Despite Imminent Retirement, More Users Move to Windows XP

If you’re wondering what’s going to happen with Windows XP in two months, the answer is becoming quite obvious. Plenty of users will still be running it when the end of support comes, as new stats show that Windows XP actually boosted its market share last month.

Read the rest here:Despite Imminent Retirement, More Users Move to Windows XP

 

[MasterChief]

XP is certainly not buggy. It is refined. It is also not more prone to virus attacks. It might be in the future since no more support, if no 3rd party firewall or any antivirus installed at all.

 

[ainteinstein]

For those who have not been informed, Microsoft has extended XP's support of MSE till June 15 2015.

Microsoft Security Essentials for Windows XP Updates Until July 2015

Now as to not needing an anti-virus with 8.1, well 8.1 along with 8, does come with MSE, however how good is it? Read the thread here testing MSE. But please remember, even Microsoft recommends you use a third party anti-virus.

Goodbye Microsoft Security Essentials: Microsoft Now Recommends You Use a Third-Party Antivirus
Microsoft Admits That Third-Party Antivirus Is More Effective Than MSE

My opinion on the "metro" start screen? Sorry I like a clean desktop. I like the ability to choose what my desktop looks like and how it behaves. Tiles are for kiddie computers. Works great there to teach toddlers how to use a computer. Although I have to admit, they are more computer savvy then some people I know. And for business? They do not want the tiles, either. Touch Screen? Fine for kiddies but again, for business? Not practical. I myself do not want fingerprints on my screen and then again, for what I use a computer for, not practical. All the metro screen does is takes up space that I could put to better use. And as with all Microsoft products, I can not eliminate what I have no need for.

 

[Crunchy Doodle]

Just a note about XP . . . .

My employer, a Fortune 500 company, has decreed that all XP machines are to be disconnected from the company network in the next several weeks. They will all be replaced with newer Windows 7 machines.

Bye.

 

[whs]

Just a note about XP . . . .

My employer, a Fortune 500 company, has decreed that all XP machines are to be disconnected from the company network in the next several weeks. They will all be replaced with newer Windows 7 machines.

Bye.

Another case where Windows 8.1 looses out. And it's such a nice system - as some say.

 

[EMINENT]

Just a note about XP . . . .

My employer, a Fortune 500 company, has decreed that all XP machines are to be disconnected from the company network in the next several weeks. They will all be replaced with newer Windows 7 machines.

Bye.

It's a safe bet, no doubt.

They're only shooting themselves in the foot once MS hits day one with the unified store and phones. WP8.1 is getting some much needed enterprise features. Tablets on 8.x are already worlds better than deploying a 7 desktop and separate ipad.

Just terrible. I'd hate to be part of managing that expense for any company.

 

[ainteinstein]

Why do people love to forget that part of the reason why businesses are moving to 7 or stubbornly sticking with XP, is their Software? That Software, which they use and need to run their business, originally cost them, shall we say, "big bucks". And guess what? As with most of all Microsoft New OS's, the new OS does not accept/support old software. Where are they to go?

 

[whs]

Why do people love to forget that part of the reason why businesses are moving to 7 or stubbornly sticking with XP, is their Software? That Software, which they use and need to run their business, originally cost them, shall we say, "big bucks". And guess what? As with most of all Microsoft New OS's, the new OS does not accept/support old software. Where are they to go?

Plus the cost for training all the end users. If you have 60.000 end users like e.g. the city of Berlin that are sitting on XP, you are talking big money - especially since many of those city employees are, lets say, conservative.

The city of Munich changed the OS a while ago. They were radical and moved to Linux. It was a 2 year project that cost many millions. But at the end they saved big bucks too and are still saving every year to come.

 

[Tepid]

Like I say, there are some advantages to Win8 in the corporate environment.
However, I would also say, and I think I have,, maybe not, Win8 is somewhat better suited to the consumer side for now.
I can see way corporations would not adopt Win8 and still use Win7. And honestly there is nothing wrong with that.
It would not mean Win8 was a failure. Consumers can drive that as much as Corporations can.
The failure comes from so many deriding Win8 just by it's new looks and appeal,
without actually getting to know, and learning how to use it properly.

Corporations, should still have a lab of testing going on with Win8 to learn how they can properly utilize it in their Environment.

I know the following is available in Win7, but my understanding is, it has been improved in Win8.
VDI is getting more utilization, but Windows To Go could be implemented for people who travel a lot.
Windows 8.1 - What's New, IT Pro Features, Devices, UI | TechNet

There is a lot of potential in Win8.x ,,, some of it, there in Win7 as well, but again, much improved and many additions over Win7.
I don't think many IT Dept's actually utilize Windows in general to it's full potential on many fronts. Never really have.

People really should get past their petty differences over Win8.x and actually learn about it.
They might be surprised to find that they might actually like it.

Getting started tutorials for Windows - Microsoft Windows

More info on the enterprise side....
Windows 8.1 - Free Download, ISO, Support, Guide, Help | TechNet

 

[whs]

Tepid, we can talk all day praising the virtues of 8.1 - fact is that people are not buying. And I don't expect that to change - even not with the freebie they are trying to launch now. Let's hope they do a better job with 9.

