XP future is bleak....
 

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.

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.

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.

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.

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...?

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.

You can still find copies for now -- Windows 7

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

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.

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?

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........

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.

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

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

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

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.