GM keeps building cars on XP

Putting a dent into Microsoft's effort to resuscitate Windows Vista, carmaker General Motors says it is considering skipping the OS release entirely.

In an interview with BusinessWeek, GM technology chief Fred Killeen said that, for now, he's sticking with Windows XP.

"We're considering bypassing Vista and going straight to Windows 7," Killeen told the magazine. In particular, he pointed to the higher hardware requirements that would require many PCs in GM's fleet to be replaced. "By the time we'd replace them, Windows 7 might be ready anyway," he said.

Microsoft has said fairly little thus far about Windows 7. The company had said that it will arrive by 2010, although comments by Bill Gates in Miami last month suggested it might arrive sooner.

[42istheanswer]

Smart move on GM's part. Vista isn't worth the effort of hardware upgrade. Software compatibility and driver support sucks still. Overall M$ dropped the ball on this one. I'm skeptical now where I used to be supportive. XP rocks now that they got it patched and stable. Stick with it peeps.

[eBob1]

This does not surprise me in the least. A lot of companies are planning to wait out Vista for the next version of Windows. Personally, I am planning to do the same. I have seen no compelling reason to go to Vista.

[delf76]

for our Laptops, we are going to Put Vista on them. As for Desktops, we are going to put Vista on them as we replace them.

[Melekai]

Don't hold you're breath, from what I hear Windows 7 is nothing more than Vista II.

[sanenazok]

And you know this how?

[Vonmaxx]

I am going to buy some more XP pro while it is still around.

[Galaxy5]

Exxon-Mobil only completed its desktop transition to XP in 2006. They look set to skip Vista as well.

[imacpwr]

Every new version of Windows has had higher hardware requirements, why is everyone thinking "Windows 7" is going to be any different...???

[Imalittleteapot]

Because there is a rumor going around that it is modular where the code has been separated from itself somehow so one can strip out what they don't need for the task at hand. Basically, a Vista without all the stuff you don't need for what you're doing. Instead of hacking the registry or doing it yourself the setup would just ask you what you need making the OS much lighter for its specific task. However, it's just a rumor, nobody knows if it is true, and personally I still wonder how that would be better than XP where you can install everything at once and still run on low end hardware. That's just my opinion though.

[driven01]

Why wait for Windows 7? I've started to switch to OSX as I upgrade computers. For the newer machines that we keep I'm putting Ubuntu on them. With Open Office as a cross-platform solution there is very little pain in this change, and reduced hardware requirements across the board.

[sanenazok]

They want to save money and retraining so OS X looses on both fronts (especially money). If they want to replace their computers, they would go for Linux, not OS X.

[nsupp]

Good for them! I like when people (or companies) do the sensible thing, and don't switch when it isn't needed. Win XP is a much better OS (at the moment), so there is no point to invest millions of dollars to get a worse OS. http://www.custompcmax.com

[BigDawgDoug]

Most companies feel this way. Microshaft really screwed the pooch on Vista. They took too long. They delayed the release date too many times. Didn't sort out driver and compatibility issues before the release. Didn't work with manufacturers enough. Really pissed off customers to the point that people are getting a new machine with Vista and rolling back to XP because they can't stand Vista. I was at the Vista launch party and when I saw their hardware req's my jaw dropped. I knew right there and then that this was going to be a HUGE BOMB. Microsoft made crappy software before, this is just their biggest pile of dung to date. Maybe they will actually LISTEN to customers and ask then what they want and not TELL us what they think we should have. Ohh wait. they will promise a million dollars and deliver 10 bucks! LOL

[DougG]

It isn't just GM. ESPN, which has lots and lots of PCs, uses WinXP Pro at its digital broadcast center (which is the largest in the world). Not a Vista in sight.

[fred dunn]

Well of course. If they didn't GM would be able to find any drivers.....
Get it? I kill myself....I really do.

[mwooge]

Higher hardware requirements isn't really a problem with a new OS. New features or a better-running OS is what matters. Unfortunatly, Vista delivers little of the former and a negative performance increase. I'm not worried about Windows 7 needing better hardware, but I won't get it unless it's an improvement on XP. (Which Vista very much isn't.)

[AppleSuxLeo]

You mean Automobiles and Jets , etc. are not designed on a Mac ? Sarcasm people. I just found out AutoCad that is used to designs such billion dollar jets as the "Dreanliner" is Windows only ! As well as the best speech-recognition software on the planet , Dragon Naturally Speaking. Stick that in your pipe Mr Steve Jobs !