SuperMillionaire
04-08-2014, 02:26 PM
As of today, April 8, 2014, Microsoft has retired Windows XP, which means it will no longer support it; people who continue to use XP will be left to fend of hackers on their own. Thus, the event known as the "XPocalypse" is here.
Microsoft clearly wants people to upgrade to the polarizing Windows 8, which has alienated many desktop and laptop users because of its new interface that is designed more for tablets. I think Windows 8 makes a great tablet system, and I actually have one at home, but as a desktop/laptop, it's not so good; Windows 7, which is now 5 years old, is better for desktops and laptops, and those who are upgrading are more likely to migrate to 7 rather than 8, because 7 is closer in feel to a modernized XP. I also have a Windows 7 laptop at home.
XP was launched all the way back in 2001, so it's been 13 years. After XP, Vista came out in 2007 and failed epically, and Apple capitalized on this with its "Get a Mac" campaign. Windows 7 then came out in 2009 and successfully put an end to Apple's demonizing campaign, restoring the reputation of Windows, but Microsoft began to feel pressure from the rising popularity of tablet computers and smartphones, which is why they created Windows 8 in 2012. This new operating system was intended to merge both tablet functionality and desktop/laptop functionality. It was innovative, but many desktop and laptop users felt alienated by the new interface, which is why it has not been as successful as its predecessor, though it has still found success as a tablet, but it still lags behind the iPad and Android-based tablets.
Microsoft has also been working on laptop/tablet hybrid devices, but I think they should remain separate, only because they have different functions. Tablets are good for casual browsing, but laptops are true workhorses. The only thing laptops cannot do that standard desktops can is print, though it can still create and store the same documents. The laptop never truly killed off the desktop, and the tablet, which is basically a larger smartphone minus the phone part, will not kill off the laptop either.
Windows 8 may be great for a tablet, but Windows 7 is better for desktops and laptops. Microsoft, however, clearly wants people to upgrade to Windows 8, and is updating it with an official Start Menu on the desktop. Still, because of Windows 8 and its alienating new interface features, Windows 7, like XP before it, will probably have an extended lifetime. It launched in 2009, and it will probably be around until at least 2019 or 2020.
Microsoft clearly wants people to upgrade to the polarizing Windows 8, which has alienated many desktop and laptop users because of its new interface that is designed more for tablets. I think Windows 8 makes a great tablet system, and I actually have one at home, but as a desktop/laptop, it's not so good; Windows 7, which is now 5 years old, is better for desktops and laptops, and those who are upgrading are more likely to migrate to 7 rather than 8, because 7 is closer in feel to a modernized XP. I also have a Windows 7 laptop at home.
XP was launched all the way back in 2001, so it's been 13 years. After XP, Vista came out in 2007 and failed epically, and Apple capitalized on this with its "Get a Mac" campaign. Windows 7 then came out in 2009 and successfully put an end to Apple's demonizing campaign, restoring the reputation of Windows, but Microsoft began to feel pressure from the rising popularity of tablet computers and smartphones, which is why they created Windows 8 in 2012. This new operating system was intended to merge both tablet functionality and desktop/laptop functionality. It was innovative, but many desktop and laptop users felt alienated by the new interface, which is why it has not been as successful as its predecessor, though it has still found success as a tablet, but it still lags behind the iPad and Android-based tablets.
Microsoft has also been working on laptop/tablet hybrid devices, but I think they should remain separate, only because they have different functions. Tablets are good for casual browsing, but laptops are true workhorses. The only thing laptops cannot do that standard desktops can is print, though it can still create and store the same documents. The laptop never truly killed off the desktop, and the tablet, which is basically a larger smartphone minus the phone part, will not kill off the laptop either.
Windows 8 may be great for a tablet, but Windows 7 is better for desktops and laptops. Microsoft, however, clearly wants people to upgrade to Windows 8, and is updating it with an official Start Menu on the desktop. Still, because of Windows 8 and its alienating new interface features, Windows 7, like XP before it, will probably have an extended lifetime. It launched in 2009, and it will probably be around until at least 2019 or 2020.