XP future is bleak....

[Tom]

No more updates as of April.
I am being told to get something newer as soon as I can.
Here's my thought......but a Chrome Book for internet use - web pages, emails, etc. Download files and transfer them to my XP Network, which works just fine, but keep it offline. CBs sound good in what I have read, fast start up, cheap, cloud storage, cheap, lightweight, cheap.....

Anyone have a CB and what do you think of it?

I don't plant to use much WiFi, but maybe I might grow into that.
Anyone using TFUS on a CB? I could always add a wi fi port to my network, but would that leave my XP machines at risk? Maybe just keep them tuned off when I use the wireless.

Got a nice bonus from work, so now is the time to buy a new toy.

[wilderness]

Tom,
I've four machines with XP, albeit different versions.
There hasn't been any XP-32 updates, except the monthly Malicious for some while (perhaps a year or longer).

On this primary machine (XP Home), I copied the names of the updates from the CP and downloaded them manually. Then burned those files to a DVD.

I've a machine with XP 64 that continues to get updates (beyond monthly Malicious). Began downloading those updates and threw in the towel after the MS site keep redirecting to Bing results. Each Update requires a new search.

[DeltaLover]

What is wrong about storing your data on the cloud ( Dropbox or ubuntu one for example)?

Besides that, XP is an antiquated platform and I really do not see any reason to insist in its use.

Considering how awkward Win8 is (especially for desktop use, I strongly encourage the adoption of a linux flavor.

[SchagFactorToWin]

I've had the CR-48 for 3 years. That's the Chromebook beta. I use it in the morning- sit, drink coffee, surf the web, catch up on forums & e-mail (writing this on it).

I can save items to Google Drive and access that from my desktop.

It's a nice device. The early designs, like mine, had wonky touch pads. I've heard that they are improved. Only thing I don't like is the use of lower case letters on the keyboard- harder to see. But I don't know if the production models have that.

But after 3 years, the wi-fi drops out occasionally and it reboots by itself now and then.

[reckless]

What is wrong about storing your data on the cloud ( Dropbox or ubuntu one for example)?

Besides that, XP is an antiquated platform and I really do not see any reason to insist in its use.

Considering how awkward Win8 is (especially for desktop use, I strongly encourage the adoption of a linux flavor.

hi Delta,

XP users are being told that because Microsoft is ending support, that all our files, data, etc., etc., will be at risk.

I ask you that since you suggest storing our data on the cloud, isn't that a risky venture too, sharing space on a cloud with all those NSA, Google, Chinese and Russian hackers?

You said XP is 'antiquated'... well, maybe it is, but after d-loading SP 3 when it became available, plus the periodic updates, I never had any operating system problems at all. No blue screen of death, no sudden crashes, no frequent freezes... nothing.

So, aside from the historical importance of Windows 95, I believe Windows XP may have been the absolute best op sys Microsoft ever developed.

This is my opinion, of course, and I am not a techie. I am concerned because I don't know what to do now or by April.

I thought of upgrading to Win 7 but I can't find a copy in any of the usual business and computer retail outlets. Not yet ready to d-load it and while I guess I could do that, I have a feeling that Microsoft will 'force' me towards Win 8 or 8.1 in lieu of Win 7 via purchasing a new computer. As you probably know, I can't upgrade to Win 8 from XP.

What to do, what to do...?

[Tom]

I have heard W7 is no longer being sold retail.
You can still buy new machines with it on them, but not just the software anymore.

I like XP, it is all I need for what I do.
Win98 was all I really needed, actually.

I was still using W95 to power my CMM at work until last spring when we got a new one.

[headhawg]

You can still find copies for now -- Windows 7 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&DEPA=0&Order=BESTMATCH&Description=windows+7&N=-1&isNodeId=1)

Keep in mind that OEM versions are the affordable ones, but your license is tied to only ONE machine.

