My computer is a Compaq Presario that I bought new exactly three years ago as of yesterday. So, by today's standards it's a relic. It uses Microsoft's Windows M.E. which is a consumer version of Windows 98. Microsoft wanted to end support for these old operating systems, but now they've decided to extend it a little longer. According to AP-CNN:
Support for Windows 98 and Windows 98 S.E. had been scheduled to expire Friday, and for Windows Millennium Edition on December 31. Under Monday's decision, the software giant would maintain paid phone support for the operating systems and review security threats to determine whether it will provide customers with security patches through June 30, 2006
According to AP-Newsday:
... the software giant decided to keep supporting those systems in large part because some customers in developing countries were not aware it was ending.
So, in the eyes of the Microsoft decision makers I'm in the same league as the citizens of third world nations.
But, not so fast. There are a lot of old computers still chugging along out there. AssetMetrix Research Labs, queried over 670 companies with from 10 to 49,000 PC's per company, with a combined total of over 370,000 PCs. And they discovered that over 80% of the companies had Windows 98 or 95, at an average occurrence of 39% of their PCs.
That means there are a lot of computers and operating systems that will eventually have to be upgraded, and Microsoft shareholders may be rubbing their palms in anticipation. And, I know I'll have to upgrade eventually, too. But, please Mr. Gates. Just let me do it on my own schedule.
...a Compaq Presario that I bought new exactly three years ago
Got you beat! I run the Big Gold Dog.com empire using a Presario from 1998...with 48 Mb of RAM. Actually runs well after I turned off all the extras on Win 98. If it were up to me I'd still be using Win 95, although my bride has a new system with Win XP which I like.
As to Microsofts "service" for Win 98....or anything else, I'd have to say, What Service?
Posted by: Wallace | January 14, 2004 at 03:54 PM
Wallace, what extras on Win 98 did you turn off, and how did you do it?
Posted by: George | January 15, 2004 at 09:55 AM