14 DAY TRIAL // Microsoft is getting ready to launch the new Windows 8.1, but the company can’t ignore Windows XP users, as the ancient platform will be retired on April 8, 2014.
Redmond has now launched a new reminder aimed at enterprises, trying to explain once again that sticking to Windows XP beyond the retirement date is a very risky decision.
“Technology evolves and will continue to do so. Next April we'll be ending support for Windows XP, as well as Office 2003,” a post of Asavin Wattanajantra and highlighted on TechNet UK reads.
“Very simply, they don’t match up to the requirements of today’s businesses. You're demanding technology that fits the way you work inside and outside of the workplace, as well as the capability to handle the security and compliance challenges of today. XP and Office 2003, which have been around more than a decade, simply aren't up to the task any longer.”
Of course, Windows 8.1 is again promoted as a very effective alternative for Windows XP, as “it was created with the future in mind.”
What these people forget is that switching from Windows XP to the modern Windows 8.1 also requires new hardware, which in most cases is pretty expensive and turns the whole migration process into a very pricey transition.
“You’ll also need to figure out if your Windows XP apps will work on Windows 8.1, and whether you need to new hardware to run the new software on. If in doubt, contact a Microsoft accredited reseller which should be able to give you some valuable advice over Windows XP migration,” the post also reads.
Windows 8.1 is projected to be launched on October 18, while the ancient Windows XP is set to go dark next year on April 8. Both Windows 7 and Windows 8 are now advertised as the top two replacements for XP.