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Half of all companies will continue to use Windows XP after it retires in 2014
According to a shocking report, 48% of IT administrators intend to continue running Windows XP after Microsoft officially retires it in 2014. The "IT [sector] just really, really likes the XP operating system," says Diane Hagglund, a senior analyst at Dimensional Research, reporting on the findings of a survey of 950 IT professionals. "They say it's just that good, and don't want to mess with it."Windows XP might be really good, but its retirement in April 2014 means that it will no longer be supported by Microsoft -- there will be no more security fixes. That almost half of the IT sector intends to keep Windows XP installed -- it will be 13 years old in 2014! -- can only be indicative of two things: either Windows XP really is is that good, or IT professionals are lazy.
In other news, 6% of companies have now rolled out Windows 7, as opposed to only 1% back in January. "What's really interesting here is that if you look at the numbers, they've almost exactly adopted according to plan," said Hagglund. "That's a real indicator that Windows 7 migration is going well." With almost a quarter billion copies sold in the first 12 months, and the biggest market segment -- the workplace -- about to roll over, 2011 is looking good for Microsoft.
Comments
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Subscribe to commentsDavid ParsonsDec 11th 2010 5:28AM
When we look at operating systems we need to consider the applications we use. For basic word processing, spreadsheets and general office programs application demands don't change as much as Microsoft want us to think they do. Web browsing and e-mail likewise.
It would be interesting to have a moratorium on PC use. I wouldn't be surprised if 95% or more of all PC use has hardly changed over the last few years.
At the very least Microsoft are promoting their latest operating systems because they are in business to sell operating and office systems. There is always a vested interest in anything they do or say. The most necessary advances need to be in the inherent security of an operating system.
Personally I'm going more and more over to Linux which more than meets the needs I have. Try a Google search on "who uses Linux" and prepare to be amazed at how extensively it's actually used and by whom.
There are applications which require Windows and there are applications which don't. The beauty of Linux is that it can be tried without altering any PC. I have yet to hear of Microsoft offering a test CD/DVD for anyone to try before they buy.
Sebastian AnthonyDec 11th 2010 6:12AM
@David Parsons Thanks for the insightful post :)
It's true -- a Windows 'Live' DVD would be pretty cool. They're in a pretty dominant position, though -- it's not like they're trying to woo Linux users (a tiny, tiny minority) back to the fold. It could work with getting Mac users to switch, though...!