When will Microsoft pull plug on your Windows or Office?

The countdown for Windows XP is about to get serious. In one year, Microsoft officially stops supporting XP. What happens when the clock runs out? And how long until your current version of Windows or Office suffers the same fate?

Read more at source:
When will Microsoft pull the plug on your version of Windows or Office? | ZDNet

 

[msdos622wasfun]

Let's see ... clock, check. File manager, check. Simple word processor, check. Time-wasting game, check.

Heck, what more do you need? Makes me wonder why I just put 16 GB of RAM in my rig.

Hi there
Well PLEASE end our suspense -- Why did you.
Cheers
jimbo

Heh. Oh heck, I'm aware that having as much as RAM as possible is beneficial in certain scenarios. I was just being smart-alecky.

Sometimes I don't push my main desktop PC any further than a normal person might -- web surfing, e-mail, editing Office documents, etc. But sometimes I do engage in some heavy multitasking/gaming, virtual machines, and programs than can benefit from having more RAM (music production software using soft synths), so combined with bragging rights, I guess I felt it was time to take it to the next level (since I was putting in a new motherboard as well).

I guess the point I was making is that it's easy to succumb to the notion that you need a lot to do just basic things. Some people don't understand why somebody would want to buy a car with insane amounts of horsepower, since you are not legally allowed to use it to its potential anyway (unless you take it on a race track). The point may be valid. But then again, like the old saying goes, "Why do it? Because it's there. Because I can."

 

[jimbo45]

Let's see ... clock, check. File manager, check. Simple word processor, check. Time-wasting game, check.

Heck, what more do you need? Makes me wonder why I just put 16 GB of RAM in my rig.

Hi there
Well PLEASE end our suspense -- Why did you.
Cheers
jimbo

Heh. Oh heck, I'm aware that having as much as RAM as possible is beneficial in certain scenarios. I was just being smart-alecky.

Sometimes I don't push my main desktop PC any further than a normal person might -- web surfing, e-mail, editing Office documents, etc. But sometimes I do engage in some heavy multitasking/gaming, virtual machines, and programs than can benefit from having more RAM (music production software using soft synths), so combined with bragging rights, I guess I felt it was time to take it to the next level (since I was putting in a new motherboard as well).

I guess the point I was making is that it's easy to succumb to the notion that you need a lot to do just basic things. Some people don't understand why somebody would want to buy a car with insane amounts of horsepower, since you are not legally allowed to use it to its potential anyway (unless you take it on a race track). The point may be valid. But then again, like the old saying goes, "Why do it? Because it's there. Because I can."

Hi there
Wasn't "having a Go" at you -- just was being my usual cynical self. However the point I was trying to make was that for a large percentage of users the BEST thing you can do to improve performance is to start using SSD's.

Cheers
jimbo

 

[Der Snoober]

My God, to think that an operating system has lasted literally until 2014, geeeez! Seriously, time to get rid of it. The NT 5 kernel isn't a very secure one, as the MASSIVE chunk of updates to xp were literally just security based ones. LITERALLY. I once installed xp SP2 in a VM one day, and it took a few hours to get ALL the updates just to get to SP3. There were well over 100 security based updates. I think 168 stands out.... There were some performance ones though. Then came SP3, and about 90 more security updates after SP3 was just security patches..... Once 2014 hits, what happens if there a security hole that gets finagled out by some hackers that can end up being fatal in the enterprise? I kind of wonder if some of the companies that were hacked into recently had xp going on their systems.....

Thirteen years is by far too long for one operating system.

SO much technologically has changed: CRT monitors to LCD, PS/2 to USB based EVERYTHING, PATA to SATA, hard drive to SSD, wired keyboards and mice to wireless and Bluetooth devices, desktop to laptop to ultrabook to tablet, 120 gig hard drives to being large to 1 TB being close to a desktop standard, 1 TB 2.5" hard drives that are thinner than the hard drives that were in the first xp tablet PCs, BIOS to UEFI BIOS, IDE to AHCI, single core CPUs to quad core ones with GPUs even more powerful, DirectX 9 to 11.1, and SO SO much more. That's just the Windows PC. It's odd to think that there were several parts manufacturers that were/are making xp drivers for brand new hardware just to get some use out of it whereas 7 or even 8 would use that hardware much more efficiently because of the better coded Windows platform of recent years. But interestingly enough, the legacy of the Windows tablet PC was really started with Windows xp. Windows 8 is reigniting that. Or...reSTARTing it.