[wilderness]

hi Delta,

XP users are being told that because Microsoft is ending support, that all our files, data, etc., etc., will be at risk.



Do you recall the Millenium Hype and how the earth and the majority of computers was going to come to a standstill?

If anything and after MS discontinues XP, it would likely be less vulnerable because its use would be less mainstream.

[Dave Schwartz]

Delta,

The resistance on my part to upgrade some of our XP machines is that the hardware is really too old to run something as resource-intensive as Win7 or Win8.

I upgraded the ones that were fast enough and have been pleased with the results. However, I upgraded one that was an old 2.2GHz and it was so slow I put XP back.

Remember that the machines of that era were all 3GB max motherboards.

I get it. MS can't be expected to support older software forever. But it is a declaration that really means, "Please throw out your old computers."

I wonder who would benefit from that?

[JustRalph]

Just because they aren't going to support it doesn't mean it won't work.

Don't sweat it until there's something you want to do that it won't do. Or there's a piece of hardware you want that won't work on it.

All the support docs etc don't magically disappear either. Practice good data backups etc and keep on truckin......NOTE THE 70's reference........

[PaceAdvantage]

IMO, Win 7 was the best operating system MS ever designed for the masses.

It fixed everything that was wonky with Vista and kept the good parts.

Windows 8 is excellent for tablets. Never used it on a desktop, and don't think I'd want to without a touch screen monitor, even though I can see how using a mouse wouldn't be all that hard getting used to on Win8.

[Clocker]

You can still find copies for now -- Windows 7 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&DEPA=0&Order=BESTMATCH&Description=windows+7&N=-1&isNodeId=1)



On that site and many others, you can buy a refurbished desktop with Windows 7 for under $200.

[Tom]

Now that is interesting.....thanks all for the input.

[JimG]

Like Tom, I have been hanging onto XP for a long time. Yesterday, I retired my last machine with XP on it. However, I agree with PA that Win7 is rock solid and runs great on newer, faster machines.

Take some of that bonus money and have a computer geek build a machine that you want. No bloated software. Install Win7 as the operating software. Make it Win7 Pro if you need to run a virtual machine for XP specific software. Recommend doing it local in the case there are any issues.

Jim

[reckless]

On that site and many others, you can buy a refurbished desktop with Windows 7 for under $200.

At the site, I noticed Win 7 software home edition was about $179 and a desktop was under the deuce as you said.

I guess I'll be getting another machine sometime this year after all is said and done.

[wilderness]

Looked briefly at the site and there were some refurbs with Win 7 closer to a $100.

[DeltaLover]

Of cource I agree that XP is the most successfull version of windows.

If you absolutely need XP / Win7 check the following:

http://robolinux.org/
http://en.sourceforge.jp/projects/sfnet_robolinux/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1D7hC-crIz8

[reckless]

Of cource I agree that XP is the most successfull version of windows.

If you absolutely need XP / Win7 check the following:

http://robolinux.org/
http://en.sourceforge.jp/projects/sfnet_robolinux/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1D7hC-crIz8

Thanks a bunch for providing the links. I am looking forward to doing this.

I'll buy a nice and very functional Windows 7 PC, then turn my XP into an experimental lab :)

I always wanted to learn the linux environment and this is as good as an excuse as you possibly can have.

thanks again, DeltaLover.

[raybo]

Just because they aren't going to support it doesn't mean it won't work.

Don't sweat it until there's something you want to do that it won't do. Or there's a piece of hardware you want that won't work on it.

All the support docs etc don't magically disappear either. Practice good data backups etc and keep on truckin......NOTE THE 70's reference........

I'm with Ralph, keep right on using it. Saying your data will be at risk is pure salesmanship in action. If you like it and it works for you then use it until you can't, that's my philosophy. I'm still running Vista and will continue to use it until I need a new computer, If that's 2 years from now, or 5 years from now, so be it.

[tupper]

Of cource I agree that XP is the most successfull version of windows.

