Windows XP Game Over: 9 Upgrade Options
Some of you don't want to say goodbye to Windows XP any more than you wanted to retire the Atari. But support ends on April 8: We break down your best upgrade options.
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You've held out a long time, brave Windows XP user. Maybe you joined the XP game in 2007, when you steered clear of Windows Vista. Or maybe you've been using XP since the operating system debuted all the way back in 2001, when many of today's youngest Microsoft employees weren't even in high school.
Security experts have chided your hesitancy to upgrade. Microsoft, which is now tempting XP users with $100 off Windows 8.1 devices, has been practically begging you to move along. Your PC takes 10 minutes to boot up. It relies on components that are outclassed by what's inside your average smartphone, let alone the latest PCs. But you've remained unmoved by these bells and whistles. Let's give credit where it's due: In an age when the newest, flashiest devices have become status symbols, your resistance to new tech is impressive.
[How will Windows XP's end-of-service deadline affect government IT? Read Windows XP: Feds Brace for End of Support.]
Yes, you might be getting by with XP because you're also using a smartphone or tablet. Or you might still be using your antiquated PC for almost all your computing needs, just as you have for years. Maybe you've replaced a hard drive here or there to keep everything up and running. But as long as your computer still boots, you've been determined to squeeze every drop of life out of it, the alleged benefits of newer, shinier machines be damned. For today's wired youths, you are the technology equivalent of walking uphill both ways in the snow, and there is some virtue in that.
But nothing lasts forever. Whether you've delayed upgrade for reasons of principled austerity or financial necessity, your day of reckoning is almost here. On April 8, Windows XP will officially become an unsupported operating system. Unless you're a big company willing to shell out millions for extended support, Microsoft will no longer update your XP machines or protect them from new cyberthreats. Right or wrong, like it or not, if you're running XP, it's time to make a decision.
Based on the reader emails we've received in recent weeks, a lot of people are approaching this decision with uncertainty: "Do I really need to upgrade? And if so, to what?"
The answers are fairly simple. No, you don't have to upgrade, but if you have to ask, you probably should. If you want the option that's closest to Windows XP, Windows 7 is probably the best bet. If you use your XP machine primarily for email and the Internet, literally any modern replacement device, tablets included, will be adequate. If you also do moderately heavy word processing, anything with a keyboard will suffice, although smaller devices might be more cramped than you're used to.
Beyond these basic guidelines, let your individual needs, sensibilities, and budget guide you. We've broken down the pros and cons of various upgrade options. Which one will you choose? Have you already made a decision? Share your thoughts with us in the Comments section below.
As of February, Windows XP still accounted for about half a billion PC users. No one -- not even Microsoft -- thinks all of those people are going to upgrade in time.
Depending how ancient your XP system is, you might be able to circumvent security uncertainties by simply upgrading to Windows 7 or Windows 8.
Windows 7 offers a more natural upgrade path for XP users; it's not exactly the same, but if you're a longtime XP user, you'll feel more at home on the Windows 7 desktop than anywhere else. Most crucially, it has a Start menu and no Live Tiles. Unfortunately, Microsoft no longer sells standalone Windows 7 licenses, which means if you don't have one, you'll need to buy an OEM license. They're available online but do not include typical customer support.
XP-to-Windows 8.1 upgrades present other challenges. A lot of XP machines lack the specs to run Windows 8.1. Even if they can, the experience will be sub-optimal.
If your computer is up to snuff, 8.1 is much more usable than its poor reputation might imply. Yes, it still has quirks, and no, the Live Tiles aren't very useful on old PCs that lack touchscreens. But thanks to the improvements introduced in Windows 8.1, the UI can be configured to function more or less like a fast, more-secure version of Windows 7, minus the Start menu. This flexibility makes 8.1 much more practical for non-touch equipment than the original version, and Microsoft has already confirmed that the non-touch experience will receive more attention in an upcoming update, including changes that might make the tiled Start screen more palatable to mouse-and-keyboard users.