Great post!!!

I second that!

 

[msdos622wasfun]

Hi there
Well PLEASE end our suspense -- Why did you.
Cheers
jimbo

Heh. Oh heck, I'm aware that having as much as RAM as possible is beneficial in certain scenarios. I was just being smart-alecky.

Hi there
Wasn't "having a Go" at you -- just was being my usual cynical self. However the point I was trying to make was that for a large percentage of users the BEST thing you can do to improve performance is to start using SSD's.

Cheers
jimbo

Have to admit, I haven't jumped on the SSD bandwagon yet. Probably because it's taking them a while to match the capacity and cost competitiveness of traditional hard drives. I know they are getting better. I've heard some pundits say that they can no longer use PCs that don't have SSDs in them. I'm still tolerant of the lower amount of performance you get from spinning disks. I know that booting takes longer, and when you initially load large pieces of software, there is a longer waiting period. But then after that, it seems like everything gets cached, and then it ends up not being so bad. Usually the second or third time that I launch Microsoft Word, for example, it appears very quickly.

But I have the feeling maybe my next build might have an SSD in it, at least for the boot drive and main applications. I might have to start changing my thinking about it.

 

[freeeekyyy]

My God, to think that an operating system has lasted literally until 2014, geeeez! Seriously, time to get rid of it. The NT 5 kernel isn't a very secure one, as the MASSIVE chunk of updates to xp were literally just security based ones. LITERALLY.

To be fair, I really don't think it's the kernel. It's all the supporting software. Internet Explorer is probably the biggest culprit.

 

[chrisa]

My God, to think that an operating system has lasted literally until 2014, geeeez! Seriously, time to get rid of it. The NT 5 kernel isn't a very secure one, as the MASSIVE chunk of updates to xp were literally just security based ones. LITERALLY.

To be fair, I really don't think it's the kernel. It's all the supporting software. Internet Explorer is probably the biggest culprit.

Its neither.

Microsoft drilled into people long ago a mantra which holds true to this day for many concerning their products:

'If its running good, don't mess with it.'

Why are a fair amount of people still running XP(and even Vista)? Its not that they wouldn't like to use 7 or 8, its that its running good... so why mess with it? Even telling them that going to 7 is a breeze and solid as a rock simply isn't enough. They have way too many nightmares from the times when they had to upgrade their systems in the 90's to really trust that the upgrade process won't end up completely throwing their setup into a tailspin.

Companies, in particular, tend to be terrified of upgrading anything at all that might cause anything on their systems to stop working and create unnecessary downtime. Especially the guy who signs off on something like that and ends up on unemployment if something goes south.

 

[Barman58]

Apart from the small minority of enthusiast computer users, the operating system is mainly irrelevant, this applies to the average Joe and Joanna in the street who change their OS with their hardware and to most Small businesses, who will also obtain the OS with new hardware.

Large Commercial users have another parameter to add to the mix, Support, and Licensing costs, In a large company that has been using XP, for example, for a few years the support staff are comfortable with the support needs, and have built up an infrastructure geared at providing that support, The OS is mature enough to not need a lot of "tinkering", the software works to perform the task it's bought for, and importantly licensing has been paid for. They will often purchase new hardware with the OS Downgraded to the OS they are familiar with tho reduce their real costs, until there is some "killer" reason to do any different. this may be a lack of support for new hardware, or particular software. the upgrade is then planned meticulously, and implemented in a fully controlled way.

You will normally see a mix of Operating systems in any large business, even after an upgrade has been implimented, due to the bad programming practices of the developers of older "bespoke" Software. This is often written with total disregard to the SDK for windows with hard coded links everywhere, it works for the OS it was written for but even a minor change, maybe for security reasons, to the original OS renders it useless - In a related example, How many companies still ran IE6 long after it was retired due to security risks, because they had bespoke Intranets written in a way that only worked with IE6

Remember to a business a Computer and it's total software is a tool, for making profit by enhancing the business, nothing more, to the average home user, it's a gadget, a browser, or a games system, something to do the tax return on, or write a letter to Aunty Mabel, The OS is just there to do this out of the way, in the background, they see it for a few seconds a session

The vast majority of business and General home users probably couldn't tell you what OS they use, and I'll guarantee, a significant number if asked would reply Word, Excel, Internet Explorer or similar, That's what they see eight hours a day to do their work or check Youtube or facebook.

