Gawker: valleywag, xp

You're not the only one who hates Vista

Alaska Miller — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 17:20:00 EDT

Did you buy a new computer and come to realize that you just really hate Windows Vista? You're not alone. InfoWorld figures that 35 percent of its audience — mostly corporate users — had dumped Vista and reinstalled Windows XP on their current-model computers. Maybe IT professionals are harder to fool with marketing gimmicks. [InfoWorld]

With Bill Gates gone, Microsoft to stop selling the last operating system he actually liked

Nicholas Carlson — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 12:00:00 EDT

Microsoft's Vista apologists no longer have to worry about former chief software architect Bill Gates letting slip an admission that its latest operating system sucks, sending computer makers and users back to Windows XP. As soon as Dell, HP and other major manufacturers sell their current-supply of XP-loaded PCs, no more will come off the shelves as Microsoft ends production of the aging but quite functional operating system today. But instead of moving on to Windows Vista, large corporate clients like General Motors intend to purchase Vista-loaded computers and "downgrade" them to XP. Meanwhile, only 8 percent of all software developers are working on applications for Vista, while 49 percent continue to develop for XP.

Intel says there's "no compelling case" to upgrade to Vista

Nicholas Carlson — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 11:20:00 EDT

Back when Vista launched, Microsoft predicted corporate clients would adopt the new operating system at twice the rate of its predecessor, Windows XP. Hasn't happened. Now even longtime Microsoft partner, chipmaker Intel, has decided to not upgrade its 80,000 employees to Microsoft Vista. An IT buyer at the company told the New York Times that, after "a lengthy analysis" Intel's "information technology staff just found no compelling case for adopting Vista." Instead, Intel will keep its employees on the same OS they've used since 2001, XP.

Apple thinks corporate — or rather, corporations think Apple

Nicholas Carlson — Fri, 02 May 2008 12:00:00 EDT

Out of 250 surveyed companies, 87 percent report owning Apple computers. That's up from 48 percent In 2006. In BusinessWeek's story on Apple's creep into corporate cubicles, Dimension Data CIO Mark Slaga explains how Apple is gaining ground without really trying: "Steve Jobs doesn't need a sales force because he already has one: employees like the ones in my company." (Though, as it happens, Apple is looking for office space in Manhattan's Midtown, which could conceivably house salespeople.)

BusinessWeek gives Apple's iPhone and iPod much of the credit, but also blames Vista; 90 percent of office workers remain on XP. One factor BusinessWeek didn't account for: the Internet. As more of what people actually do with a computer takes place on the Web, the less it matters what type of computer users access it with. Now you know why Steve Jobs has Google CEO Eric Schmidt on the board — it's not for his personal charm. (Photo by atp_tyreseus)