I got the following comment from a guy named Bob recently that I think is worth sharing.
“I have seen Vista work on an HP laptop fairly well. The ownerexplained that HP would accept nothing better than the finest tuneddrivers or a component would not be added to their machine.
“I have read many of the valid complaints over at the savexp.comsite of those not fortunate enough to own an HP PC and I’m truly amazedat how MSFT has had little regard for its customers. Steve Balmer’sstatement: ‘I… love… this… company…’ reflects, in my estimation, thebase problem: a self love. It’s not really surprising that he didn’tsay: ‘I… love… our… customers…’ It just wouldn’t be true.
“Microsoft wants to keep its cake and it wants to eat it too. Theywant Windows to be the world’s standard operating system. But they alsowant to decide, for themselves, when a particular flavor of Windowsstops receiving support. Odd that, eh? XP’s going to get a shiny newservice pack. Just in time for the end of its support? Isn’t that alittle weird?
“Shouldn’t things work more like this with MSFT? If a Windowsrelease is shaky to begin with (example: Millennium) and ending itssupport causes few or no ripples then fine — they should be permittedto do so. But if a release is still functional and strongly supportedby software companies, then the arbitrary termination should be stoppedby the powers that be.
“While not perfect XP does what many people expect of Windows.Vista, on the other hand, appears to be a conglomeration of cool ideasdreamed up by the Windows team in order to satisfy their particularidea of what Windows should be. The department heads sign off on any ofthese guys’ proposals and the world is expected to obediently dump theprevious release for what we’re TOLD is… mmm… better.
“That’s bad enough. But browse through the posts at SaveXP.comand you’ll see a bit of a disturbing trend. Namely, that the clearlydescribed reasons given by ex-Vista users are arrogantly shrugged offby apparently satisfied Vista users. Reasons to switch are replacedwith rhetoric and ridicule. We are basically told to shut up and just‘do it.’
“Imagine if an automotive company likewise decided to stop makingparts for a model that currently fills the highways and city streets.This was done simply because that industry redesigned their car (with anew logo) and put it into production. We’d be up in arms! We’d picket,we’d boycott, we’d give them what for! The law itself would quicklyintervene telling that automotive industry to cease its irresponsiblebehavior and start making parts again.
“Let’s compare. Is XP still the main ‘car’ on the highway? Is itstill the main Windows distribution being used? Then where’sMicrosoft’s right to cease it’s support? Because it’s 6 years old? Andwho dreamed up this arbitrary number? Was it pulled out of a hat?
“And where are the statistics and figures revealing how many Vistacomputers were downgraded to XP once the machine was brought home?Where are the percentages of customers who’ve tried over and over againto get a new XP PC only to be turned down by the sales staff? Ahh. NowHERE we have a lot of silence. Silence as we turn a blind eye to MSFT’sresponsibility. Silence as we walk past customers while store clerksrefuse to sell XP.
“XP is an obvious problem for MSFT. Vista sales will always lag aslong as XP takes up shelf space. MSFT feels it has the right to ceasesupport whenever it feels like it. Satisfied Vista users bray loudlywhen someone brings up valid complaints. Others, like myself, have cometo a realization that MSFT’s abysmal treatment of its customers can bestopped when one ceases to be a customer. And I’ve voted with mydollar. I now own a Mac. My second PC runs Ubuntu Linux. And while Idon’t use XP anymore MSFT still needs to hear this message: that itcannot have its cake and eat it too. XP’s life should be extendedindefinitely. They’ve no right to decide how long a version lasts basedonly on years. They have a responsibility to support what is popularand (obviously through sites like this one) clearly seen as still indemand.”