 

[Wenda]

.... The OS is just there to do this out of the way, in the background, they see it for a few seconds a session

The vast majority of business and General home users probably couldn't tell you what OS they use, and I'll guarantee, a significant number if asked would reply Word, Excel, Internet Explorer or similar, That's what they see eight hours a day to do their work or check Youtube or facebook.

True, Barman, and I have experienced that (What's your OS? Oh, something
called Firefox, I think....).
But I'm the exact opposite. I collect OSes, and to me the OS is as much a
part of the hobby as the hardware or that latest 'killer' game.
To me, a new or different OS IS a 'computer game', and learning the ins and
outs of them is part of the fun.
That's probably why I currently have no less than 14 OSes on this machine
at present, the host (Win 8 Pro) and 13 others in Virtual-Box. And that's
only about half of them... I'm in the process of putting them all into Virtual-
Box, then backing-up the less-used ones to another drive,and only keeping
the few I use regularly actually installed.



Wenda.

 

[Der Snoober]

But I'm the exact opposite. I collect OSes, and to me the OS is as much a
part of the hobby as the hardware or that latest 'killer' game.
To me, a new or different OS IS a 'computer game', and learning the ins and
outs of them is part of the fun.
That's probably why I currently have no less than 14 OSes on this machine
at present, the host (Win 8 Pro) and 13 others in Virtual-Box. And that's
only about half of them... I'm in the process of putting them all into Virtual-
Box, then backing-up the less-used ones to another drive,and only keeping
the few I use regularly actually installed.
Wenda.

Wow..... that is a LOT of OS'en! I can't believe you are still running 3.11 or 95/ 98 in a VM session. Which OS'en are you trying out?

 

[Wenda]

The whole thing started completely by accident, really, as many hobbies undoubtedly do.

I was having a 'spring clean' a few years ago in preparation for moving house. There were literally boxes of
old computer software and hardware, essentially worthless, but I couldn't bring myself to throw it away.

As I sorted through it, I came up with a couple of old Windows disks (including my original floppy-disk version
of Windows 95), and some old versions of MS Office, plus close to 20 years-worth of PC magazine cover-disks
containing updates, Service Packs etc. There was also a whole lot of drivers, trial-ware & shareware programs
and free games/utilities. There was also a box containing hundreds of C64 titles on tape, and a disk-box full of
Amiga games and utilities. There's even a box containing old MS-DOS programs on 1.2MB 5.25" floppies!!

So I decided to have a bit of a play around in Virtual-Box, and one thing led to another, now I have a nice little
OS collection, which seems to grow quite rapidly. I pick them up cheaply at 'op-shops', car-boot sales, swap-
meets and the like. Nobody wants them, so they can be gotten very cheaply or, often, for nothing.

My best 'score' was a full, complete copy of Windows NT4 SP1 in a 'free box' at a local op-shop. Complete in
its original jewel-case, with product key!! Cost? $0.00. Another good find was a floppy-disk folder containing
original MS disks for MS-DOS 6.20 and Windows 3.1, plus a slew of printer drivers, SCSI drivers etc. And again
the cost was $0.00. They all still work, which is unusual for such old floppies as they do deteriorate over time
no matter how well they're looked after.

My family and friends think I'm mad to have such a strange hobby, and they all consider it a complete waste
of time as the OSes are now obsolete. But it's a cheap hobby, and one from which you can learn a great deal
about OSes and their evolution. I collect betas as well, but not 'leaked' builds although I'd make an exception
for a working Longhorn build.

Most are used purely for fun and entertainment, or to run the odd old program (mainly games) that balks at
Windows 7 or 8, but I'm making a serious effort to get to know Linux Mint 14, just in case MS does make the
mistake of killing-off the desktop.

The old hardware? It got assembled into a 2.0 Ghz Celeron and given to my God-daughter for her school-work.


Cheers...

Wenda.


Here's what I currently have running in Virtual-Box....as I said earlier, this is only around half of them.

 

[msdos622wasfun]

Here's what I currently have running in Virtual-Box....as I said earlier, this is only around half of them.

That is definitely impressive.

I think I can relate. I don't have a collection as vast as that, but I would find it difficult to part with some of my old stuff, like my retail box of Windows 95 that is sitting on my shelf, that I bought at CompUSA or something like that when it originally came out.

 

[Der Snoober]

Wenda,

in one word ==> WOW!!!!!

Great hobby indeed! And as you say, a great way to learn a lot about OS'en.

