Our most beloved operating system is packing its bags for the big switch off. At the end of June 2008, Microsoft will stop 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.
If you are not prepared to go down the path of upgrading to Windows Vista, what are you options after the cut-off date other than switching to Mac OS X or Linux?
Solving Tech Problems with Windows XP
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.
You may want to purchase a premium tech support service to get around this problem or purchase software to keep your registry in tact. Or you can search on tech forums as there is a good chance if you have a problem that other users will also have the same problem, far easier than asking Microsoft for support.
XP On Brand New Machines
Despite Microsoft denying that you won't be to purchase a machine with XP after June 30th , the reality that you can as the situation a little more complicated than that.
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 is Still Hanging On
To tell the truth, XP lives on. You can still buy it until at least June 2010, which will probably be extended, and you'll still get support until 2014. That's a long time to say goodbye to your favorite operating system, although you need to be aware that eventually you're going to have to make the switch. About
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