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I think they should set the date back to April FIRST – April Fool’s Day. It will be that day that Microsoft will be allowed to make fools of millions of us satisfied Win XP users by pulling the security blanket out from under our systems. (You Windows 8.1 proponents do realize, don’t you, that Microsoft will do EXACTLY the same thing to you a few years down the road?)

My point in an earlier post, SusanBradley, is that for many of us, Win XP is all the operating system we need. It works as perfectly and reliably as any normal user could require. If you and/or your company have applications that demand greater perfection then perhaps… just perhaps… that’s another story. If I were to be blasted into space on a trip to Mars, I think I’d want something even more reliable and capable than Win XP running things. But since I’m an earthling with modest requirements, Win XP has been just fine for a decade and I see no reason why I won’t continue to use it for at least another decade to come.

I doubt “vendors will drop support” while millions of us continue to use Win XP after Microsoft abandons us. What I do expect to see is that vendors will be stepping into the spot vacated by Microsoft and coming up with products that will ensure continued security on our machines.

“Here’s what every knowledgeable Windows user should know about setting up Win8.1, whether they’re coming from Windows 8, Win7, Vista, or XP.”

Well, I’m a satisfied XP user and couldn’t find any reference to what I should know.

What I did learn though, is that unless hours of tedious hassle with an operating system is what turns your crank, sticking with XP is by far the best move at this time.

I have a relatively large home system that has been built up ever since XP made it’s first appearance. It contains perhaps a hundred or more applications and patches/add-ins/plug-ins to those applications that even the thought of having to reinstall them under a new operating system is enough to make me seriously consider giving up computing as a hobby. I mean stuff from Adobe (Photoshop, Lightroom), and Photodex (Proshow Producer), and dozens more required hours of installation and tweaking to get them to work smoothly. Only at gunpoint will I go through all that again.

As much as I dislike sounding like/becoming a luddite, but if it ain’t broke I don’t fix it. Win XP, with MS Security and Malwarebytes for protection, has served my every computing need perfectly well for years. At this point I haven’t been given any reason to “upgrade,” other than threats from MS that support will no longer be available.

I sure would like to see a short article on “How to upgrade your Win XP system to Win 8.1 (or ???) the easy way.” And by “easy” I mean, insert disk in drive and reboot. I’ll come back in an hour to find my Win XP gone, Win 8.1 will be installed and operating PERFECTLY, and ALL my applications will be present and accounted for, and also operating PERFECTLY. As far as I’m concerned, computers are supposed to be doing all the work… not ME. So, programmers, get with it. Program a conversion program that works to accomplish this task, or turn in your certificate of competency! In the meantime, you keep playing with your unnecessary/unasked-for “upgrades” and leave my XP alone.

I read with great interest your “Taking stock of the Windows 8 versions” and, you know what?

I didn’t understand hardly a word.

I’d been building, repairing, teaching, selling and, of course, using PCs since they first appeared in the 80s with the Radio Shack “Trash 80” and the Osborne “portable” with it’s 9″ orange on dull grey screen and two low density floppy disks.

I’ve used Windows XP since it came out and have been thoroughly satisfied with its performance. It has never crashed and takes minimum maintenance. It allows me to play on the web, work with my photos in Lightroom and Photoshop Elements, watch DVDs and other videos, play games, etc. What more could I possibly need or want an operating system to do?

Oh yes… and it’s fully paid for.

I have not and will not “upgrade” to Windows 7 or Vista – absolutely no need whatever to do so that I’m aware of.

I was looking to see what Windows 8 would bring since I suspect Microsoft will soon not only be abandoning any and all support for Windows XP, but, and here’s my cynicism showing through, I wouldn’t put it past them to add some sort of malware to their last “security updates” which will mysteriously kneecap the software, leaving us with no choice but to buy their latest offerings.

Could you please do an article for us fixed & limited income, pensioned off, “over-the-hill” gang of luddites that outlines how we may continue using our trusty desktop PCs without being forced into buying what we don’t need and can’t afford?

Thanks,
Richard in New Brunswick, Canada