Greetz,

Rover

 

[Wenda]

Just popped Ubuntu 12 and Linux 14 Mate onto the VM as well.
Posting this on Firefox in Mate now, in Virtual-Box..

Wonder if it's working..... I do like this.....


Wenda.

 

[Wenda]

Cool, back on W8 again on the main machine, and out of the virtual box.

Mint 'Mate' seems to work like a beauty.

I like it!! A bit more than 'Cinnamon' at this stage, and I do like 'Cinnamon'.

Got Ubuntu 12.10 as well, but not overly impressed with the interface.


They breed.... (see below).


Wenda.

 

[jimbo45]

Apart from the small minority of enthusiast computer users, the operating system is mainly irrelevant, this applies to the average Joe and Joanna in the street who change their OS with their hardware and to most Small businesses, who will also obtain the OS with new hardware.

Large Commercial users have another parameter to add to the mix, Support, and Licensing costs, In a large company that has been using XP, for example, for a few years the support staff are comfortable with the support needs, and have built up an infrastructure geared at providing that support, The OS is mature enough to not need a lot of "tinkering", the software works to perform the task it's bought for, and importantly licensing has been paid for. They will often purchase new hardware with the OS Downgraded to the OS they are familiar with tho reduce their real costs, until there is some "killer" reason to do any different. this may be a lack of support for new hardware, or particular software. the upgrade is then planned meticulously, and implemented in a fully controlled way.

You will normally see a mix of Operating systems in any large business, even after an upgrade has been implimented, due to the bad programming practices of the developers of older "bespoke" Software. This is often written with total disregard to the SDK for windows with hard coded links everywhere, it works for the OS it was written for but even a minor change, maybe for security reasons, to the original OS renders it useless - In a related example, How many companies still ran IE6 long after it was retired due to security risks, because they had bespoke Intranets written in a way that only worked with IE6

Remember to a business a Computer and it's total software is a tool, for making profit by enhancing the business, nothing more, to the average home user, it's a gadget, a browser, or a games system, something to do the tax return on, or write a letter to Aunty Mabel, The OS is just there to do this out of the way, in the background, they see it for a few seconds a session

The vast majority of business and General home users probably couldn't tell you what OS they use, and I'll guarantee, a significant number if asked would reply Word, Excel, Internet Explorer or similar, That's what they see eight hours a day to do their work or check Youtube or facebook.

@Barman68

Hi there very true.

It's not only Windows applications that cause companies to stay with an OS for lengthy periods - a lot of large companies have some incredibly expensive back office ERP and CRM software like SAP / ORACLE etc where the front end GUI's are all windows based and often only work with particular Windows versions at that.

Software like SAP costs a fortune and upgrading releases is often a HUGE undertaking -- I know some consultants who've spent their entire careers on simply upgrading releases of SAP on client sites.

Even when the software IS upgraded --for example a lot of SAP releases can now use a front end GUI on Windows 7 - but there are still pitfalls even when the upgrade from XP to Windows 7 appears to work correctly.

For example with the SAP systems mentioned - Web services when called use IE - and while everything worked fine the whole kybosh came crashing to its knees when a couple of client W7 machines had installed the latest version of IE - IE 10.

So the whole area of upgrades etc has to be handled very carefully in an enterprise situation -- even PARTS of the OS need to be checked out before the whole system can be properly rolled out. (IE 9 worked fine - IE 10 caused crash crash crash crash even in compatibilty mode. - This was nothing to do with IE 10 itself crashing - it worked flawlessly on the Windows clients it had been installed on).

For home users like us we can just say "I don't like XXXX - I'll just use YYYY but businesses can't work like that -- and that's still why a lot are STILL on XP.

Cheers
jimbo

 

[Der Snoober]

Great post there, Jimbo! I totally agree with you.

At my office they just finished upgrading to Windows 7. Took them guys almost two years.... So, since february this year it was bye bye XP for me . The only 'problem' now is that, every time I start up the office laptop I find myself staring at the round button in the left bottom corner of the screen, wondering what the hell it is doing there .

I just love Windows 8

 

[turbofish]

We use Office 365 at work and other than a few teething problems getting started, it has worked well. I run Office 2013 at home and my wife will not let her Office 2007 go away. They bought extra licenses for her work just to avoid anything newer! Once I installed one of my copies of Office 2010 on her laptop. She made me change it back. I really don't mind Office 2013 too much and my only real complaint about it is it is a little bland looking.