Windows XP: Countdown to extinction

Published November 26, 2012 6:06pm

Windows XP, the 11-year-old desktop operating system, has just less than 500 more days to go before Microsoft pulls its plug for good.

That means some 500 million users will have a little over a year to upgrade to a higher version of Windows, tech site ZDNet reported over the weekend.

"There are only 500 days to go before Microsoft ends its extended support, and that means no more patches and no more security fixes. Given that XP is not exactly famous for its security, this represents a significant risk," it said on November 26.

ZDNet said this means some companies that failed to move away from XP in time could end up being sued if their systems were breached.

In the UK, it noted it is a mandatory requirement to secure data under the seventh principle of the Data Protection Act.

On the other hand, it said those who stand to gain from this are law firms and suppliers of cyber-liability insurance.

"With security breaches typically costing companies thousands of dollars/pounds a time, hefty insurance premiums would increase the already-high cost of sticking with Windows XP," it said.

Citing browser stats from Netmarketshare, ZDNet said 50.5 percent of PC users are using Windows 7 or Vista, while 40.7 percent are still using XP, which debuted in 2001.

"That's around 500 million users, so to make the deadline, we'll need to upgrade a million users a day, including weekends," it noted.

Profit potential

ZDNet said the end of XP should also mean extra profits for the software companies that offer migration software and services.

It cited a potential for what could be the biggest IT bonanza since the Year 2000 "millennium bug" campaign.

Struggling American PC suppliers such as HP and Dell could certainly do with the boost, it noted.

"And as the deadline approaches, these firms should be able to increase their prices along with increases in demand. The longer companies leave the transition to Windows 7, the costlier it is likely to get," it said.

The tech site cited the case of a UK-based application rationalization and migration firm, which started its official "Countdown to the End of XP" campaign.

It said the firm plans to mark off XP's milestones in the coming 500 days, providing information to help businesses through the final days of XP. — TJD, GMA News

Tags: microsoft, microsoftwindows