14 DAY TRIAL // Microsoft has officially announced Windows 8.1 pricing and packaging a few hours ago, so the company also used the occasion to talk about Windows XP and its retirement date.
Windows XP will no longer receive updates and security patches as of April 8, 2014, so Microsoft wants everyone to move to a modern operating system as soon as possible.
This time, the company recommends users to at least give Windows 8.1 a try, no matter what device they own, as the new OS supports both touch and mouse and keyboards.
“Businesses that are still running Windows XP need to accelerate testing and migration to a modern operating system – like Windows 7 or Windows 8.1 – as soon as possible before end of support occurs on April 8, 2014. If you are currently deploying Windows 7, begin evaluating Windows 8.1 for all devices, including touch and mouse and keyboard options,” Microsoft noted.
Windows XP is still powering more than 33 percent of computers worldwide and remains one of the top operating systems all over the world.
Microsoft, on the other hand, hopes to kill two birds with one stone: move consumers from Windows XP and also expand the user base of the new 8.1.