[Ham-Computers] RE: Looking for XP Operating System

[Hsu, Aaron (NBC Universal)]

To find out about Microsoft product "Lifecycles", go here:

  http://www.microsoft.com/lifecycle
 
Then click on "Product lifecycle search" and select the product.

Basically, Microsoft has two support cycles - "Mainstream" and "Extended".  Mainstream support is the period where a product is actively supported and critical patches are generally available for free.  "Extended" support is where Microsoft still supports the product, but some support options may require a fee and non-security patches are only available via a service contract.

Beyond these two, there's "Self Help" where you look for everything yourself, and, if it's still available, you download and install patches yourself at your own risk.


Robert, to specifically answer your question about Windows 2000, "Mainstream" support ended in 2005 and "Extended" support ends in 2010.

As for application compatibility with Vista, it's a crap shoot.  At work, we're currently building a Vista "staging" environment where we can test our 100's of apps (many "homegrown") to see if they will work with Vista.  Though we probably won't use Vista for some time to come, there are "work at home" people who will remote VPN in with their brand spanking new computer pre-installed with Vista.  Some have already found that Vista (and/or IE7) won't work our VPN software and the vendor won't have a Vista compatible VPN client until June at the earliest.  Don't get me started on the handful of Win3.1/Win95 era apps that linger around!

Yes, OS "upgrades" and changes are a headache all of us eventually have to deal with in these days of "planned obsolescence" - it basically guarantees a revenue source for the software vendor.

And, if you really need to run that old, crusty dBASE III database or MultiPlan spreadsheet, you can always use a Virtual Machine (such as Virtual PC 2007 or VMWare)...works great in most cases.  See my previous posts about VM's.  And I won't get into the licensing aspect.  =)

73,

  - Aaron, NN6O



-----Original Message-----
Sent: Thursday, April 12, 2007 11:19 AM
Subject: Re: [Ham-Computers] RE: Looking for XP Operating System

Aaron, or anyone,

This thread reminds me that as MS quit supporting 98, they will sooner or 
later quit supporting W2K, which we use.  I already either know for certain or 
suspect or suspect that several critical (to us) applications can't be run under 
Vista.  Does anyone have any guesstimate of when MS will drop support for 
W2K,  Does anyone know whether dBase 5 will run on an XP machine?

Robert & Susan Downs - Houston
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