Microsoft Halts Boxed Sales of Windows XP
Posted by ThePaladin on June 30th, 2008
Are you a big fan of Microsoft Windows XP? Perhaps you are not quite a fan at all of Windows Vista? Well guess what? Your choice of a Windows Operating System is about to vanish!
After (or is it on?) June 30th, Microsoft is refusing to provide any more boxed copies of Windows XP to stores for purchase. Though, Microsoft might continue selling copies of Windows XP to computer makers and system builders so that they can “pre-install” XP as the operating system for a new computer.
You can read more details on this by clicking here
The Paladin finds this to be a very sad story indeed, though not for reasons you may think…
You see, the Paladin recently purchased a laptop computer. However, he did not want Vista on his computer due to the fact that Vista is:
- a huge operating system requiring massive amounts of memory and computing power relative to what is currently in use by most people
- a relatively new operating system by Microsoft, a company that tends to put products out on the market long before they are ready
- just plain inferior to Windows XP at this point in time, in the opinion of the Paladin, when judged by “what you get” against “what it costs to get it.”
This being the case, the Paladin spent months looking for a laptop retailer that would sell a laptop with Windows XP on it. They were very difficult to find. In fact, when all was said and done, the Paladin was forced to by a refurbished laptop from Dell in order obtain Windows XP on a reasonably powerful laptop.
Of course, some stores will pre-install Windows XP on a laptop, but many of these charge you for the cost of installing it. What the Paladin finds so interesting about this is that you have already paid for Windows Vista in the price of your laptop!
There is a phrase to describe this kind of pricing: Double Dipping
Now of course, most other businesses would LOVE to be able to get such a policy…but then again, most other businesses are not a monopoly either.
The Paladin is not terribly happy that Microsoft is now effectively FORCING its customers to migrate to an operating system that many do not want (Microsoft themselves have indicated how disappointed they are with the sales of Vista).
Alas, Windows XP took a lot of tweaking and patching to finally become the operating system that it is. It is unfortunate that now Microsoft has decided to take this choice away from you.
But be brave, my fellow citizens of the realm, there ARE beginning to be viable alternatives to the Windows operating systems. With Linux and the new Mac O/S hitting the scene, such consumer-unfriendly behavior from a monopolistic company may be a thing of the past.
The Paladin certainly hopes so!