Windows XP has seen its last days. Recently, Microsoft announced that it plans to end support for the 13-year-old operating system on April 8, 2014.
Although Windows XP has been around since 2001, NetMarket Share estimates that 29 percent of PCs worldwide still run the outdated OS. In addition, some 95 percent of ATMs in the United States use Windows XP. Analysts estimate that only a small percentage of America's ATMs will be able to update their software in time, in spite of frequent warnings from Microsoft. Millions of these ATMs will now be more vulnerable to malware and other attacks.
Windows XP will continue to function, whether its installed on your desktop, laptop or local ATM, but it will be much easier to hack and you could experience more spam, viruses and malware attacks. Microsoft used to push through security updates for PCs running Windows XP, but starting on April 8, your computer's anti-virus software will be all that stands between your PC and malicious attacks from outsiders.
Windows XP is the second most popular version of Windows, coming in right behind Windows 7. Although most consumers have updated their computers by now or bought new ones, there are many businesses that own PCs which still run Windows XP. Given the sharp decrease in computer security that will occur once Microsoft pulls the plug, XP users will most definitely want to consider upgrading their PCs.
One of the main problems that users will face when pondering an upgrade to Windows 7 or Windows 8.1 is that their PCs might not be modern enough for a software update. For example, Windows 8.1 requires at least a 1 GHz processor, 1 GB of memory and 1 GB of hard drive space. Not to mention the fact that both Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 are expensive.
According to Forrester Research, 20 percent of businesses in North America and Europe run Windows XP, but by April only 6 percent will still be on the old OS. Those who stay on Windows XP past the April 8th deadline will most likely be small or medium-sized businesses and government agencies trying to save money.
Most PC users who are still running Windows XP would probably be better served if they buy a whole new PC. In addition to having the latest software onboard, new PCs are much more powerful and portable than ever before. The rising popularity of the tablet-laptop convertible will also factor into XP users' decision-making process. Other options for those looking to upgrade include Chromebooks, Linux-based devices and Apple's range of products.
