2 ms·

They abandoned the second largest platform to doom them to a third rate browser. Sure, there may have been aspects that wouldn't run on XP (new text rendering

They abandoned the second largest platform to doom them to a third rate browser. Sure, there may have been aspects that wouldn't run on XP (new text rendering that Vista+ brings, for example) but both Firefox and Webkit/Chrome/Safari are both gracefully handling the disparate technologies just fine.

mynameisvlad 14y ago
XP is on it's last dying breath, and Microsoft realizes it. Others should too. The fact that's its last build was released 4 years ago, and the original 11 years ago should show how old it really is and how important it is for people to finally ditch that outdated OS. It reached EOL almost 3 years ago now! It's just insane to me that people still use it. It's also only at ~21% install base, so it's not the biggest loss ever to not support it. Just entices people to upgrade to Windows 7/8, and actually be secure. Anyone defending XP now should stop. It's a horrible idea to actually use the OS in the present day, especially with the much better alternatives out there right now.
- rogerbinns 14y ago
  > It's also only at ~21% install base You do realise that is around 250 million machines, which is the same size as the entire iOS installed base a year ago? There is still 15 months of support left. Perhaps the most important thing about a browser is the other stuff it drags with it - for example you are likely to use the identity services (eg using Chrome makes having a Google account more conducive) plus other things (storage, photos, email etc). It is in Microsoft's interest to bring people into that. > Just entices people to upgrade to Windows 7/8, and actually be secure. You can't practically upgrade from XP. Well maybe you can, but the general public can't. It is a fresh install which means losing all your apps, settings, and personalization and worrying about what data you will lose (who has perfect backups?) And then you have to learn a new user interface. This still applies if you buy a new device. (Yes Windows Easy Transfer exists, but still has issues.) If you are going to experience such a shakeup you may as well consider all the alternatives. My dad (as a data point, I mean anecdote) upgraded from XP to an iPad. That is even more secure!

mynameisvlad 14y ago

XP is on it's last dying breath, and Microsoft realizes it. Others should too. The fact that's its last build was released 4 years ago, and the original 11 years ago should show how old it really is and how important it is for people to finally ditch that outdated OS. It reached EOL almost 3 years ago now! It's just insane to me that people still use it. It's also only at ~21% install base, so it's not the biggest loss ever to not support it. Just entices people to upgrade to Windows 7/8, and actually be secure. Anyone defending XP now should stop. It's a horrible idea to actually use the OS in the present day, especially with the much better alternatives out there right now.

rogerbinns 14y ago
> It's also only at ~21% install base You do realise that is around 250 million machines, which is the same size as the entire iOS installed base a year ago? There is still 15 months of support left. Perhaps the most important thing about a browser is the other stuff it drags with it - for example you are likely to use the identity services (eg using Chrome makes having a Google account more conducive) plus other things (storage, photos, email etc). It is in Microsoft's interest to bring people into that. > Just entices people to upgrade to Windows 7/8, and actually be secure. You can't practically upgrade from XP. Well maybe you can, but the general public can't. It is a fresh install which means losing all your apps, settings, and personalization and worrying about what data you will lose (who has perfect backups?) And then you have to learn a new user interface. This still applies if you buy a new device. (Yes Windows Easy Transfer exists, but still has issues.) If you are going to experience such a shakeup you may as well consider all the alternatives. My dad (as a data point, I mean anecdote) upgraded from XP to an iPad. That is even more secure!