” and urges everyone not to let that happen. In describing the forced shift from XP to Vista, the website declared: “It's like having a comfortable apartment that you've enjoyed coming home to for years, only to get an eviction notice. The thought of moving to a new place -- even with the stainless steel appliances, granite countertops, and maple cabinets (or is cherry in this year?) -- just doesn't sit right. Maybe it'll be more modern, but it will also cost more and likely not be as good a fit. And you don't have any other reason to move.” Poignant ei?

Personally, I’d choose Old School XP over New Age Vista any day. Vista is just too darn slow, complicated, and bug-ridden. For me, it boasts of alleged value-added features, but which I find are not really user friendly. Simply, there are still a lot of bugs to be fixed. I’m all for change, but the change has got to be for the better. Let’s analogize this “forced eviction” with the process of amending laws. Of course the laws have to adapt to the changing times. Thus, new laws amend or repeal the old. But where the new law sought to be passed is too difficult to implement, or fails to achieve the rationale for it, or there is no particular reason to change the old law, then why amend or repeal the old law?

XP will be off the shelves but certainly not out of our computers. But of course, by this strategy of Microsoft, it would become increasingly difficult not to get a “new modern apartment” and let go of our “old comfy one.” I’m just hoping that by the time I’m forced to use Vista, all its kinks would have been ironed out. Microsoft owes at least that to us XP loving consumers.