OK, Linux fans, it's time to put up or shut up. We all know you're out there. You've been issuing ultimatums to Microsoft for more than a year in online forums and article comments, swearing that if Redmond forces you off XP, you're going to jump right to Linux. But usage statistics suggest only a minority of you have made the leap. Now that Microsoft is finally terminating XP support, will more of you follow?
Linux offers a terrific option to keep aging XP systems running. If you're a power user, Linux might be too light for your needs, but for everyone else, its small footprint makes it an appealing option. Popular distributions such as Ubuntu require only a 700 MHZ processor, 512 MB of RAM, and a 1024-by-768-pixel display, and some require even less. Best of all, Linux is free.
Your favorite Microsoft software won't be supported, so you'll have to find alternatives, such as LibreOffice instead of Microsoft Office, or Firefox instead of Internet Explorer. Linux comes in a variety of flavors, many of which offer multiple UI options. Some are easier to install and work with than others. If you have the time and willingness to learn, it's a great way to keep your machine running. If you want a PC that "just works" without requiring you to learn anything new, however, keep looking.
If there's one option that longtime XP users seem to resist the most it's this one. But Windows 8.1 is much more usable than the original version, and much better than its low adoption rate might suggest. It's faster, more stable, and more secure than Windows 7, and the range of device types it comes on covers a staggering variety, from mini tablets to traditional laptops and all-in-one desktops.
It's debatable whether desktop apps are useful on small tablets such as the Dell Venue 8 Pro. But it's intriguing that they're available on devices this portable and that sell for less than $230. You can't run something like Photoshop on an Android tablet or iPad, but for certain people that flexibility could make a difference. And unlike iPads, Windows 8.1 tablets offer true multitasking.
Large Windows 8.1 tablets such as Microsoft's Surface products offer bigger screens and a range of PC-style accessories, which makes them more productivity-oriented than smaller models. Many Windows 8.1 devices, on the other hand, provide barely enough screen room to create content, especially compared with the 15-inch laptops that were common during XP's heyday. You'll have to shell out more money for a docking station, offered by Dell, Microsoft, and other OEMs, which opens these tablets to desktop-style use.
As tablets rather than portable PCs, Windows 8.1 devices offer an acceptable if unspectacular experience. iPads and Androids still offer a richer app experience. Both have far more apps from which to choose -- at lower prices -- than Windows 8.1. Still, it's getting better for those interested in a Windows 8.1 device. There are now more than 150,000 Windows apps, including Facebook, Twitter, and other favorites.
Unlike Word, PowerPoint, Excel, and other core Office titles, OneNote has been optimized for the tablet UI, and it's genuinely useful. If you use Microsoft services such as Skype or OneDrive, Windows 8.1 makes them easy to access. Internet Explorer 11 offers a satisfying touch experience with the ability to juggle open tabs gracefully, and it benefits from multitasking with apps such as OneNote.
Just be aware that some Windows tablets are ill-suited for certain work tasks. The Surface and Surface Pro, for instance, feature widescreen 16:10 aspect ratios, while the iPad's display is a boxier 4:3. The difference allows the Surface to accommodate a full-size keyboard, but in portrait mode -- that is, the way you'd review a document -- Surface tablets feel unwieldy and too tall. In comparison, the iPad handles much more gracefully.
You wouldn't know it walking into a Best Buy, but Windows 7 computers are still available. The variety is not as great as new Windows 8.1 devices, but major players such as Dell and HP are still selling Windows 7 PCs through their websites, including desktops priced at less than $400 and laptops for less than $500.
Windows 7 offers the smoothest transition from Windows XP. Unlike Windows 8, it also features an XP Mode for running old applications that aren't natively supported. On the downside, most Windows 7 machines aren't as sleek and light as Windows 8.1 and OS X options, and they lack the touchscreens and two-in-one versatility of many new Win 8.1 hybrids.
Android devices boast, not only an enormous app catalogue that can compete with iOS's, but also more user flexibility and, often, more cutting-edge features. They're also priced widely, from sub-$100 tablets to luxury slates running close to 10 times more. The Android operating system has even expanded from tablets and smartphones to all-in-one desktops.
