Death of Window XP Is a Golden Opportunity for Linux
 

Hi,

Death of Window XP Is a Golden Opportunity for Linux
System may not be dead, just no updates or security attentions from Microsoft.

Nahh ... the people who are using XP will simply start paying Microsoft for support. They can't switch, either to another version of Windows or to another operating system.

See this thread.

Eeeer, how many of you guys tune engines with Linux?

I still use XP for that. I will continue to also. I know guys that tune engines with Windows 98 still and Windows ME.

Still strapped to the ball and chain for certain software interfaces with certain drm hardware.

There were a couple of brothers that live nearby me who were programers as well as gear heads who did it sucessfuly. There was an article writen about it a few years ago but I can't remember the last name to look up how they did it. All I can recall is it was a kind of uncommon German sounding last name, wait it will come to me in the middle of the night. This may be wrong but I think it was Yoder.

I do my tuning in Linux mostly, but I do need Windows whenever I need to log or upload changes to the ECU :(. The interface works fine in Win 7 though, no need for XP.

I frankly don't understand why so many Linux users seem to wish it would grow to "defeat" Windows (excepting maybe the priceless look on Ballmer's red face) :D. I really wouldn't care a whit as long as there exists lots of Open Source and driver support. Linux doesn't need to be "Free Windows" but I suppose those fellows at M$ don't see that by thwarting such openness, they create their own enemies.

If we make Linux usable, even desirable, to Windows users, won't it become just like it? Those trends seem to already be emerging. It's difficult to "draw the line" as to how much convenience, and user-friendly hand-holding is good and where it crosses that line to where it ceases to be Linux ie: Freedom and Power, but I think that line should exist.

I'd think that the majority of xp systems can't handle a modern linux so it wouldn't be such a great change.

Why do you think that? i have slackware 14 running on an emachine with a 1.8 ghz celeron that came with windows xp and until recently it was my main desktop machine. Its runs fluxbox or xfce with no problems. I wouldnt try kde on it, but i wouldnt try kde on much of anything anyway.

Member Response
 

Hi,

Really? Care show some data for the above statement. Maybe 12 year old Xp machines would be difficult to use a heavy Gnu/Linux but even those can use a distribution like Puppy Linux or the like. May need to increase storage & memory. But I think those machines could be used in a light environment.

I have several 5-8 year old Xp machines that run different versions of Slackware. Max the memory when possible and increase HD or use SSD. Nothing wrong, maybe tweak here and there on some but will support Linux. Sure, a light DE or WM to ease the load but these machines do make good bench machines. Most times I am working 'cli' on the bench machines.

Not everyone needs KDE or the like.

I do use KDE on some of my power Laptops. Clean and responsive.
:hattip:

A five to eight year old machine should run any distro and would probably run *shudder* KDE OK if it has anything other than integrated graphics.

Member Response
 

Hi,

I generally will use KDE on my newer hardware but use lighter DE/Wm. Or just work from the command line. :)

I'd like to think that people will switch to Linux, but realistically they'll just pay for support or upgrade, which is exactly what they are doing. However, I do see recent versions of Windoze (recently had to install 8.1 on an office computer, not mine) as M$ digging their own grave. They may have finished digging ...

Hmm I think you are both wrong I had an old Compac That originaly ran wonows 98 with a 450 pentium 386 megs of ram and an 8 gig Hd. I loaded it with Slack 13 with KDE And it ran just fine. Video and all.

The "end-of-life announcement" for a software product does not mean that the product is "dead." It simply means that from now on, if you want support for it, you will have to pay for it.

And-d-d-d-d... you will.

Obviously, the handwriting is on the technological wall, but that handwriting is actually writ very slowly. Let's take a very-concrete example.

A certain hospital management company which owns about 750 hospitals has many thousands of computers in each hospital running all sorts of patient-management software on ... Windows XP. These installations are certified as the law demands. These systems are performing mission-critical functions which are directly related to patient safety and care. This company, many years ago, contracted with Microsoft Corporation for support of these systems. Obviously, this same company is also simultaneously working on a transition plan, working hand-in-hand with Microsoft as is every other company. However ... patient care and safety trumps every other consideration, for everyone including Microsoft.

Welcome to the reality of data processing. Over the coming years, the transitions will take place "according to plan," and the replacement systems will be re-certified. But, well, "no one is going anywhere," because these systems are integral to the safety of human life.

(And, oh by the by, they also run Linux. Courtesy of both Red Hat and IBM. These systems do not compete with one another in the grand scheme, and they never will.)