Say Goodbye to Windows XP

By Robert Barcus

Microsoft launched Windows Vista over a year ago, but many users have stuck with Windows XP. At the end of April, Microsoft released what it says is the final update for Windows XP. Without support from Microsoft, is Windows XP a dying breed?

Customer Resistance to Windows Vista

Customers who first experienced Windows Vista were not  happy. Beginning in 2007, new PC's were being shipped from the manufacturers with Windows Vista pre-installed - many customers touting that they had the "latest and greatest" operating system available. It quickly became apparent only days after its release that Vista had some problems. It was a "pretty" operating system with lots of bells and whistles - unfortunately many of those bells created a clanging noise and the whistles sounded more like foghorns in the middle of the night.

Vista was in trouble and it became obvious when computer technicians across the country were swamped with repair orders from customers wanting Windows XP back on their systems. At one point, as much as 60% of all computer repair orders in the United States were to switch computers back to Windows XP. Vista has been buggy from the start, with many unsupported software titles, hardware driver issues, and the unforeseen problems lurking in the heart of the operating system.

Vista Service Pack 1

In March of this year, Microsoft released Service Pack 1 for Windows Vista. The first major update for Vista since its release, it was widely expected that Vista SP1 would fix many of the problems users had been experiencing over the last year. Service Pack 1 was designed to be the saving grace for Vista users. Unfortunately, for some users, it created more problems than expected. Microsoft has since admitted the first Service Pack for Vista isn't perfect.

Previous Windows Problems

Vista isn't the first release of Windows to cause problems for computer users. Many will remember the problems created by Windows ME, the first release of Windows 98, and even the problems experienced by Windows XP. You may even remember what happened when Bill Gates first unveiled Windows 98 - he got a blue screen! Even with this initial flub, Windows 98 eventually became a very stable and popular operating system with the release of Windows 98 Second Edition.

Computer users resisted Windows XP when it was first released as well, just like they are doing now with Windows Vista. This isn't a new story - its one that has been going back several years. People naturally resist change when it comes to their computer systems and which OS they are using. There are still many computer systems in homes and businesses that are running older versions of Windows going back to Windows 95 and Windows NT.

Hope for Windows Users

Windows Vista has more than its share of problems, but it still has many features that users look for in an operating system. Its innovative graphical user interface is a hit among PC users. The integrated music and video tools Windows Media Center users have long enjoyed are also included. It also has advanced security features for parents who want to control access for their kids.

Microsoft realizes that Vista has lots of problems - so they're already working on a replacement, Windows 7, that should be released by the end of 2009. Many technology gurus believe that the release date will be sometime in 2010. Microsoft has already said that they have extended the support for the Windows XP operating system until 2014, so it may be worthwhile to skip the Vista upgrade for now and wait until Microsoft releases its next generation operating system.

Goodbye to an Old Friend

Windows XP has been a cherished old friend for many users and computer technicians alike. However, at some point in time, users and techs will have to make the switch to a new version of Windows. Windows XP is a dying breed, and although it is widely-used and still quite popular with the masses, everyone will eventually have to make the switch to in order to stay ahead of the competition.

Microsoft will stop selling Windows XP this summer and computer manufacturers will be forced to stop installing OEM versions of XP on their computer systems by the end of the year. It is a bittersweet end to a stellar OS.

About the Author:

Robert Barcus is the Director of Operations for Apheus Solutions, LLC - a website design and PC repair company located in Indiana.