14 DAY TRIAL // Microsoft will soon stop releasing patches and security updates for Windows XP, so users must move all their data and apps to a newer platform as soon as possible.
Steve Yeap, general manager of industrial instruments provider Ansac Technology, one of the companies that already abandoned Windows XP in favor of Windows 7, explains in a statement that it takes around 9 months to completely dump XP for a newer OS.
The main reason is that each and every user has to first test the compatibility of the software he needs on the platform he’s going to embrace, be it Windows 7 or Windows 8.
“At that time, we made a conscious decision to migrate to Windows 7 when we bought new desktops and laptops,” he says, explaining that his company’s transition from Windows XP started two years ago.
Microsoft warns that sticking to Windows XP is extremely risky for users, not only because no patches will be released after April 8, 2014, but also because hackers will most likely try to exploit the OS much more than before.
“We recommend that customers running computers with Windows XP take action and update or upgrade their PCs before the end-of-support date. If Windows XP is still being run in your environment and you feel that migration will not be complete by April 8, 2014, or you haven't begun migration yet, Microsoft is eager to help,” the company said back in October, just ahead of the public launch of Windows 8.
According to statistics provided by market researcher Net Applications, Windows XP is currently powering 37.13 percent of computers worldwide, down from 37.73 percent in May 2013.
It remains the second most popular operating system right now, as Windows 7 continues to top the rankings with a market share of 44.37 percent.