Using Windows XP? Windows XP SP3 and Office 2003 Support Ends April 8, 2014

dualmeister said:
I sold 3 brand new systems with Windows XP on just last month.

In an Embedded Industrial PC environment sometimes there is no need for more than 1GB of RAM, network connectivity and constant security updates. Some systems just work (e.g. Industrial Automation).

And the manufacturer will be supplying Windows XP drivers for all their products until at least 2016 (even if MS doesn't).
Click to expand...

What the MS Fanboys don't realise is that most of us, with machines, and expensive toys that used to work fine on XP, are now useless paperweights on Windows 7 thanks to Microsoft, as usual, having its brains in its balls.

I am 7 months into porting some of the stuff to Linux instead, because at least in that OS, they don't pull bulls*** like that. In the process I learnt how to code Windows and Linux apps and how to port.
 
Wasn't pre-loaded. Customer bought Win 7 licenses and downgraded to XP.

Intel Atom D510 Fanless Embedded Computer with 1GB RAM

Remember not all machines are used as PC's i.e. person surfing the net with IE and running Office ect.
Sometimes the machine is setting in a factory and runs a specific task and a lot of the time this application will only run on say Windows XP Embedded or similar.
 
Last edited:
Rouxenator said:
The XP problem will sort itself out. No one in their right mind will still be using < 4GB RAM in 2014. I know a 64bit version of XP existed but no one seemed to use it.
Click to expand...

I use two systems, one with 1GB - ultraportable and works well and another very decent laptop with 2GB. Both work well with things like Office and Adobe Acrobat. I don't see 2014 changing anything.

Note that most people, even today, don't need more than 2GB of RAM. Facebook, Twitter, Youtube, etc don't need so much RAM. And basic word processing, Excel, Powerpoint, video editing, photo red eye removal, don't need more either. The average user (the vast majority of PC owners) can get away with a Core2Duo system with 1-2GB RAM and Win XP/Windows 7.
 
Last edited:
biometrics said:
No. XP won't get any more security patches so it will become more vulnerable as more zero day exploits are found.

Relying on anti malware only is not wise as they can not keep up with the huge number of variants released every day.
Click to expand...

What was the lag between a vulnerability being discovered and MS finding a patch for it?

And surely a locked down system - running not in Admin, with a patched browser and up to date HIPS/AV- with sensible browsing is unlikely to be a serious issue. Never mind systems which remain offline.
 
If you are happy with 2gb of RAM then Windows 7 Starter is perfect for you.

I have two low power AMD E350 machines and they run much nicer on 8.1 than they did on 7. Obviously XP does not even come close since the one has 8gb of RAM and the other 16gb of RAM.
 
Rouxenator said:
If you are happy with 2gb of RAM then Windows 7 Starter is perfect for you.
Click to expand...

I'm fine running a non crippled OS. Thank you. Obviously I am happy and obviously your point about no-one-in-their-right mind running with less than 4GB of RAM in 2014 is nonsense.

I have two low power AMD E350 machines and they run much nicer on 8.1 than they did on 7. Obviously XP does not even come close since the one has 8gb of RAM and the other 16gb of RAM.
Click to expand...

That's nice. But most people don't need that. Knock yourself out with the latest Windows 8.1.
 
Rouxenator said:
Oh your XP is is not crippled now... but wait for it... wait for it....
Click to expand...

If you're saying that malware will cripple it, that's all due to shoddy MS coding practices and refusal to continue to support it. Duh.

So it's not the OMG!!!!!youneed4GBRAMD00D!!!!!!1 because it's 2014!!!!1 but MS just being their usual M$.
 
I am furious at Ford Motor Company for no longer supporting the Model T. The potholes in modern roads completely wreck my wooden spoke wheels and FMC won't carry stock of spare spokes for it. Very shody car and support.
 
Rouxenator said:
I am furious at Ford Motor Company for no longer supporting the Model T. The potholes in modern roads completely wreck my wooden spoke wheels and FMC won't carry stock of spare spokes for it. Very shody car and support.
Click to expand...

