14 DAY TRIAL // Microsoft doesn’t seem to be willing to extend support for Windows 7, so the company’s number one operating system won’t have the same fate as Windows XP which has been around for no less than 12 years.
As a result, Microsoft will stop mainstream support for Windows 7 on January 12, 2015, while extended support will continue to be offered until January 14, 2020.
Even though Microsoft won’t extend support in a move supposed to push users to its modern operating system, consumer think that Windows 7 will continue to live forever just like its older brother Windows XP.
“There's nothing wrong with Windows 7. Win7 is the only thing keeping my networked computer from going Fedora. Looks like I've got two years to start building my GNU/Linux Desktop unless MS wises up,” one of our readers posted on Softpedia’s Facebook page. “Win7 was their best one yet. It's a shame that they want to close the curtains on it already,” another one added.
As far as Windows XP is concerned, moving users from the ancient operating system remains a pretty tough challenge for Redmond.
At this point, the 12-year-old OS is powering more than 31 percent of computers worldwide, which makes it the second most popular operating system in the world.
Windows 7, on the other hand, remains the top choice for most users worldwide, with figures provided by Net Applications pointing to an astonishing market share of 46 percent.
On the other hand, Microsoft is already planning its long-term strategy, with sources familiar with the matter revealing that more Windows releases are on their way.
In addition to the Windows 8.1 launch scheduled to take place on October 18, word is that a large update is also projected to be unveiled in early 2014, as Microsoft is trying to merge the Windows Store and the Windows Phone Store.
What’s more, Windows 9 is reportedly in the works already, with some early details pointing to a November 2014 release date.