Windows XP is retiring at the end of the month, like all its predecessors. After seven years of service, Microsoft is ending sale of the operating system to PC manufactuers. It sounds scary but every dark cloud has a silver lining.
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.
If you have a major problem you may want to consult a good Internet tech forum or Geeksquad for a solution. Chances are that if you have an issue, other users will have a similar issue for which there is a good chance for a solution rather than consulting Microsoft tech support.
Options for XP on New PC
If you have your heart set out for a XP after the deadline , you will still be able to purchase a machine with it preinstalled despite Microsoft's cut off date.
Smart vendors who have an inventory of unused licenses, and same goes for other retailers, will still be able to sell you machine with XP preinstalled.
Managing 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.
Not the End of the Road for XP
XP still has some shelf life yet. There are still legal ways to purchase XP at least until June 2010, which is likely to be extended. Support for XP will be until 2014, allowing us enough time to get used to another operating, probably Vista's successor. Long Live XP!
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Kay Brenner is a Windows crash consultant who specializes in restoring your slow PC, saving you from the hassles of struggling with a slow PC. To learn how to avoid computer problems, download a free PC Fix
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