14 DAY TRIAL // Microsoft Windows XP is dead, long live Chrome! This seems to be the motto at Google after the Redmond-based company ended support for the aging operating system this week.
And being the clever tech giant it is, Google immediately picked up the opportunity to advertise a little for its Chromebooks.
Windows XP was one of the most popular OS iterations to come out from Microsoft with 30% of all PCs around the world running this particular operating system. And since Microsoft has axed the support for Windows XP, these users are bound to switch platform. That’s where Google jumps in, waving its hands.
The search giant is targeting the enterprise sector here. Making the switch might be relatively easy if you’re a standalone user at home with only one laptop, but a pretty complex issue if you’re a business with a lot of machines.
Google has anticipated the business headaches, so it is offering $100 / / €73 off every managed device that companies purchase through its Chromebook for Business program.
And that’s not all, Google says that in the eventuality that employees need to access desktop apps, the tech giant has partnered with Citrix and VMWare, so there’s some additional offers involved.
Business users will be able to get $200 / €145 off Chromebooks for Business with VMware Desktop as Service (DaaS). Furthermore, they can get Chromebooks for Business and 25% off Citrix XenApp Platinum Edition that comes complete with AppDNA software, said to facilitate Windows XP migration.
Nevertheless, will this be enough? Microsoft might still be envisioned as holding the upper hand here. Most people have developed a deep familiarity with Windows and Microsoft Office and the change will entail that users get accustomed to a totally different working environment and set of applications.
Chromebooks offers a host of similar functionalities, but die-hard Office fans might never be fully satisfied with what Google has to offer.
Most standalone users have completed the upgrade from Windows XP, but institutions such as the UK or the Dutch governments still have a hard time adjusting to the idea that Windows XP is gone. As a result, they have reportedly paid Microsoft millions in order to receive an extra year of support.
Chromebooks is currently selling pretty well and has been hailed as being responsible for keeping the failing PC market afloat, but will disheartened Windows XP users be able to embrace Chrome OS after all?