[John Kelly]

Just read in the FSB magazine that Microsoft will be ending support for Window XP on April 8th 2014.

It will obviously still work after this date however Microsoft will not be issuing any security updates which will leave the operating system vunerable to attack.

The FSB are warning that this could have major consequences for business. One of the biggest worries is if your online banking is compromised your bank may blame you for using out of date software and wipe their hands of it.

[Andy A]

It's worth me getting XP then, if I get hacked hopefully they will wipe out the overdraft 

[JandS]

It's true John...I bought a brand new computer last October and the guy was telling me.
I've got Windows 8 and I don't like it at all....reading some of the messages on the Microsoft community forum I am far from alone on this, just about everybody hates it.
Windows XP was the dogs town halls.

[John Kelly]

There are class actions going on in the states by companies who have had software programes built around xp and can't upgrade. How much money does Bill Gates want.

[Dennis]

Can he get any more? 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-26420414

[Andy A]

Can he get any more? 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-26420414

I was reading somewhere that Microshaft are dumping Windows 8, and are due to announce their new operating system based on Windows 7 in April, so the tills will keep ringing

[JandS]

Apparently Windows 7 is pants as well....everybody wants XP.

[Hilton]

XP is far and away the best system and everyone has been hanging on to it or reverting back to it after the crap systems that followed.

Microsoft created the beast and now they want to destroy it so we all have to be new licenses to use one of their new rubbish Windows 8 or whatever.

The other scam they have employed now is that each work station has to have its own individual license so if you have three computers you will need three licenses and so on.

[*Hector*]

unless you have a little program called windows loader (as I have)...

It "legally" registers all copies of windows 7 ultimate, and even lets you have all the updates and the service pack...

 

[Hilton]

they have had a change of heart...........for now on virus's any way.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-25758308

Probably due to all the bad publicity.

[Mike Gwilliam]

I was certainly an advocate of Xp. Pretty basic and easy to understand.

However.....say after 6 to 12 months on 2 working computers (1 pc and 1 laptop) it would become unstable/slow and need re-installing. So much so I would be tearing my hair out.

I was using XP for years like so many but decided after my PC died on XP to have a new PC built which ran on Windows 8.
This was over a year ago....the new PC having 8 gig of ram, plenty of cooling and everything else I could fit into £400.

The difference is similar to the years apart since XP and 8. No more waiting for it to start up (45 seconds). No more waiting for programs to start and no more crashes.

Coupled with an up to date PC, Windows 8 is phenomenal compared to XP and I'v not had to reinstall it as before.

It does take a certain amount of getting your head around it at first and I can see why so many complain about it......it took me a while to figure it out!

[lee_gundry]

anyone using Linux ??

Lee G

[*Hector*]

looking into ubuntu at the moment... it is just taking the plunge as it were..

 

[Dennis]

anyone using Linux ??

Lee G

I have been for about 10 years.

[david@zap-clean]

Ok, I've got to ask: What's wrong with Windows 7 or 8?

I used XP for many years, but I how use a W7 desktop (3 years) and a W8 laptop (2 months) and they run the exact same apps, in exactly the same way that my XP machines did.

What's the problem?

[*Hector*]

basically David, if you are running XP you cannot upgrade to W7... You have to do a fresh install, and therefore lose a lot of your little apps etc that you probably don't know where you got them from....

You can upgrade from XP to vista, but upgrade is not really the word there is it??
W8 is being replaced this year (according to rumours) as it is not a viable system, due to lots of customer complaints..

[david@zap-clean]

basically David, if you are running XP you cannot upgrade to W7... You have to do a fresh install, and therefore lose a lot of your little apps etc that you probably don't know where you got them from....

You can upgrade from XP to vista, but upgrade is not really the word there is it??
W8 is being replaced this year (according to rumours) as it is not a viable system, due to lots of customer complaints..

Ok Hector - that is a pain.  Not knowing the specifics I can't say how difficult the upgrade path might be for individuals, but it must be possible, somehow.

Personally, I've always hated the Windows way of doing things.  I ran Linux (personally) for many years, but had to use XP professional.  While using XP, I ran Firefox/Thunderbird etc, anything but windoze apps, as much as I could.  Now, with cloud based services (google drive etc) I feel fairly immune to whatever Windows throws at me.

One things for sure, touch screens are going to mandatory with next generation operating systems (W8 already is).

Let me make an (ex)profession prediction: Windows will slowly disappear from our awareness over the next 10 years. 

[Steve Chapman]

Dont think Bill Gates will worry though, he was named as the worlds richest person again this week 

[ian harper]

John

do you know what really funny about this end date? is that cash machines use this version. I was in bank other day with bank manager and his system was XP as well

http://cleanonomics.cleaning-carpet.co.uk/top-8-operating-systems/

UK XP Is 9.18% of the market



respects

[Darran Pryce]

anyone using Linux ??

Lee G

Linux is great.   Linux Mint runs great and always has done.   http://www.linuxmint.com/