I have a new desktop pc. It is awesome. Lightning fast, tons of RAM, a massive 2 TB hard drive, and a 60 GB SSD boot drive. It is powerful, screamin’ fast and whisper quiet…and it uses Windows 7 as its operating system (OS). Damn.
I loved XP, but I have to move on. Aside from the fact that my vendor no longer offers it as a standard OS, much of my newer software requires Windows 7. So I have said adios amigo to my beloved XP (cue sad music)
Microsoft XP…the work horse operating system for (currently) 40% of business users is on its last legs. I know…change is hard, and it works so ding dang well. But come April 8th, 2014 – Microsoft will no longer support XP. “So what?” I have had people asking me. What does this mean for XP users?
It means that as a software company, Microsoft will no longer provide security updates or system fixes. Bottom line is this: you will eventually need to have a computer with a new operating system.
Why?
Good question. Quick answer. XP relies on Microsoft’s engineers providing security updates and system fixes for the operating system. Without these updates the OS become vulnerable to hackers, security risks, and will not be able to keep up with current technology. As IT progresses, so too will the requirements for software and hardware.
Microsoft Windows 7 and Windows 8 support all of the latest technology. And Microsoft will support both at this time, thus providing a more secure and robust OS for your business environment.
You and thousands of businesses around the globe are thinking “Can’t they just keep it working? Don’t take my XP Awaaaaaaaaaaaaaay!”
I know, I know…you like your format, and you don’t have time to learn to do what you now do (so easily with XP) in these new operating systems.
Alas, you are going to have to do it sooner or later. I learned a saying a while back “If you know you have to swallow a frog, swallow it first thing in the morning. If there are two frogs, swallow the big one first.” -Mark Twain. In other words, go ahead and get the hard stuff over with first and go on with your life. This is an apropos saying for those of us who have been holding out and holding on to our ol’ faithful XP machines. My advice…don’t wait until you have no choice. If you need a new computer or if you know you will be purchasing new software in the next 12 months get a head start and get yourself/your business a shiny new Windows 7 or Windows 8 system. Maybe you could go crazy and get a Win 8 Touch sensitive tablet. Then take a few months and learn to use all of your software in these new and very capable operating systems. Go ahead now…swallow that frog!
