What you need to know about Windows XP
They did it with 95, NT, 98, ME, and now it's the turn of XP, the great switch off. As of 30th June 2008, Microsoft is to stop supplying and offering support for Windows XP.
The news comes as a big disappointment to those of who have come to trust the system, which we have grown to love and still favor over the troublesome Microsoft Vista. Since its release, the average user has spent 8000 hours in front of their PCs connected 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?
Getting Support for Windows XP Problems
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.
The other way around this problem is to simply type your problem into Google. Chances are if you've had a particular issue, so have loads of other people, and you're bound to find the solution somewhere online, as well as it being a lot easier than phoning Microsoft.
XP On Brand New Machines
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.
PC manufacturers who have an inventory of unused XP licenses will still be able to sell machines with XP and the same also goes for other PC retailers as well who have surplus stock to sell.
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'
Another way that you can get your hands on XP is by purchasing a PC that has 'limited hardware capabilities,' a term Microsoft has coined for machines that cannot handle Vista. These are basic machines that do not have the processing power, laptops such as the Asus EEE for example, that run slow processors and have limited RAM. However, this is only until June 2010.
XP Still Has Life Yet
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.
The news comes as a big disappointment to those of who have come to trust the system, which we have grown to love and still favor over the troublesome Microsoft Vista. Since its release, the average user has spent 8000 hours in front of their PCs connected 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?
Getting Support for Windows XP Problems
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.
The other way around this problem is to simply type your problem into Google. Chances are if you've had a particular issue, so have loads of other people, and you're bound to find the solution somewhere online, as well as it being a lot easier than phoning Microsoft.
XP On Brand New Machines
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.
PC manufacturers who have an inventory of unused XP licenses will still be able to sell machines with XP and the same also goes for other PC retailers as well who have surplus stock to sell.
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'
Another way that you can get your hands on XP is by purchasing a PC that has 'limited hardware capabilities,' a term Microsoft has coined for machines that cannot handle Vista. These are basic machines that do not have the processing power, laptops such as the Asus EEE for example, that run slow processors and have limited RAM. However, this is only until June 2010.
XP Still Has Life Yet
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.
About the Author:
Kay Brenner is a PC Tune Up expert who restores slow PCs, saving you from the hassles of struggling with a sick computer. To reclaim your dream machine you first bought, download a free PC Optimizer
posted by gaz at
1:31 AM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home