Microsoft support for Windows XP officially ends today. It’s done. Finished. Adios.
The operating system still works; software never goes obsolete. Microsoft will not, however, offer updates, security patches, or provide “help” for Windows XP users effective today.
Yes, they really want you to upgrade. No, you probably won’t. If you’re using Windows XP, then you most likely have it running on a very old computer. That computer will die. Then you will update. That’s how it works.
From a business standpoint, I believe Microsoft is making a huge mistake. They haven’t made much money from Windows XP users, but they could: Simply offer a $10 or $25 update. But, no. So, Adios, Windows XP, perhaps the best version of Windows ever.
What I don’t really understand is why there is all this fuss over it. I was using Win98 for years after it was orphaned it worked, I still have a Win2000 box that get used once in a while for apps that I need that won’t install on anything newer. The big problem I can see is now support for the desktop version has ended, the holes in security wont get patched as quickly for the Windows Embedded platform, leaving ATM’s, Auto Billing units (notably for water in the US) open to attack. Matter of interest Dan, who is your water company (probably my code in the device it’s read by). You are most likely to using an AMR (Auto Mated Reading) system by Hersey/Muellier metering which all based on WinXP tablets getting the updates.
Comment by glennp — April 11, 2014 @ 12:34 pm
I just heard from our city’s Water Dept, and they have switched from XP to Windows 7. Whew!
It would be sad if a few cities dragged their heels on this one and ended up with an exploit that brought down their entire system. Yech.
Comment by admin — April 11, 2014 @ 4:38 pm