MSN Forcing users to 'Latest Version'

[GommeInc]

I'd say more people use mobile versions of Messenger than they do with XP friendly programs, but that's going by the large amount of people on my one with "Using ebuddy" I have seen in the last few weeks

[Jack!]

I'd say more people use mobile versions of Messenger than they do with XP friendly programs, but that's going by the large amount of people on my one with "Using ebuddy" I have seen in the last few weeks

Lots of people i know have been getting blackberry's, so i keep seeing more and more people on MSN on them

[HotelUser]

Lots of people i know have been getting blackberry's, so i keep seeing more and more people on MSN on them

Blackberry phones can use MSN? I thought they had a hard time loading absolutely any webpage at all to begin with

I'd just use this as an excuse to use Kopete or Pidgin - haven't used Microsoft's official messaging clients in years.

[Recursion]

Blackberry phones can use MSN? I thought they had a hard time loading absolutely any webpage at all to begin with

I'd just use this as an excuse to use Kopete or Pidgin - haven't used Microsoft's official messaging clients in years.

MS have an App out for WLM on the BB.

[peteyt]

Recursion from what I've seen a lot of places still use XP including myself. My University I believe uses XP. I agree its getting old and its a pain, but that's why they have a date, 2014. Simply cutting off support for a well used operating system like that could cause backlash. I think Microsoft would rather have as many users on Windows Live Messenger then actually having to force them to use competition. I occasionally read magazines at the store I work in on breaks and times when it is dead, and from what I've saw in the computer ones, XP still has a large audience.

Plus its not like they have to do any work on it. They could easily allow users to use the old version with just a warning or something, that way they'd be covering themselves and not have to bother with updating the software. I mean I'm sure one program I've used has just recently dropped Windows 2000 support, So I'm sure XP can hold on a little longer.

As I mentioned in a previous post, If you have security on your computer then you'll be safe for now. Most major antivirus providers still create stuff for XP, knowing that it is still largely used so as long as you have your computer secure you will be safe using XP.

I'm not saying to keep XP. I plan to upgrade myself when I can afford it. Funnily enough as I've just been writing it, I wondered the reason's why I haven't upgraded and that's because most software I need works for XP. The question is would most people upgrade their operating system for MSN to work? The answer for me is definitely no. If more and more software developers started designing stuff for just Vista and XP then I would change but at the moment my wallet isn't that full and there's nothing really making me need to upgrade quickly.

[Firehorse]

I don't care so much for the look and layout of the 2011 version, infact I quite like some new features. But the reason I went back was because of horrendous performance issues. Even people using systems twice the power of mine were having terrible lag just simply typing into a text box and having to totally restart the program before it would return in a few minutes. My other grope was while you had only your first and last name on display, other people saw your last display name before you upgraded, and you can't change it! (They even saw your old one when they were using the 2011 version).

I think microsoft has gone downhill since bill gates left a couple of years ago. This is an unfinished product that still shouldn't have been released yet, and the developing team have shown no priority in fixing the performance issues or taking feedback onboard.

[Moh]

I don't see any reason in upgrading from Windows XP when it still works perfectly fine and since most versions of windows are based on Windows NT, there isn't much problem with software compatibility. The only compatibility issues is whether it's 32-bit or 64-bit or hardware issues.

My other laptop is running XP and I could choose to upgrade it, but I don't see much point when XP will run much better than Windows 7 on it. Plus if I upgraded, I would have to set-up its network.

Companies and schools also use XP due to the fact it's costy, they would need to upgrade most of their hardware, the client software will most probably change, they would need to train their staff on how to use the new system.

As for windows live, I really don't wish to upgrade to WLM11. I use WLM as an instant messenger, I don't want all this "Social MSN" crap. They're trying to change an IM to a social networking site. If I wanted to chat & have social updates, I would use facebook.

I like WLM9 because of the large area for contacts listing. From the looks of things, WLM11 is just a tiny little box that will require a hell lot of scrolling.

[Firehorse]

From the looks of things, WLM11 is just a tiny little box that will require a hell lot of scrolling.

You can change the layout to be like the old versions.

[GommeInc]

You can change the layout to be like the old versions.

^ What he said. The "traditional" compact view doesn't even suggest what's happening in everybody elses lives, so you don't even have to worry about it spilling into the traditional view

The name thing isn't much of a worry either, which I believe is one worry people have. If you don't want people knowing your surname or you don't want it too formal, just put a dot or something in the surname field and you're fine

[Markeh]

I'm going to upgrade ONE of my systems to the new MSN, configure it just how I want it before the force upgrade...

EDIT: You would HAVE to change the layout on pretty much any netbook.

Netbooks are advertised for web access, IM and email, remember... surely a netbook-optimised option wouldn't be too much to ask for...