http://www.informationweek.com/story/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=16700356
Windows 98 is finally being put out to pasture to join Windows 95 -- the key factor here being that Microsoft no longer has any obligation to release security hotfixes for either product after 16 January, 2003. I have remarked on the prevalance of 'outmoded' OS before, but to hear statistics quoted that as on the end of 2003 a whopping 27% of all installed Windows machines are W95/98 is something of a stunner. However undesirable these older Windows versions may be on performance grounds [can you spell "crash", Billy?], their 'retired' status now makes them a severe security risk if they are connected to the InterNet.
As this article notes, the softening of the economy made the traditional upgrade in 2000/01, which would have replaced W9x, much less attractive, accounting in part for this lingering OS aroma. But that was then and this is now, where [providing a monitor does not need to be purchased], perfectly reasonable desktop systems have a sticker price around $300. On this basis, it is hard to justify refusing to upgrade, particularly for connected systems, or to look at alternative OS [which, in the case of the penny-pinching, means the latest Linux release].
This is not just a matter of security, important though that may be, but also the deplorable condition of expecting knowledge workers to produce with demonstrably obsolete tools. In previous posts I have been dismissive of what I consider an overly-abbreviated product life cycle for Microsoft's 32-bit systems, but the present case is different, for two reasons:
1) In comparison to the latest Microsoft OS, or even NT, the W9x flavour simply does not work as well; and
2) The product life cycle for W95 in particular is certainly long enough.
That I am not alone in supporting this line of argument is suggested by this article:
http://eletters.wnn.ziffdavis.com/zd1/cts?d=75-105-1-1-618817-4353-1
and more extensive coverage of the implications of retiring W9x is provided here:
http://www.eweek.com/category2/0,4148,1411728,00.asp
And now, in a more recent reprieve, Microsoft has had a change of heart, so "support will now last until June 30, 2006 for Windows 98, Windows 98 SE and Windows Me [sic]":
http://entmag.com/news/article.asp?EditorialsID=6084
I do wish they would make up their minds about this! Even so, the main point remains valid -- Windows 98 is a fading technology, and companies still using it should plan for a replacement now.
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