Microsoft Throws Windows 98 Under The Bus

Sledgehammer70Sledgehammer70 California Icrontian
edited June 2006 in Science & Tech
After six long years Microsoft has finally had enough of supporting Windows 98 and is abandoning it to the hackers. In the last batch of security patches, Microsoft steadfastly refused to patch a hole in Windows 98 but did so for Windows 2000, XP and Windows server. Support for Windows 98 is suppose to run until July 11th 2006
Some of the Windows 98 users that are still out there say that Microsoft's refusal to do so was foul play, given that support for the aging software does not officially end until July 11.

However, a spokesVole claimed that the changes needed to make the ancient OS safe would have required substantial tinkering with it and it could not be bothered.

He claimed that Windows 2000 was such a significant change in architecture from Windows 98 that applying changes could "jeopardise program compatibility". This might be a bit odd as it has not prevented many security upgrades in the past.
Source: The Inquirer

Comments

  • CycloniteCyclonite Tampa, Florida Icrontian
    edited June 2006
    It's about damn time...
  • ThraxThrax 🐌 Austin, TX Icrontian
    edited June 2006
    I agree.
  • GHoosdumGHoosdum Icrontian
    edited June 2006
    This gets two thumbs up from me!
  • RWBRWB Icrontian
    edited June 2006
    Does this mean the source code can be reverse engineered for others to tinker with?
  • EnverexEnverex Worcester, UK Icrontian
    edited June 2006
    Hmm, I still have a few friends running 98 because they can't afford to upgrade to a newer version of Windows and upgrade their machines to be able to deal with it, I just hope that malware makers have lost interest in the OS enough so that it doesn't almost instantly become a cesspool.
  • GHoosdumGHoosdum Icrontian
    edited June 2006
    Enverex wrote:
    Hmm, I still have a few friends running 98 because they can't afford to upgrade to a newer version of Windows and upgrade their machines to be able to deal with it, I just hope that malware makers have lost interest in the OS enough so that it doesn't almost instantly become a cesspool.

    That sounds like an opportunity to me... an opportunity for you to convince them to make the migration to Linux! :thumbsup:
  • EnverexEnverex Worcester, UK Icrontian
    edited June 2006
    They don't have the time nor inclination to change to a different a certainly more challenging OS. The main issues for them as well as the time consumption of learning the new OS would be that most, if not all of their Windows software would not work (be it games or random specialised programs).
  • TheSmJTheSmJ
    edited June 2006
    Games like what?

    Its silly to expect Microsoft to go to the trouble of rebuilding the OS just because there are people out there who "can't be bothered" to learn a newer, up to date OS. Somebody call the WAAAHHHHHHHHHmbulance!

    The 9x kernel is over 10 years old - what about the people still clinging to Win 3.1? Should they be given a patch for free just because they don't feel like learning something new?
  • EnverexEnverex Worcester, UK Icrontian
    edited June 2006
    ... at what point did I mention that they didn't wish to "learn something new"?
  • CycloniteCyclonite Tampa, Florida Icrontian
    edited June 2006
    I don't know that he was directing his statements at you. I'm in agreement with him. Microsoft is under no obligation to support something that's nearly 8 years old just because people don't feellike upgrading. They've known this was coming for a long time.
  • TheSmJTheSmJ
    edited June 2006
    They don't have the time nor inclination to change to a different a certainly more challenging OS.
  • GobblesGobbles Ventura California
    edited June 2006
    TheSmJ wrote:


    he was refering to moving from windows to linux, not windows to windows. Windows interface has the classic theme which makes the transition from windows to windows easier to do, linux however is completely different. Having used both, windows is just easier to use.
  • EnverexEnverex Worcester, UK Icrontian
    edited June 2006
    What Gobbles said.
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