Monthly Archives: April 2009

Windows XP – the longest goodbye ever

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Quietly yesterday, but right on schedule, Microsoft started the process of winding down Windows XP.

The announcement read ” On April 14, Windows XP will transition from the mainstream support phase to the extended support phase, as planned and previously announced”. Microsoft have said however that they will be patching security issues right up to 2014 so with any luck Windows 7 will have either stabilized or perhaps even been superseded by then. In the meantime, you can rest assured that the continually growing netbook market and widespread loathing of Vista will keep XP alive and kicking for a good many users.

BTW, I was surprised to find out that XP has actually been with us since October 2001 so given that an OS has a typical supported life of about 5 years you have to say that its done pretty well.

What d’ya think – will you be rushing to Vista or Windows 7 ?

…. of scarcity and abundance (and the artist formerly known as the artist formerly known as Prince)

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You’ll remember that Prince famously gave away his last album as a cover mount with the Mail On Sunday and, whilst the music bigwigs threw their hands up in horror, a few of us contemplated that the purple one really understood the new economics of scarcity and abundance – particularly after seeing him live.

Last week Prince announced that his 3 new albums – LOtUSFLOW3R, MPLSoUND and Elixer – will be sold as a triple disc set and will probably retail for less than £10 in the UK. Value indeed (even though he only sings on the first two). However consider this … according to the Guardian, Princes other release in 2009 will be … “21 Nights :The Prince Opus, comprising a limited edition book and iPod, has been announced with a price-tag of £1,500″.

Now £1,500 should buy you a one hell of a book and indeed the report claims “its a massive 280 pages, almost two feet wide, and weighing 17kg”. The book documents Prince’s 21-night stand at the O2 arena in 2007, interspersed with lyrics, poetry and photographs by Randee St Nicholas. A engraved iPod, pre-loaded with Prince’s Indigo Nights live album and a special 40 minute film “made by Prince”, documenting the O2 residency is also included in the package. Only 950 sets will be made available and one lucky “buyer” will win a flight to LA for a private Prince gig.

That’s a smell over £1.4m just on the “special offer” and before any album sales

…. of scarcity and abundance or what ?