Windows XP is retiring at the end of the month, like all its predecessors. After seven years of service, Microsoft is ending sale of the operating system to PC manufacturers. It sounds scary but every dark cloud has a silver lining. I am sure the news could not come at a better time, after all we have been through a lot together with Windows XP. The average computer user has spent over 8000 hours using Windows XP and is the system most used to the connect us to the Internet. So if you're not ready to make the switch to the world of slick graphics and smooth animation that is Windows Vista, what are you going to do after the cut-off?
One of the most successful operating systems of all time is retiring at the end of the month. Microsoft will stop selling and licensing Windows XP to PC manufacturers.
Since its release, Windows XP has become the widest used system to connect a lot of us to the Internet for the first time with the average PC user having spent 8000 hours using. Now that is something to tell our kids!
So if are convinced that Windows Vista is not worth the hassle despite its appeal of slick 3D aero interface graphics, what are options after the cut-off date?
Assistance for Windows XP Issues
In terms of getting support for the numerous technical issues that XP users come across everyday, some form of support from Microsoft will exist until at least 2014, so that gives you another six years, although the support may be more difficult to get hold of.
You may want to purchase a premium tech support service to get around this problem or purchase software to keep your registry in tact. Or you can search on tech forums as there is a good chance if you have a problem that other users will also have the same problem, far easier than asking Microsoft for support.
Acquiring XP on New PC
As for buying XP on a new PC , despite the bosses at Microsoft quite categorically stating that you won't be able to do so after 30th June , in reality you will. So they lied , but it's actually done us XP lovers a favor , so we're not going to complain.
You'll still be able to get XP for quite a while on most machines made by companies who have outstanding XP licenses that they need to get rid of , and the same goes for retailers who have a backlog of operating systems that they need to shift.
Switching Operating Systems
Downgrade rights are the second way for you to get your hands on a new computer with XP. If a manufacturer has downgrade rights from Microsoft, they'll be able to sell you a PC that started on Vista, but which they downgraded to XP before they sold it to you.
If this is the case, you'll be supplied with the discs for XP and it's drivers, as well as the same discs for Vista, so you can re-upgrade at a later date if you decide to. Dell have confirmed that they will make this option open to customers, but it only lasts out until January 31st next year.
'Limited Hardware Capabilities'
The final way you're going to be able to get XP is by purchasing a computer with what Microsoft refers to as having 'limited hardware capabilities,' a solution which is open until June 2010. This is basically a machine that can't handle the enormous demands of Vista, so has to run XP instead, and includes laptops with low power CPUs, and low cost desktop PCs which have slow processors, not much RAM, and no separate processor for graphics.
XP is Still Hanging On
Windows XP still has many more years ahead of it, even if Microsoft wants everyone to upgrade to Vista or its successor. XP support is likely to extend well into the next decade allowing us enough time to get used to the idea.