 

[popeye]

I wish this section allowed rep points. Won't bother people with PM's. Sure are some disparaging comments towards XP people. I could care less what OS someone else uses as long as mine works.

Now, business use is something different.

 

[gator2013]

Tepid, we can talk all day praising the virtues of 8.1 - fact is that people are not buying. And I don't expect that to change - even not with the freebie they are trying to launch now. Let's hope they do a better job with 9.

I think MS added insult to injury with the botched store upgrade to 8.1. Just think of the thousands of people that bought new PC the latter half of 2013 and especially through the Holiday Season and most were most likely preloaded with Windows 8. I purchased my new HP Desktop in Dec. of 2013. The retail outlets were promoting the free upgrade to 8.1 and MS was overly promoting the upgrade and making it very easy. Wonderful, all these folks with 6 months old equipment and many more with brand new equipment did the store upgrade and crash. I don't think there are very many that made it through the upgrade with ZERO problems while most had issues from minor to major. I really sympathize with the average users that did not know how to fix the issues. Just look at the problems seen on this forum alone and the HP Support Forum is flooded with 8.1 upgrade problems. I dare say the average user doesn't even know much about driver updates and those are some of the easiest things to fix and not to mention how the 8.1 upgrade compromised the Refresh and Recovery options. I think some manufacturers were more prepared than others and I think it was also model specific. I upgraded my new HP Desktop immediately after making the Recovery Disks and spent some time making sure everything was as up-to-date as possible prior to the download. My system took to it very well but I am still working through some errors but nothing significant and no BSOD issues or anything close to what I have been reading about but I will most likely do a clean install of 8.1 in the not too distant future.

My 12yo PC Pentium 4 1.6 has always been on XP with all the SP's and updates and I maxed it out over the years with additional internal HDD, max memory, twin CD/DVD Read/Writers and more but there was nowhere to go forward and it is now my backup, sitting right next to my new Desktop. I had used XP and everything that preceded it but never had any exposure to Vista or Seven and only a couple of days using Windows 8 and from my experience 8.1 is so far ahead of XP it is not worth comparing. And YES, I almost exclusively use the desktop.

Bottom Line: MS had enough issues with Windows 8, especially with 7 users but they totally bottomed out with the 8.1 upgrade and the way they did it. It's no wonder the reputation of Windows 8 is in the trash.

 

[HippsieGypsie]

LOL! What a coincidence! I was visiting the grandson today. He showed me his new riding dinosaur toy. I asked him "Is that your new friend?" "Yes" he said. "What's his name?" I asked. "XP!" he shouted. "XP? Why XP? I asked. "Dah, Grandpa! Short for Expired! Because he's so old!"

I just had to take a pic.

 

[vrosa]

I still run XP in some older rigs, but it wouldnt make sense to have it in my newer systems.

For my computer activities I use:
Windows 8.1 Pro ~ 70%
Windows 7 Ult ~ 15%
Windows XP ~ 10%
Ubuntu 13.10 ~ 5%

 

[ainteinstein]

HippsieGypsie, if you really want to show your grandson a picture of a "dinosaur" show him an ATM machine. With 95% of the world's ATM's still running XP, it should not be too difficult to find one to show that XP has not expired, yet.

 

[whs]

Now I know why all these people were camping arount the ATM machines. They are waiting for April when the machine spits out all the money, LOL.

 

[HerrKaLeun]

Must be statistical error. Who would today move from W2000 or ME to XP? Especially in numbers outweighing the people leavin XP.
And did those people have legit XP licences laying around just to wait to install XP right before support ends?

 

[whs]

Statistics is when you gather data to prove a predefined result.

 

[Coke Robot]

I have a 16 year old car that runs wonderfully. I love it despite the 'old technology'.

I also have a 1 year old car with all the modern gizmos you can think of. I hate it even with the prestigious star in the front. I am on page 257 of the 583 page user manual. I wonder what all the things are I will discover next. And I have not even touched the 262 page user manual for the radio.

I have a 24 year 3 month and 4 day old car that I still service and work on and runs just fine. It does not have airbags and that's fine by me. I've read through the whole owner's manual front to back.

But I still like some modern gizmos like electronic traction control and limited slip differentials.

But I don't like old operating systems very prone to malware to be still used by people that do online banking. My credit union still uses Windows xp....

 

[ainteinstein]

whs,

Wow...Thank-you for reminding me. With card in hand I shall stand in front of the ATM and plan...

And now on a more serious note, according to Chase, only 15% of their ATM's will be updated by April...to Windows Seven. From what I have been reading, Businesses are going with Seven, not Eight. What does that say?

Actually, it is the businesses who are holding on to XP
Windows XP won't die without a fight | Microsoft - CNET News

 

[Coke Robot]

whs,

Wow...Thank-you for reminding me. With card in hand I shall stand in front of the ATM and plan...

And now on a more serious note, according to Chase, only 15% of their ATM's will be updated by April...to Windows Seven. From what I have been reading, Businesses are going with Seven, not Eight. What does that say?

Actually, it is the businesses who are holding on to XP
Windows XP won't die without a fight | Microsoft - CNET News

That businesses and enterprise aren't going to reinvest tens of millions of dollars in IT to reevaluate their whole plans of mitigation that some have spent literally since the release of Windows 7 JUST because there is a new version out....