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Microsoft Windows XP celebrates its 10th anniversary today
Microsoft shipped the first copies of Windows XP to PC manufacturers 10 years ago today. Short for “eXPerience”, the successor to Windows 2000 and Windows Me eventually became the most popular operating system of all time.
Windows XP is the first consumer-oriented OS built on the Windows NT kernel. The OS had a long run despite a rocky launch and has sustained two subsequent releases, the dreaded Windows Vista and the much-improved Windows 7.
Just one month before the official retail release of XP, a group by the name of devils0wn released a volume license key used to bypass product activation. This allowed potentially millions of users to install the operating system without paying for it. Furthermore, the events of September 11, 2001 put a damper on Microsoft’s retail launch plans and the company decided to scale back worldwide launch parties accordingly.
OEM and retail sales of XP ceased in June 2008, although Microsoft continued to offer the OS to system builders through early 2009. Support will be offered for systems running Service Pack 3 through April 8, 2014.
As of last month, Windows XP finally fell below the 50 percent mark among all Windows Internet users. The slow decline is partially due to the success of Windows 7, which now accounts for nearly 30 percent of the market.
Microsoft has been urging customers to upgrade from XP since Vista arrived in 2006 and again when 7 debuted in 2009. According to free antivirus software provider Avast, XP is home to 74 percent of their customers' rookit infections.
Also sharing in the celebrations is Windows 95 which was released 16 years ago today.
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User Comments (18)
Post a comment|
Trillionsin
on August 24, 2011 1:47 PM |
I'll be telling my grandkids about windows XP, and they will say... "wow, that looks so old and has horrible graphics. Grandpa how did you ever use that crappy old OS?!" |
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Lionvibez
on August 24, 2011 2:43 PM |
DIAF windows XP |
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Lurker101
on August 24, 2011 4:12 PM |
Would be interesting to see just how much profit Microsoft has made on Windows XP |
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NTAPRO
on August 24, 2011 4:40 PM |
Now I know what XP stands for! Lol Windows 95... |
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Guest
on August 24, 2011 5:14 PM |
Happy birthday Windows XP !!! |
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kissx
on August 24, 2011 6:48 PM |
We still have a working xp machine. 7 years old. |
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Guest
on August 24, 2011 7:48 PM |
No doubt, We will see Windows XP for another 10 years more !!! Like it or not !!! |
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aj_the_kidd
on August 25, 2011 12:42 AM |
Lurker101 said: Would be interesting to see just how much profit Microsoft has made on Windows XP i'm gonna go out a limb and say allot :p XP 10 years, wow who would have saw that coming? It would probably be dead right now if vista was a hit |
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Guest
on August 25, 2011 11:06 AM |
Gates gave the xp for free to anyone and all blame him (do you remember the cake at airport?). Jobs take their money with no mercy and they love him. I think people are stupid and love pain. Happy birthday |
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SammyJames
on August 25, 2011 12:25 PM |
I'm using XP to post this comment. |
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Guest
on August 25, 2011 4:12 PM |
XP: great software! |
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Guest
on August 26, 2011 4:16 AM |
I have used windows xp till 2010. now I'm using win 7 64bit. btw happy birthday windows xp |
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abe10tiger
on August 26, 2011 5:03 AM |
Dear Windows XP, you've been my OS for a long time now and I've got to say that you rock! I just changed to Windows 7 recently and I already miss XP. No doubt, We will see Windows XP for another 10 years more !!! Like it or not !!!
I agree with you dude! |
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Guest
on August 26, 2011 7:16 PM |
Yep kids these days. When I was 7 years old and started using Windows ME I remember how much fun I had and thought that it was the most advanced operating system compared to the previous ones. |
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Guest
on August 30, 2011 7:05 PM |
10 years! WOW! I'm still using it. Still updating... Win 7 is real younger brother of XP. Vista is abortion. I'm gonna use WinXP forever. That was a rocky road for XP. Tons of viruses in last 7-8 years and XP is still alive. That deserves a toast. CHEERS XP! |
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Neil010
on September 8, 2011 2:47 PM |
I wouldn't really agree with 10 years, but XP will be there for quite some time. The problem is, small businesses can't afford to upgrade, so with poorer countries. Still, it will be sad when one day XP users fall below the 100 unit threshold, and when XP will only be with collectors. |
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caravel
on September 9, 2011 3:40 AM |
Now I know what XP stands for! It stands for "Windows 2000 Service Pack 5". Amazing that people will pay good money for the same OS with a "fisher price" UI tacked on... |
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Guest
on September 11, 2011 12:51 AM |
Split personality here... Using Win 7 at home, but at least 90% of our 300+ computers at work are still running XP. Microsoft's licensing fees are too damn high for our organization to buy into 7, let alone the hardware costs involved. XP still runs fine on our 3-7 year old computers. |
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