17 Aug
2004
17 Aug
'04
3:19 a.m.
On Tue, 17 Aug 2004, Cameron Kaiser wrote:
This isn't true, actually -- Microsoft did try to
kill Win 98, but they
received so many complaints from home and corporate users (Win98 is still
in use on a large segment of machines) that they still offer support
through windowsupdate for critical-level security patches (the most recent
PNG vulnerability, as well as the ADODB exploit, for example, were all
patched for 98 and ME as well).
While Microsoft will no longer sell you 98, they have extended the period
of time for which they will support it. I don't recall the official kill
off date, but it's still off in the future.
There is a big difference between
"supporting" an OS, and issuing
patches for critical flaws. Microsoft no longer supports W98 as
a product, meaning, the entire development process was stopped,
a long time ago. They d, however, provide patches for critical
problems, if and when they see fit, meaning, if the extra time
needed to do it for W98 isn't too much. Officially, it is no
longer supported, other than this "best effort" offer.
--f