Comments on: Microsoft Should Make Windows XP Free To Tackle Piracy and Linux http://techie-buzz.com/discussions/microsoft-windows-xp-free.html?utm_source=subscriber&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rss Know your technology head on Sun, 22 Nov 2009 20:43:15 -0500 hourly 1 By: Chinmoy Kanjilal http://techie-buzz.com/discussions/microsoft-windows-xp-free.html#comment-46697 Chinmoy Kanjilal Sun, 15 Nov 2009 08:18:58 +0000 http://techie-buzz.com/discussions/microsoft-windows-xp-free.html#comment-46697 A free XP will cost MS, but an open source XP, will expose it, and destroy it. With poorly written code, patchwork and stolen code snippets all over it, MS will die saving the code. Though, an open source XP will create XP distros as we have for Linux, and will establish MS as a strong competitor in the Open Source World. That way, they will have things to learn and given the number of MS fanatics and Linux haters, an Open Source XP will see a very positive response. It would also shut the FOSS MS haters, who would look like complete lunatics raising fingers at MS anymore. @pallab, @Robert, cost for free support, true. But, that cost is near minimal compared to the gains it can make by continuing paid support for XP. The prime reason for this is that many institutions and offices using licensed XP with paid support are reluctant to upgrade their hardware. That way, they will continue using XP. My college uses XP in spite of having dual core desktops, which are quite capable of running Windows 7 with aero turned on. A free XP will cost MS, but an open source XP, will expose it, and destroy it. With poorly written code, patchwork and stolen code snippets all over it, MS will die saving the code.
Though, an open source XP will create XP distros as we have for Linux, and will establish MS as a strong competitor in the Open Source World.
That way, they will have things to learn and given the number of MS fanatics and Linux haters, an Open Source XP will see a very positive response.
It would also shut the FOSS MS haters, who would look like complete lunatics raising fingers at MS anymore.

@pallab, @Robert, cost for free support, true. But, that cost is near minimal compared to the gains it can make by continuing paid support for XP. The prime reason for this is that many institutions and offices using licensed XP with paid support are reluctant to upgrade their hardware. That way, they will continue using XP. My college uses XP in spite of having dual core desktops, which are quite capable of running Windows 7 with aero turned on.

]]> By: Juscelino M. Acevedo http://techie-buzz.com/discussions/microsoft-windows-xp-free.html#comment-38929 Juscelino M. Acevedo Mon, 20 Jul 2009 17:33:40 +0000 http://techie-buzz.com/discussions/microsoft-windows-xp-free.html#comment-38929 As much as I agree with your suggestion I think it would be a bad idea for Microsoft. The problem that I see is that if I was offered XP for free I would not purchase another operating system for years. Plain and simple, XP is great. Also, with the bad taste of Vista, I feel that many people are not really inclined to purchase Windows 7 for worry of the same situation. That said, XP free will equal no sales for Microsoft. As much as I agree with your suggestion I think it would be a bad idea for Microsoft. The problem that I see is that if I was offered XP for free I would not purchase another operating system for years. Plain and simple, XP is great.

Also, with the bad taste of Vista, I feel that many people are not really inclined to purchase Windows 7 for worry of the same situation. That said, XP free will equal no sales for Microsoft.

]]> By: Derek http://techie-buzz.com/discussions/microsoft-windows-xp-free.html#comment-38925 Derek Mon, 20 Jul 2009 15:28:53 +0000 http://techie-buzz.com/discussions/microsoft-windows-xp-free.html#comment-38925 No way. XP is already 8 years old, we don't need it hovering around for another 8 years. It took far too long to get people off the 9x platform. Releasing XP for free would only encourage its use. The industry needs to move forward and XP needs to die in the next few years. The next step is 64-bit, and I'm hoping the PC manufacturers really push Win7 with 64-bit. No way. XP is already 8 years old, we don’t need it hovering around for another 8 years. It took far too long to get people off the 9x platform.

Releasing XP for free would only encourage its use. The industry needs to move forward and XP needs to die in the next few years.

The next step is 64-bit, and I’m hoping the PC manufacturers really push Win7 with 64-bit.

]]> By: Robert http://techie-buzz.com/discussions/microsoft-windows-xp-free.html#comment-38916 Robert Mon, 20 Jul 2009 10:45:13 +0000 http://techie-buzz.com/discussions/microsoft-windows-xp-free.html#comment-38916 They can't make it free and non-open source, that would cost them a lot of money for support. They also can't make it open source, because a huge community will form and finally bypass windows (8, 9?) in both stability and usability. Also, the WINE project will gain all source code and all windows applications will run near native on UNIX machines too. I think this is not the way to go for windows, although I love the concept. They can’t make it free and non-open source, that would cost them a lot of money for support.
They also can’t make it open source, because a huge community will form and finally bypass windows (8, 9?) in both stability and usability.

Also, the WINE project will gain all source code and all windows applications will run near native on UNIX machines too.

I think this is not the way to go for windows, although I love the concept.

]]> By: Pallab http://techie-buzz.com/discussions/microsoft-windows-xp-free.html#comment-38913 Pallab Mon, 20 Jul 2009 07:35:53 +0000 http://techie-buzz.com/discussions/microsoft-windows-xp-free.html#comment-38913 privacy? you mean piracy.don't you? XP is awesome (that's what I am currently using on my old desktop). But remember that XP also had its share of hiccups. I remember people hanging on to 98 SE2 because it did everything they needed and was lighter and more stable. SP1 helped matters and SP2 was awesome. XP got rock stable and became highly polished (almost not bugs) over the years. Releasing XP for free would have ben an awesome move. But something like this requires thinking outside the box. Possibly MS doesn't want to do it because it would mean that they would have to continue to support XP (through security updates). If it doesn't then expect them to get quite a bashing from the press. If it does then XP would actually start costing them. privacy? you mean piracy.don’t you?

XP is awesome (that’s what I am currently using on my old desktop). But remember that XP also had its share of hiccups. I remember people hanging on to 98 SE2 because it did everything they needed and was lighter and more stable.

SP1 helped matters and SP2 was awesome. XP got rock stable and became highly polished (almost not bugs) over the years.

Releasing XP for free would have ben an awesome move. But something like this requires thinking outside the box.

Possibly MS doesn’t want to do it because it would mean that they would have to continue to support XP (through security updates). If it doesn’t then expect them to get quite a bashing from the press. If it does then XP would actually start costing them.

]]> By: Shane http://techie-buzz.com/discussions/microsoft-windows-xp-free.html#comment-38904 Shane Mon, 20 Jul 2009 04:44:49 +0000 http://techie-buzz.com/discussions/microsoft-windows-xp-free.html#comment-38904 Nice thought, makes sense for them to do so but there is no way they will ever do it! With XP free would you switch to Windows 7 or Vista...ever? Nice thought, makes sense for them to do so but there is no way they will ever do it! With XP free would you switch to Windows 7 or Vista…ever?

]]> By: Kunal Gautam http://techie-buzz.com/discussions/microsoft-windows-xp-free.html#comment-38903 Kunal Gautam Mon, 20 Jul 2009 04:25:37 +0000 http://techie-buzz.com/discussions/microsoft-windows-xp-free.html#comment-38903 I agree they should make the XP Professional Edition available for FREE of Cost :) . I agree they should make the XP Professional Edition available for FREE of Cost :) .

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