XP end of life windows update looks like the only solution for end of support from Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT) for its 13-year old discarded offspring.
Windows XP has been and perhaps still is one of the most loved OS' from Microsoft - the bottom line is that it is easy to use and simple in its functionality, making it easy to access without much technical prowess. Of course business and companies use it for the ease of process involved in carrying mundane data storage, payroll etc.
Approximately, 30 percent of Windows users are still counting on the XP to carry from them forward, with some of them using it as a second OS on a backup computer. Nonetheless, Microsoft ( worldwide still rely on XP, an operating system as aged as XP can’t be supported forever.
Nonetheless, reports cite CEO and corporate execs know that certain programs are not compatible with any other OS except the XP. It's like an old glove that just cannot be replaced. On the other hand, Microsoft must consistently push its newer products like Windows 8 and 8.1, Digital Trends reported.
Cliff Saran writing for computerweekly.com shares a bit of history about the ubiquitous XP, "Originally launched in 2001, Windows XP is Microsoft's most successful operating system. Once the company had revamped security and hardened the bug-ridden Internet Explorer (IE) web browser in 2004, XP evolved into a relatively stable platform with the Service Pack 2 (SP2) release.
In truth, nothing will immediately change. End-of-support does not negatively impact existing XP installations in any way. No features will be disabled, no upgrades will be forced, and even technical support will still be relatively easy to come across. Literally millions of articles have been published about tweaking or fixing XP, and they won’t disappear overnight.
Analytics firm Netmarketshare says that Windows XP is commonly used today on an individual and company basis. For some it does seem unfair for the folks at Redmond to pull the plug on XP, which has 12-year’s of operation under its belt.
“Netmarketshare data which shows Windows XP still holding out at 29.53 percent, even though Windows 7 is the current most popular desktop OS, with a market share of 47.31 percent. Windows 8 and 8.1 now account for slightly over 10 percent of the market, at 6.38 and 4.30 percent respectively, continuing their slow uptake velocity,” reports Ars Technica.
44 % of businesses surveyed by Fiberlink are still using Windows XP in the first week of April. And if that sounds a little wacky, 95 percent of the ATMs worldwide on XP cite estimates.
On a long term basis, if money is a factor, running XP is a big 'No-No':
Running XP in a virtual machine may work for now, but this approach is only valid while support is still available for Windows Server 2003. As for running IE6 applications using application visualization, Microsoft’s licensing denies this as an option," reports Computer Weekly.
For another shocking figure on the cost front, IDC estimates suggest that maintaining an XP PC will run you about $870 per year, reports BizTech Magazine. That sounds like a hefty price to pay for a software, from a money perpective.