So you're saying an XP machine which can do everything at the same speed (and I mean exactly everything) that an Win 8/7 machine can do for most people, is akin to a Ford T which needed to be manually wound up to start, had a top speed of 45miles per hour and no safety features? A car which was so fundamentally different to anything built after World War II?

This makes no sense. I'm not saying MS should support Windows 3.0 on i286 computers with 1MB of RAM.
 
Yeah, that's what I'm saying. XP is Model T compared to what we have today.

286 with Windows 3 is like a tricycle. Maybe even a sandal compares to what we have now.
 
Rouxenator said:
Yeah, that's what I'm saying. XP is Model T compared to what we have today.

286 with Windows 3 is like a tricycle. Maybe even a sandal compares to what we have now.
Click to expand...

And you're hopelessly wrong. I've demonstrated how your analogy fails.

The increased sales of tablets/smart phones and declines in PC sales further prove my point. For what most people do with their machines, Win XP with 1GB of RAM and a Core2 processor is good enough. Heck a Pentium 3 is probably good enough.

I have a bridge to sell you....
 
Rouxenator said:
How much software development have you done over the last two decades?
Click to expand...

That's irrelevant. The relevant question is - what do you use your machine for? When you do the same things, do you need more RAM and a faster CPU? No, I don't. And most people don't either.

OK, I'll sell you the Brooklyn Bridge in NY.
 
Irrelevant? Yet you expect them to develop patches for it?

You mention PC and smartphone hardware as if its one and the same thing, as if there is no difference in architecture.

Fine then, lets look at it from your point of view, a P3 with 512mb is fine. Just install Xubuntu and it will give you many more years of trouble free use.
 
Rouxenator said:
Irrelevant? Yet you expect them to develop patches for it?
Click to expand...

Sure. It's not an impossible feat. It's just an issue of money. The more copies of Win XP exist, the fewer copies of 8.1 are sold. The more people they need to pay to write patches, the less profit they make. But it's not as if the OS itself is a dead end. Sure it's a dead end out-of-the-box for guys like you who run with 16GB of RAM and need to take advantage of more modern hardware features, but for most people, it's not.

You mention PC and smartphone hardware as if its one and the same thing, as if there is no difference in architecture.
Click to expand...

People are buying these toys because they've been mostly using PCs as toys. They don't need Photoshop and MS Office and Windows 8, they can get away with Skype/Facebook/a browser/Twitter/Instagram on their tablet. Some need some basic word processor or spreadsheet, and for those a PC is still needed. Obviously CAD/video editors/graphic designers/software developers/high end gamers/etc are a minority and the most modern OS may have benefits.

Fine then, lets look at it from your point of view, a P3 with 512mb is fine. Just install Xubuntu and it will give you many more years of trouble free use.
Click to expand...

Most people would be OK doing this. Sure. It's just a very technical thing to achieve and a new interface to learn, and that may be a problem.
 
Nothing is impossible, but why bother with an OS that is used by less than an eights of computer users? http://www.w3schools.com/browsers/browsers_os.asp
Before you point out that those are only online users, if you are offline then XP should be OK apart from the occasional flash drive virus.

Installing Xubuntu, Lubuntu or even Chrome OS is way easier than installing XP and using it is even easier. They all have built in app stores so no more silly installs like in XP land. Hopefully many less tech savy users stuck on old hardware will take this path if they encounter issues with XP after support for it is pulled.
 
Space_Chief said:
The increased sales of tablets/smart phones and declines in PC sales further prove my point. For what most people do with their machines, Win XP with 1GB of RAM and a Core2 processor is good enough.
Click to expand...

Those Tablet sales are to the average user, and for what most people do with computers, Tablets are good enough.
By default they get win 7 / 8 with the tablet. So now what's going to happen to your precious OS?
It'll die with the hardware it's installed on.

However it's a free world (mostly) no one's stopping you from running XP, no one's forcing you to use Linux or upgrade to Win 7 / 8, and no one's forcing you to use software that will only run on XP.
It's totally your choice and it's Microsofts economic choice not to waste resources supporting your nostalgia.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top
Sign up to the MyBroadband newsletter
X