If you absolutely need XP / Win7 check the following:

http://robolinux.org/
http://en.sourceforge.jp/projects/sfnet_robolinux/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1D7hC-crIz8
As a veteran user of countless Linux distros for over ten years, I implore anyone to exercise extreme caution with Robolinux.

Robolinux looks very suspicious. It does not have an active forum, and it is not listed on Distrowatch.com. There have been complaints about the developer trying to charge for an "installer":
http://tinyurl.com/l4o3yuy
http://tinyurl.com/muebebe

If anyone ever tries to charge you for any open source software, run away!

In one of the Robolinux videos, the developer admits that Robolinux is based on the free and open source Debian Linux distro. There are about a zillion completely free Debian spin-off distros.

For Linux newbies, it is best to stick to the newbie powerhouses, such as Linux Mint (http://linuxmint.com/), Ubuntu (http://www.ubuntu.com/), OpenSUSE (http://www.opensuse.org/en/), PCLinuxOS (http://www.pclinuxos.com/), etc.

[headhawg]

I knew that it sounded familiar...Robolinux (http://www.paceadvantage.com/forum/showthread.php?t=106384)

[ThinkingAlways]

I'm with Ralph, keep right on using it. Saying your data will be at risk is pure salesmanship in action. If you like it and it works for you then use it until you can't, that's my philosophy. I'm still running Vista and will continue to use it until I need a new computer, If that's 2 years from now, or 5 years from now, so be it.

I agree that your data won't be directly at risk - the files will still be there an usable -- but the risk is that hackers will begin (and continue) to launch exploits against an operating system that they know won't be updated (ie, patched). There are still millions and millions of XP machines out there and probably 100 millions of devices that use XP as the operating system to manage them -- control devices, ATMs, infrastructure pieces, etc. These will take a long time to upgrade to a new operating system and thus the hackers will have a free for all for many years. Personally, I would (and have) move away from XP prior to April. If you must have XP to run some specific piece of software, keep it as a separate system, remove all personal data from the computer and connect it to the internet only when needed.

[Hoofless_Wonder]

I've got a chromebook I've had for almost two years now, and it's great for travel. However, one of the reasons it's cheap is that the video card/display is not the greatest, and its processor is somewhat slow. I have used it for handicapping PPs from BRIS, but if you're used to using a decent monitor (or tablet) to look at TFUS data, you may find it more straining on the eyes.

I'm also not that crazy about the Google Drive stuff, and actually prefer the same stuff from Microsoft (Skydrive and other web apps). Google makes the chromebook a bit captive, like every other vendor supported device, but you can get around most of that. One huge edge a chromebook has is that it does support and play flash, unlike Android tablets.

Another option you could consider is running Linux on your current desktop, and then XP as a virtual machine. My Intel desktop has three operating systems, including two flavors of Linux, and running Vista or XP in Virtual Box is not only easy to do, but it runs much faster (64 bit speed versus the 32 bit O/S versions). However, there are some limitations when running virtualized (like graphics - games don't work so well), but if the virtual XP machine is ever "infected" by something sinister that comes out after April, you can simply restore it with a couple of clicks....

[Tom]

Breaking news!
XP security updates extended until July 2015.

[ThinkingAlways]

Breaking news!
XP security updates extended until July 2015.

Huh? What Microsoft announced is that they'll continue to provide the anti-virus signature updates for Security Essentials for another year. This is very different than getting patch updates to the underlying XP code. (Plus, how many of you really use Security Essentials for your antivirus?)

[Tom]

I heard updates - will check it out.

[DJofSD]

http://www.techtimes.com/articles/2796/20140120/windows-xp-security-essentials-support-extended-to-july-2015.htm

[ThinkingAlways]

http://www.techtimes.com/articles/2796/20140120/windows-xp-security-essentials-support-extended-to-july-2015.htm

I find this quote from the article to be very misleading.

