Windows XP Coming To An End in April 2014

Windows XP has been one of the most successful products of Microsoft since its release with 38.73% of users all over the globe until March 2013, according to the statistics of NetMarketShare. This is considerably a large population of Windows XP users as compared to other OSs available in market. Microsoft announced to withdraw all kind of technical support for this most popular version of OS but due to high user demands, it offered an extended support up-till April 8, 2014. This would make Windows XP the longest running OS platform with duration of about 12 years.

Windows has already withdrawn the license distribution from computer manufacturers and vendors after October 2010 but launched an exclusive support for the commercial users. With the deadline approaching steadily, Microsoft suggests all the businesses and other users to upgrade their OS version to Windows 7 for better performance and security updates. Along with Windows XP, support for IE6 and office 2003 will also cease and will come to an end on the same date.

Microsoft mentions that after April 2014, using XP is an "at your own risk" situation for any customer not choosing to migrate to Windows 7 or Windows 8. Microsoft also adds that migrating may become costlier if businesses choose to stick to XP after April 2014. Even after all the announcements and warnings, industry experts like Michael Silver, a Gartner Analyst, speculates that 10% to 15% of enterprise PCs will still be running Windows XP, even after April 2014. This creates a controversy about the extension on the extended support after deadline but Microsoft remains adamant on its decision and confirms to withdraw any kind of support after the date. Microsoft supports its decision with the fact that Windows 7 and 8 are the new generation operating systems which work efficiently on new generation hardware platform with enhanced security and performance features.

According to the Microsoft's Security Intelligence Report published in June 2012, systems running on Windows XP are more vulnerable to viruses and malwares as compared to that of Windows 7. The complexity of viruses and bug causing codes has considerably increased since the year 1991 and so is their effect on the performance of the system. While there were only 1000 bugs and viruses in 1991, it has increased exponentially to millions in 2012 and the system architecture of Windows XP has become stagnant to support further improvement.

These facts support the decision of Microsoft to take off any kind of support so that users do not have to struggle with the problems created with viruses and malwares. To maintain the user experience, Microsoft asks its users to upgrade their system to new generation OSs so that the company can serve well in its domain with highest OS usability.

Manohar Patil is a keen blogger and enjoys reading and writing about the recent technology. Software development, Social media, mobile software development and Smartphone applications are some of her key area of interests. She's also a freelance writer and write for various IT Consulting companies like Q3 technologies.

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