Windows 2000 discontinued?

[Alpine]

article from w2knews.com:

A reader in New Zealand received this message from their MS reseller. They had received this from Microsoft locally.

"Windows 2000 Server Has Been Discontinued.

On 26 March Microsoft announced that Windows 2000 Server, Windows 2000 CALs, Windows 2000 Terminal Services CALs and Windows 2000 Internet Connectors were to be discontinued as of 1 April 2003. If you require Windows 2000 Server/CALs etc. they can purchase Windows Server 2003 instead and downgrade to 2000. They can do this without relinquishing the rights to Windows Server 2003 so they can install this version whenever they like. Media kits for Windows Server 2003 are expected to be available on 24 April."

We got a bit mystified, and asked MS for clarification. This is their answer:

"Although a number of the Windows 2000 Server SKUs came off the April Price book there is still, Windows 2000 Server "Licenses and CALS" available. There is no "official" notice in such things. If a customer wants to buy Windows 2000 server licenses they can, by purchasing the Windows 2003 license which is cheaper and then use the downgrade rights to get Windows 2000. Once they use Windows 2000 (by ordering the media still available on the price list if they don't already have it) then the Windows 2000 EULA and rights come into effect so they are not disadvantaged in any way. To the contrary in fact as the customer then also has rights to change up to Windows 2003 when they wish.

My comment: Oh. So it has not been discontinued, but you cannot buy it anymore. [grin]

Source: http://www.w2knews.com/

[~*McoreD*~]

I feel like it is too early for Microsoft to discontinue Windows 2000. Well, yes they are gonna release Windows 2003 Server on 24th this month. But a considerable number of people will be still using Windows 2000.
I could now predict SP4 will be the final service pack for Windows 2000.

[Darkwolven]

Huh? There is a road map on the MS website that shows when each OS will be dropped from support and I don't remember seeing Win 2k server being dropped anytime soon. Think they are trying to force a switch to Win 2k3 server??

[billybob3]

Here's what I want to know: I can understand why Microsoft might want to cut phone support for their software, but why remove it from their website? I don't know if this is true or not, but I read somewhere that with Windows 95, they removed all of the help documents online....??

[Stringent]

MS is always trying to shift people from an old OS to a new one. However there are still people using NT4 Server still! Its a bit bold of them to do this.

[robinwilson16]

Yes it does seem a bit early to be doing this.
They just want everyone to keep upgrading and buying the latest versions and giving them money, lol

[Alpine]

Quote:

Originally posted by robinwilson16@Apr 22 2003, 02:56 AM

They just want everyone to keep upgrading and buying the latest versions and giving them money, lol

I agree