"This means Windows XP users will have an additional year to go before it must abandon the operating system or risk getting invaded by malwares."

This is NOT true at all. First, it assumes you are using MS Security Essentials. But most don't. Second, this is like saying that as long as Trend Micro or Sophos or AVG or Symantec or whoever you use for antivirus keeps pushing on the definition strings you'll be safe. Having good antivirus is only ONE SMALL part of safe computing. If it was all that was needed, why does Microsoft keep pushing out code updates the second Tuesday of every month? These code updates won't happen for XP after April 8. Transition away from XP now.

[wilderness]

There hasn't been any type of automatic updates available for XP 32 (with the exception of the Malicious Software Updates) for at least a year already. Previously installed updates are however currently available for downloading and/or via the MS Update page.

XP 64 is an entirely different story as the new updates appears every time I fire that machine up.

[DJofSD]

I find this quote from the article to be very misleading.

"This means Windows XP users will have an additional year to go before it must abandon the operating system or risk getting invaded by malwares."

This is NOT true at all. First, it assumes you are using MS Security Essentials. But most don't. Second, this is like saying that as long as Trend Micro or Sophos or AVG or Symantec or whoever you use for antivirus keeps pushing on the definition strings you'll be safe. Having good antivirus is only ONE SMALL part of safe computing. If it was all that was needed, why does Microsoft keep pushing out code updates the second Tuesday of every month? These code updates won't happen for XP after April 8. Transition away from XP now.



I agree. And, it is perhaps a subtle but important distinction to make.

Any security tool can only go so far. If there are additional problems found in the kernel that can be exploited, those apps will not be able to plug the hole -- only a patch to the kernel will effectively correct the problem.

[JustRalph]

These code updates won't happen for XP after April 8. Transition away from XP now.[/font]
[/font]


I rarely let windows update my machine. and I only pick and choose what I let it update. If you alter your behavior, act smart, and understand how to avoid these problems....... you don't have to worry........

Btw, I haven't run any anti-virus in 15 years.......unless I suspected something. I have never actually had a virus.......some malware browser hijack once or twice.....but cleaned it out.

then again, at one time I had 11 windows computers running off and on. I only have two now. Maybe I have been lucky

[DJofSD]

JR, how does that expression go again? A man could be walking around lucky and not even know it.

[ThinkingAlways]

I rarely let windows update my machine. and I only pick and choose what I let it update. If you alter your behavior, act smart, and understand how to avoid these problems....... you don't have to worry........

Btw, I haven't run any anti-virus in 15 years.......unless I suspected something. I have never actually had a virus.......some malware browser hijack once or twice.....but cleaned it out.

then again, at one time I had 11 windows computers running off and on. I only have two now. Maybe I have been lucky

Maybe you have been lucky. Good for you. Maybe your computer habits are different than many others -- web browsing, email. Maybe you've been harboring viruses for years and not even know it.

As with everything YMMV.

[JustRalph]

Yep

I'm just lucky

[PaceAdvantage]

I rarely let windows update my machine. and I only pick and choose what I let it update. If you alter your behavior, act smart, and understand how to avoid these problems....... you don't have to worry........

Btw, I haven't run any anti-virus in 15 years.......unless I suspected something. I have never actually had a virus.......some malware browser hijack once or twice.....but cleaned it out.

then again, at one time I had 11 windows computers running off and on. I only have two now. Maybe I have been luckyI'm with Ralph on this one...I have never run any real time "always on" virus/malware protection.

[DJofSD]

Currently, of the 6 PCs I own, I have malware protection on only 1. And even then, I am very careful about email and I use all of the features in FireFox.

[DJofSD]

http://www.securelist.com/en/analysis/204792322/Kaspersky_Security_Bulletin_Spam_evolution_2013

[Red Knave]

Yep

I'm just lucky

The Beach Boys wrote a song about it ...

'The bad guys know us and they leave us alone'

:)