Will a ‘long goodbye’ for Windows XP push more users to Mac?

If I worked for Microsoft corporate, on today's last day (technically) for Windows XP sales,  I’d be taking a hard look at the reaction of XP users—more than 210,000 of them signed an online petition, Save Windows XP. On the corporate site Microsoft acknowledges emails and messages from XP fans, saying the phase out of the popular OS will be a “long goodbye.” Dell will still offer “downgrades” to XP for an additional fee, and retailers who have the product can still sell it. You can learn more about this at the Microsoft website. Will disappointment in Windows Vista (real or perceived, who knows?) and diminishing availability of XP push more of us over to the Mac?

I’ve had a long love affair with Microsoft. I’ve used Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows ME and Windows XP. Windows ME was my first brush with a system that never really satisfied—it was like driving an undependable car. I had “kick the tire” urges on a regular basis.  The other systems worked well—my favorites were 95 and XP. I’ve been looking at options for a new system for several months, putting off a decision simply because XP still does the trick, only occasionally acting up. I’ve heard bad things and good things about Vista, but we’re pretty much stuck with that option until Windows 7 hits the market, which won’t be for another couple years.

This morning, I phoned the Apple store. I have to confess I’m seriously thinking about getting a Mac for a number of reasons, starting with my abandoning Dell for this next purchase. I’ve bought 4 systems from Dell and with each purchase, customer service declined even though I paid extra for support. The last desktop system I purchased did not perform well with a wireless setup. The laptop I purchased acted the same way, despite my paying Dell to install a wireless network and then paying Comcast as well. Even an IT fellow who’s a friend of ours could not get the laptop to work on a wireless system. “There’s no reason it shouldn’t work,” he told me, throwing up his hands. When an IT guy throws up his hands you’re pretty much done for.

When I called Dell for support, there was a definite language barrier, one so obstructive I realized I had paid for nothing. The flip side of the coin is that when you’re purchasing your system, the sales techs speak flawless comprehendible English. Please note I speak Spanish moderately well—if customer service spoke that language we might have been able to communicate. I came to realize there was no point in paying for tech support I wasn’t getting. After checking out the Mac website, I found a variety of workshops offered and even an option for reserving a spot for one-on-one support.

I’m not prepared to wait 2 years in hopes of a system that will top XP or at least equal it. I’ve heard quite a few complaints about Vista, and to be fair, I’ve also heard some satisfactory remarks. But it’s time for me to change my purchasing habits and those couple hundred thousand XP fans who signed the petition may feel the same way. Maybe those cool Mac ads like the one below (the hound dog is my favorite)  are part of the reason this Windows XP user will now explore the idea of switching to a Mac.