14 DAY TRIAL // Microsoft goes on with its plans to discontinue Windows XP and in case nothing is changed until April, the 12-year-old operating system should go dark in approximately two months.
The problem with Windows XP is that many users are still running it right now, probably impressed with its reliability and performance, especially when it comes to low-spec computers that can’t cope with the requirements of a modern operating system.
According to statistics provided by market researcher Net Applications, Windows XP is currently installed on more than 28 percent of computers worldwide which, to be honest, is quite impressive given the fact that XP was officially released in 2001.
Since millions of users are still on Windows XP right now, it’s no surprise that Microsoft is often criticized for its decision to discontinue the platform, even though it’s pretty clear that at some point, everybody needs to get off this OS version and move to something that’s more secure and capable of boasting modern technologies.
And still, Windows XP has a special place in our hearts, not only because it was one of the most successful Windows versions ever, but also because it had everything a user could ask for, including a Start Menu and a pretty good-looking UI for that time.
Time has passed by, so users are every once in a while encouraged to move to Windows 7 or Windows 8.1, even though hardware upgrades are also involved in order to be able to run these operating systems.
Of course, not everyone is prepared to start the transition, so Microsoft warns that sticking to XP beyond retirement is a very risky decision, especially because hackers would try to exploit every found vulnerability in the software. Without patches, your data will be exposed, the company says.
That’s why we decided to hear your opinion on this. Should Windows XP be retired or it’s better for Microsoft to extend support until everybody makes the switch to another Windows version?
Let us know what you think in the comment box below.
Here are a few questions to get you started:
• Are you still running Windows XP? • What was your favorite feature in Windows XP? • Should Microsoft keep Windows XP alive for older hardware? • Should Microsoft make Windows XP open source and let the community take care of it? • What if Microsoft decides to make Windows 9 a modern interpretation of Windows XP? • Which one is better? Windows XP, Windows 7, Windows 8.1. • The way Windows XP users should go: Windows 7, Windows 8.1, Ubuntu.