Microsoft: Windows XP Users Are Missing Out

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An unnamed Microsoft representative recently spoke with Softpedia about Windows XP and how consumers and businesses are handling the transition. As it stands now, no less than 28 percent of the desktop computers worldwide are still running Windows XP. That's not good news given that Microsoft is gearing up to pull life support two months from now.

"Back in September 2007 we announced that support for Windows XP would end on April 8, 2014," the Microsoft rep said. "Since then we've been working with customers and partners to raise awareness that support for Windows XP was ending, and to help them migrate existing Windows XP PCs to a modern operating system."

Fortunately for Windows XP users, Microsoft will continue to update the Malicious Software Removal Tool until July 14, 2015. But that doesn't mean the platform will be fully protected; the actual security updates that are handed out on Patch Tuesdays will be cut off for Windows XP users. That is not a good thing, as users will be wide open to malicious attacks.

"Our research shows that the effectiveness of antimalware solutions on out-of-support operating systems is limited," the representative said. "Running a well-protected solution starts with using modern software and hardware designed to help protect against today's threat landscape."

Yet the question is, why are customers holding on to Windows XP? Why can't they embrace newer, more secure platforms like Windows 7 or Windows 8.1? Some of the resistance may be due to change, or it could be related to outdated legacy software that doesn't perform well in Windows 7 and above.

The problem could be due to not knowing that support will be cut, such as a parent or grandparent who still uses an older dusty computer simply to pay the bills. The problem could be a neighbor who just doesn't care, or a business that believes they're special and will continue to receive updates. You know who those people are.

"Companies still on Windows XP are missing out on tangible benefits of modernizing their IT investments from dramatically enhanced security, broad device choice to meet the needs of a mobile workforce, higher user productivity, and lower total cost of ownership through improved management capabilities," the representative said.

To read the full interview, head here. Also, don't be afraid to speak your mind if you see someone still using Windows XP.

Kevin Parrish
104 Comments Comment from the forums
  • MajinCry
    Don't forget cost.Most, if not all, of the NHS' computers run XP. To be able to run Windows 7 at the same level of performance would require new hardware and new operating system purchases. To do the upgrade would be FAR too costly. What with the country being *in debt* to the banks.Just an example, y'know.
    Reply
  • SteelCity1981
    then ms should offer for a limited time to give windows 7 upgrades out for free for windows XP users.
    Reply
  • csbeer
    I've upgraded 3 of my family members computers to win8 and it has been nothing but headaches. From simple things like using email, opening up pdfs (onenote goes fullscreen and they can't exit out) to printing a simple doc, win8 is so counter-intuitive for non-tech savy people and just mucked things up for those who are familiar with the decades old windows interface (that wasn't broken and working just fine). Personally, I have no problem with win8 but don't like having to waste my time on unnecessary headaches. For those that just want to run 1 program at a time (browse web and check emai)l, a p4 with 512 ram does everything just fine. I'm curious if M$ has run all the costs of forcing people off a beloved OS, I mean so many software companies would kill for that market penetration, but making an OS ain't easy.
    Reply
  • AndrewMD
    then ms should offer for a limited time to give windows 7 upgrades out for free for windows XP users.
    Why? Microsoft is a business. It is not their problem that companies are not willing to update their legacy software to work with modern OSes. If companies are not updating their internal software, what types of other issues are they offloading to their own customers.Poor planning by businesses not able to keep up with their hardware and software needs can also reflect poorly how they manage their business as a whole.Again, not Microsoft's issue to support a OS that is over 14 years old now....
    Reply
  • csbeer
    I've upgraded 3 of my family members computers to win8 and it has been nothing but headaches. From simple things like using email, opening up pdfs (onenote goes fullscreen and they can't exit out) to printing a simple doc, win8 is so counter-intuitive for non-tech savy people and just mucked things up for those who are familiar with the decades old windows interface (that wasn't broken and working just fine). Personally, I have no problem with win8 but don't like having to waste my time on unnecessary headaches. For those that just want to run 1 program at a time (browse web and check emai)l, a p4 with 512 ram does everything just fine. I'm curious if M$ has run all the costs of forcing people off a beloved OS, I mean so many software companies would kill for that market penetration, but making an OS ain't easy.
    Reply
  • jimmysmitty
    Don't forget cost.Most, if not all, of the NHS' computers run XP. To be able to run Windows 7 at the same level of performance would require new hardware and new operating system purchases. To do the upgrade would be FAR too costly. What with the country being *in debt* to the banks.Just an example, y'know.

    Apart from governments, most companies even in this "recession" have been posting record profits. They have the money to upgrade but instead of investing they would rather save the money to keep those profits up.

    It is this kind of thinking that made what happened to Target common these days. Instead of moving to something more secure or fixing a security hole, it is ignored.

    I've upgraded 3 of my family members computers to win8 and it has been nothing but headaches. From simple things like using email, opening up pdfs (onenote goes fullscreen and they can't exit out) to printing a simple doc, win8 is so counter-intuitive for non-tech savy people and just mucked things up for those who are familiar with the decades old windows interface (that wasn't broken and working just fine). Personally, I have no problem with win8 but don't like having to waste my time on unnecessary headaches. For those that just want to run 1 program at a time (browse web and check emai)l, a p4 with 512 ram does everything just fine. I'm curious if M$ has run all the costs of forcing people off a beloved OS, I mean so many software companies would kill for that market penetration, but making an OS ain't easy.

    I wont get into the Windows 8 thing as I think the problem with it mostly is people stop learning at a certain age and it becomes harder for them to. One thing you could do to avoid headaches is install a third party PDF reader like Adobe and then set defaults to desktop apps. If you have them on 8.1, set it to boot to desktop and pin their most common apps to the start bar. As well you can make it so the Start Screen comes up with a list of all the apps and even tell it to list desktop apps first making it easier on you and them.

    That said, most software companies stop support for a product well before Microsoft has for XP. Microsoft is not "forcing" them off but rather telling them they need to move on. Even if they didn't stop support, XP is not nearly as secure as 7 is even with patch support. 7 has more advanced security features built in and a stronger kernel. Same with 8/8.1, it is even more secure than 7.

    Sometimes it is better to just move on. Did I wan to let go of my 99 Ford Contour SE when a faulty starter (from Autozone, never buy their crap) fused and burnt out itself and the belt? No, but it wasn't worth the cost to fix and instead I got $1K towards a new car.

    Sometimes you have to move on.
    Reply
  • Wolfshadw
    Yeah. Sorry. Just checked on Dell's web site. I don't see Windows 7/8/8.1 drivers for my laptop (I suppose I could upgrade to Vista).
    Reply
  • mikeangs2004
    Windows XP is barely acceptable in terms of hardware and applications support.
    Reply
  • dacquesta1
    If you can't find at least windows 7 drivers, probably time to move on.
    Reply
  • Camikazi
    Yeah. Sorry. Just checked on Dell's web site. I don't see Windows 7/8/8.1 drivers for my laptop (I suppose I could upgrade to Vista).
    Your problem is you went to Dell for drivers, the manufacturers will only give you drivers up to the point they want. Beyond that OS point they will no longer give driver updates even though they exist. They do this to lower the work they have to do (they usually mod the drivers) and to try and get you to buy a new computer. I am using a Dell Precision M65 from 2006 with Windows 8.1 and it has all drivers and works perfectly, the way to do it is to find the drivers from the part makers and not from the computer maker. Although with Windows 8.1 I really didn't have to find anything since all drivers were found automatically (Windows 8 is good at that).
    Reply