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 uprading to Windows Vista, what are you options after the cut-off date other than switching to Mac OS X or Linux?
Getting Support for Windows XP Problems
There is some hope that Windows will continue to offer support for the numerous technical issues that users face everyday with XP, until 2014. However, support may just be the bare minimum and difficult to get hold of.
The other way around this problem is to simply type your problem into Google. Chances are if you've had a particular issue, so have loads of other people, and you're bound to find the solution somewhere online, as well as it being a lot easier than phoning Microsoft.
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.
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'
There is an alternative legal way of getting your hands on XP. That is purchase a PC that has 'limited hardware capabilities,' a term that Microsoft has phrased for machines that lack the muscle power such as slow processor or limited memory, to run Vista. Laptops such as the Asus EEE lack both processor power and hard-disk space to run Windows Vista. Instead these machines must run XP.
XP Still Has Life Yet
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.
Article Source: http://www.orbitaloc.com/
Kay Brenner is a PC utilities consultant who specializes in restoring your slow PC, saving you time and money wrestling with a slow PC. To reclaim your dream machine you first bought, download a free PC Fix
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