This post was written as a Windows Champion Blogger. Devices provided. The honest opinions are my own.
There area a lot of people out there still using Windows XP and as a member of the Windows Champions team, I wanted to let you know that support for that operation system is ending soon.
Windows XP was launched in 2001. Can you believe it was that long ago? While it was an incredibly popular operating system, technology has advanced so much in the last decade and XP wasn’t designed for mobile, always connected lives, or for protecting you against from new online security issues that have emerged since it launched.
Therefore Microsoft will end support for Windows XP on April 8, 2104.
If you are using XP after that date you will no longer receive security updates or be able to leverage tech support from Microsoft. It’s important to realize that if you continue to use XP, without the security updates your computer could become more vulnerable to security risks and viruses. Also as more software and hardware manufactures produce products for recent versions of Windows, you can expect to run into a greater number of apps that won’t work with Windows XP.
What do you do if you have XP? Upgrade to Windows 8.1.
Having a device with Windows 8.1 on it ensures you have a secure device with the latest version of Windows. Windows 8.1 works well with a touchscreen or a mouse and keyboard. It works on PCs and tablets.
Microsoft is providing a number of tutorials both in video and text to help people get started. You can find these on the Windows XP EOS website.
If you are in the market to buy a new device with Windows 8.1, did you know that the average cost of a PC today is 40% less than the average PC cost in 2002? There are many models in the $300-$500 range and today’s PCs are faster and more powerful. They also offer quicker start up and shut down times. You can learn more about Windows tablets and PCs in the Windows buying guide.
What about you? Are you still using Windows XP or have you already upgraded to 8.1?
We had to change out a bunch of work computers, oh boy was that a pain!
I am going to have to see what to do, since I am using Windows XP, and now there is no more support for this operating system. I will look into getting something else. I am having my son look into this. He is really good in helping me with computers. Thanks for letting me know! I did not know that Windows XP was losing their support.
Do you mean April 8, 2014 because you wrote April 8, 2104 ???
I have a Mac, but I’m running Windows 7 with Parallels, so I can switch between the two, whenever I want to. The kids have Windows 7 on the laptops they got for college and hubby just helped our accountant get a new computer, that his tax software needed, so he got Bob’s old tower, which was still running just fine, with Windows 7 on it. We are all set, in our house.
Hubby’s ancient XP computer couldn’t be play videos anymore. He was starting to complain that it was running slowly!
I remember reading about this a while back… thanks for the reminder. Our desktop uses XP and we are considering a new computer.
I will have to be sure our PC is upgraded. Thanks Tesa!
We hav a desktop that still uses XP. I wish they were keeping it, it is such a wonderful OS!
Thanks for the warning. I believe my mother is still using XP.