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Topic: Windows

Clock ticks on Microsoft's Windows XP stragglers

Summary: According to Gartner, 2012 will be a pivotal year for the more than half of companies still running on Windows XP.

Larry Dignan

By for Between the Lines |

You'd think that Microsoft's Windows XP would be dead and gone by now in the enterprise, but the outdated OS continues to live. In fact, more than half of corporations are likely to be on Windows XP still.

Gartner analyst Michael Silver on Monday highlighted how Windows XP is being pushed out the door by Windows 7, but the progress isn't exactly speedy.

Note the following chart:

Companies are replacing Windows XP with the attrition method---new PCs come with Windows 7. But Microsoft cuts XP support off in April 2014.

For XP lovers, that 2014 deadline might sound comforting, but Silver said the end of 2012 is worrisome. Independent software vendors have stopped testing new versions of applications on XP. Silver's advice: Get off Windows XP by the end of 2012. This move means ensures business apps will run on most user PCs and if you run late you still have a good window before Microsoft cuts off security patches.

Run past 2014 and you'll need custom support from Microsoft. Silver estimates the minimum for custom support is $200,000 for the first year if you have software assurance. If you don't have software assurance the price tag is more like $500,000.

Topics: Windows, Microsoft, Operating Systems, Software

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  • title

    content
    tramps
    Reply Vote

    • Re: title

      reply
      ldo17
      Reply Vote

  • Microsoft's Custom Support price tag

    This is the first article on the Windows XP countdown I've seen that has mentioned Microsoft's Custom Support along with the associated costs. A question: any idea how much Microsoft's software assurance costs?

    Also, these options are available for enterprise customers only. And, depending on the size of the enterprise along with other situational factors, the cost of custom support may or may not be a significant mover.
    Rabid Howler Monkey
    Reply Vote

    • There's an old saying. It goes:

      @Rabid Howler Monkey: If you have to ask you can't afford it. :-)
      ye
      Reply Vote

      • Yeah ...

        @ye I figured it wouldn't be cheap. But, is it worth the price?
        Rabid Howler Monkey
        Reply Vote

      • RE: Clock ticks on Microsoft's Windows XP stragglers

        @Rabid Howler Monkey
        Well, your choices are to either use the software forever, but know that you won't get security updates and patches after 10 years from GA, or buy software assurance and always have access to the latest stuff with full support.
        dazzlingd
        Reply Vote

      • Only you can make that determination.

        @Rabid Howler Monkey: [i]But, is it worth the price?[/i]

        As it's very situational dependent.
        ye
        Reply Vote

      • Isn't support built on the basis of asking questions...

        LOL!!!
        cosuna
        Reply Vote

    • RE: Clock ticks on Microsoft's Windows XP stragglers

      @Rabid Howler Monkey

      Is it worth the price? Are you kidding?
      The one and only, Cylon Centurion
      Reply Vote

  • RE: Clock ticks on Microsoft's Windows XP stragglers

    I would love for my company to move to W7, too bad 90% of our software isn't compatible with it.
    Bates_
    Reply Vote

    • RE: Clock ticks on Microsoft's Windows XP stragglers

      @Bates_

      That's what XP Mode in Win 7 Pro is for. And, yes, I know it's not 100% the same as real XP, since we use it at work. But if 90% of your software isn't compatible even with XP Mode, your company has much bigger problems than just upgrading computers.
      Rick_R
      Reply Vote

      • RE: Clock ticks on Microsoft's Windows XP stragglers

        @Rick_R It's actually not called XP Mode, but Microsoft Enterprise Desktop Virtualization (MED-V)
        ;-)

        The difference is that users of MED-V don't get administrator rights on the VM, but that the group policy still applies.
        JonSawyer
        Reply Vote

      • RE: Clock ticks on Microsoft's Windows XP stragglers

        Nero 6 doesn't work in compatibility mode. I've already tried it.
        ScorpioBlue
        Reply Vote

      • RE: Clock ticks on Microsoft's Windows XP stragglers

        @Rick_R Tell that to our bank whose remote deposit machines don't work on anything x64
        LarsDennert
        Reply Vote

      • "your company has much bigger problems than just upgrading computers"

        @Rick_R The problem is that Microsoft is offering no help at all for these problems. Its only answer to "we're having problems with your old product" is "buy our new product".
        ldo17
        Reply Vote

    • RE: Clock ticks on Microsoft's Windows XP stragglers

      @Bates_

      @Rick_R has it. Time to look for new vendors, IMO.
      The one and only, Cylon Centurion
      Reply Vote

    • nero 6?

      @ScorpioBlue

      Scorpio, that's not Windows 7's fault. Trust me, I had Nero 6 work just fine...up until XP Service Pack 2 was released (possibly SP3). In either case, Nero 6 hasn't worked on my WinXP PC for a couple of years now. Expecting it to work in XP Compatibility Mode in Win7 is a pipe dream, unfortunately.
      spdragoo@...
      Reply Vote

      • I wouldn't necessarily disagree with you

        @spdragoo@... <br><br>@Cylon Centurion was touting the merits of compatibility mode around here. As if that's the panacea for getting old software to work on Windows 7. I merely pointed out that Nero 6 doesn't work through compatibility mode as an example of it not being an end-all, be-all.<br><br>On a side note, I used Nero 6 for the whole time I was using XP, up to and including SP3. The trick was not to update to newer versions of it that were buggy and produced errors. The AfterDawn forums had a big write up concerning Nero 6 and Nero Recode which I don't feel like looking it up for you right now. Google it and look for yourself if you want.
        ScorpioBlue
        Reply Vote

      • Good to know

        @ScorpioBlue

        It's been a few years, so I don't remember if I updated Nero at the same time as whichever XP update caused the problem.. I know the same thing happened to our Print Shop program (version 6): we bought it with our Win98 machine, then when we bought the WinXP machine it worked for a couple of years but stopped working after a Windows update (possibly even after a Service Pack upgrade).
        spdragoo@...
        Reply Vote

    • On the contrary, 90% + of software is compatible with Windows 7

      @Bates_ Sorry, I do not believe for a minute your assertion about software compatibility with Windows 7. I even doubt that you or your "company" have hands-on-experience on Windows 7. Like many an IT "expert" you seem to be one of those who base your opinions and decisions on reading blogs and listening to other "experts" who, in turn, read other blogs, watercooler talk, and the like. In other words, just rumors, not the hard facts. Speaking of Windows XP mode, this is a great tool available FOR FREE to any user of Windows 7 and, as I have verified personally, it works fine. You can even run 16-bit applications (circa 1985). Windows XP mode runs seamlessly within Windows 7, in a virtual PC and by using "System Integration" features. It's probably the one thing that may talk a lot of hesitant Windows XP users into upgrading. If you care to know, I am using Windows 7 seven since 2009 and Windows XP since 2002 and know both systems extensively.
      Gruffydd
      Reply Vote
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