Microsoft’s Upgrade Mandate for SP2 Perks Ruffles Few Feathers

Microsoft’s announcement that it will no longer support Internet Explorer patching for older versions of Windows will have little or no impact on resellers and their customers, although it may cause temporary pain for some.

Although the move may create pain for some customers in the short term, some say it is necessary.

“If Microsoft can leverage internal resources by focusing on current projects instead of supporting outdated technology, that can only be beneficial for all Microsoft users in the long run,” said Lief Morin, president of Key Information Systems Inc., a Woodland Hills, Calif., systems integrator.

But even though it’s a move that must take place—at least at some point—many people may complain that it’s simply too soon, creating a situation in which Microsoft may have to retreat, Stone said.

“I think they will back off,” Stone said. “History has shown that Microsoft has done that when there is a large enough outcry.”

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