Maybe you didn’t get to enjoy Windows 7 as much as you wanted. Who cares? Windows 8 is coming, according to the latest rumours, on April 8, 2012, according to ZDnet. Why so fast? Windows 8 is also intended for tablets, that’s one niche where Microsoft has no spot yet. Unfortunately, as we’ve seen so far, the ones that hurried to throw something into the market just to compete the iPad (see HP TouchPad), made a big mistake.
Nonetheless, Microsoft seems commited to rounding up the work for Windows 8 and really, but really, wants us to give up Windows XP. But I love it! As I am writing this piece of news, my laptop is quietly running on XP, because it can’t take more and I’m too lazy to update it. But really, XP is great, so is Windows 7, but I’m not sure I’ll be able to give up XP that soon. However, me and the other XP hooked people might have to. The OS is reaching its retirement – there are only 1,000 days left, but Microsoft has already taken measures.
“Windows XP had an amazing run and millions of PC users are grateful for it. But it’s time to move on,” Microsoft’s Stephen Rose wrote on the Windows Team Blog. That;s why, starting with April 8, 2014, Microsoft will stop supporting XP. This means that we can kiss good-bye security patches and hotfixes, leaving XP totally vulnerable. If you are thinking that there’s still a lot of time left, think about the following aspect: Microsoft has already switched to a limited Windows XP support – there are security fixes for all users, the non-security updates are offered only to companies with a support contract. Moreover, Internet Explorer 9, the latest version of the web browser, is not supported in Windows XP.
Microsoft is thinking mostly about its enterprise customers that might not upgrade their computers. Thus, on Microsoft’s blog there’s a warning for such lazy ones: half of companies that don’t start upgrading by early 2012 will not be able to the process before support ends, and will incur increased costs. Are they willing to risk that? So, these are XP’s last breaths. May it rest in peace!
PS: We might see a beta build of Windows 8 in September (2011) when Microsoft has its developers conference.
Source: PC World
