Microsoft Offering Windows XP Users Money Off to Upgrade
Get a credit when you go with the new OS.
With less than a month to go, Microsoft continues to remind (nag) Windows XP users that support for the platform will end on April 8, 2014. After repeated warnings, the company is now taking the financial route by waving money under their noses.
As shown here, if customers abandon their Windows XP rig and purchase a new Windows 8.1 device, they'll receive a $100 gift card -- doubling last week's $50 gift card offer -- along with 90 days of free tech support, and a free data transfer. While that doesn't seem like much when compared to the cost of a new laptop or desktop, this move shows that Microsoft is willing to take a cut in the wallet to get everyone on the same platform.
"End of support means that software updates for Windows XP will no longer be distributed by Microsoft or its hardware partners," reads the company's FAQ. "This includes security updates that help protect PCs from viruses, spyware, and other malicious software that can steal or damage personal information. It also includes maintenance updates that improve reliability and performance and ensure that Windows XP works well with other software and hardware."
So why is Microsoft shutting down Windows XP? Look at it this way: the platform arrived in 2001, but was under development in the late 1990s. Sure, Windows XP was an awesome platform in its day, but it's time to let go… if you can, of course. There are likely still customers and businesses alike out there running legacy software that may not run correctly with Windows 8.1.
"While most Microsoft software is supported for 10 years, Windows XP has been supported for more than 12 years, longer than any other Windows version," the FAQ reads. "It's been a great run for this popular and even beloved operating system; it's now time for Microsoft, along with our hardware partners, to retire support for Windows XP so we can focus on supporting more recent technologies for delivering great customer experiences."
To see a list of devices Microsoft suggests, head here. These include all-in-ones, tablets, 2-in-1 PCs and laptops.
Kevin Parrish and Tom's Hardware obviously get paid by Microsoft to publish what is basically the same piece at least once a week. I've been an avid reader of Tom's for years, but after all this disgusting fearmongering campaign I simply cannot stand seeing Kevin Parrish's name on any article anymore - it makes me wanna puke. If Tom's doesn't get rid of him, I'm done with this site.
I just bought a whole load of unused Dell OEM Win7/Pro/64bit packs off eBay instead (10 of them), they were
only 45 UKP each. Plenty still listed, all complete with COA, etc. They come from unsold business systems.
Ian.
Having a cheap new OS does not help much when the hardware is 8+ years old and does not have any up-to-date drivers for Win7/8.
Even when your system can be compromised far easier and most of them aren't able to take care of it?
A computer is not like a fridge or something a person might repair themselves to keep running - they depend on having a third party support it to a large degree, and that's not there anymore. Some people know how to remove viruses and the like, but the vast majority of the population does not.
Oh well, I guess I should be cheering XP. I work in a place that offers computer repairs, so it'll mean more money for us.
It's now going to become a danger to others, and for that reason it has to be put down - still usable otherwise or not.
Oh, stop it with that overused trope already. I do prefer seven, but given the choice between XP and 8, I would pick 8 in a millisecond. It's a vast improvement over XP. Sure, I'm not such a fan of metro, but I'm much less a fan of an obtuse, archaic system. Especially now that it's just going to become a cesspit of malware. It's selfish to keep using it unless you know how to wipe and maintain it to the point it will not become part of a botnet.
Assuming those PCs either have a direct internet connection or are actually used to browse the internet.
For people and businesses who use XP primarily to use legacy software and hardware, most of those will have little to no need to access the internet or even the LAN since they will often have a separate computer for everything else.
Assuming those PCs either have a direct internet connection or are actually used to browse the internet.
For people and businesses who use XP primarily to use legacy software and hardware, most of those will have little to no need to access the internet or even the LAN since they will often have a separate computer for everything else.
I am relatively confident that those are a minority.
I agree - unless it means I might be able to get a cheap copy.
That said, they'll find out soon enough the error of their ways when they have to pay hundreds of dollars to fix malware on their systems. Makes my company money, so it's probably a net plus.
As others have said it's not just an OS upgrade it's a hardware upgrade as well. Many don't have the cash to spend. Commercial users have very little motivation if their application runs.
Even if drivers were available 7 or 8 would run as slow as... on older HW with all the background crap that runs.
My 8 machines have had close to 2 GB of updates so far, the 32 bit a little less. I dread going to 8.1 because it will reset all the settings that took many hours to adjust.