Seems to me that it would be a good moment for governments to intervene and put an end to this nonsense about dictated obsolescence and cessation of support. Good software should be expected to last 20 years.
Says someone who has evidently not spent much time in the IT industry, let alone software development.
"dictated obsolescence and cessation of support" is a nonsense that only uneducated consumers spout out.
IT is complex with a rapid pace of change, all parties involved have to continually adapt to new developments (and new requirements from customers). Developing software costs a shedload of money, maintaining software costs another shedload of money.... you can't support it all for ever, it simply would not make a viable business model.
And before you spout the words "open source"....no, that model doesn't work either. Sure you've got access to armies of "free" coders, but the design, QA, documentation, end-user support and other aspects are poor ! Open Source has its uses, but you have to be able to put up with its downsides.
"Good software should last for 20 years" .... yeah, right !
Anyone know if governments make arrangements for the software that they buy to be supported outside the public arena ?
Anyone with enough money in their bank account can write Microsoft a cheque which will extend the support coverage of EOL software for up to 3 years post EOL date.