At the bottom end of the market, you get what you pay for. Major vendors such as Dell and HP now sell pretty good, inexpensive Android tablets, but the cheapest, sub-$100 models are built from cheap components and rely on old versions of the OS. Better Android tablets, such as Samsung's Galaxy Tab series, offer superior design and cutting-edge features but also cost as much as an iPad. At the top, iPads are seen as easier to use, but Android manufacturers are often quicker than Apple to offer new technologies. If you're a tinkerer, Android is also more customizable than iOS.
All-in-one desktop models, such as the HP Slate pictured above, might be easier to work on than Android tablets with add-on keyboards. But at least one plus-size slate, Samsung's new 12-inch model, might change that.
Macs are notoriously expensive. As Apple's critics point out, when Windows-based machines and Macs are built with the same components, the Windows PC is often cheaper. To some, this "Apple tax" is proof that Macs are overpriced. But Macs tend to outlive PCs, which somewhat negates the cost difference. And though some people don't care about aesthetics, Apple's highly-praised industrial designs clearly count for something. If they didn't, Intel wouldn't have launched the Ultrabook in response to the MacBook Air, and Macs would not be maintaining growth while the rest of the PC industry has come unglued.
Hardware aside, Apple's OS X is a solid, speedy operating system. It is, however, a bumpier transition for XP users than Windows 7. There is no Start menu, for example, and its search-based navigation scheme resembles Windows 8 in some ways. Still, it's fairly easy to learn, and tools such as Spaces, which lets you navigate among multiple workspaces, are great for multitaskers.
Macs don't yet have touchscreens, but they support a variety of touch inputs through their buttery-smooth trackpads, which still set the industry standard. Macs run many of the same software programs Windows machines do, and can even dual-boot Windows alongside OS X using Boot Camp. The OS bakes iCloud into its file directory, broadly in the way Windows 8.1 does with OneDrive, and also boasts increasingly fluid integration with iOS. Control freaks and tinkerers who are accustomed to the Windows toolset might be disappointed by OS X, over which Apple exerts tight control, but for many users, a Mac is an appealing if pricey option.
If Microsoft marketing is to be believed, Google's Chrome operating system is a glorified browser, and Chromebooks are bricks if not connected to the Internet. Neither stereotype is valid, and as the myths have been debunked, Chromebooks have exploded in popularity. As of March 21, the three top-selling laptops on Amazon.com were Chromebooks.
Though Chromebooks generally are not as powerful or offline-friendly as other PCs, they are also faster and more responsive than you might expect because they're free of bloatware. They also support a growing number of apps that work without the Internet, including productivity necessities such as Google Docs and games such as Angry Birds.
With the browser at the center of the Chromebook experience, native Windows apps aren't available. There are, however, equivalents for many other popular titles, and you can use Microsoft's browser-based Office Online. Major enterprise vendors such as Cisco are extending services to Chromebooks, meanwhile, and if you really need to access legacy Windows software, Chromebooks make virtual machines an option.
One of the Chromebook's greatest attractions is its sub-$400 price. It also boasts fast startup times and a portable, light design. Some early models were clunky, but the latest Chromebooks have nicer HD screens and better build quality.
Just be aware that Chromebooks might soon have a competitor on the price front: Microsoft reportedly is working with OEMs to make Windows 8.1 devices that can challenge Chromebooks on price, and is expected to announce more details at Build, its conference for developers. Build will be held in San Francisco less than a week before XP loses support.
If Microsoft marketing is to be believed, Google's Chrome operating system is a glorified browser, and Chromebooks are bricks if not connected to the Internet. Neither stereotype is valid, and as the myths have been debunked, Chromebooks have exploded in popularity. As of March 21, the three top-selling laptops on Amazon.com were Chromebooks.
Though Chromebooks generally are not as powerful or offline-friendly as other PCs, they are also faster and more responsive than you might expect because they're free of bloatware. They also support a growing number of apps that work without the Internet, including productivity necessities such as Google Docs and games such as Angry Birds.
With the browser at the center of the Chromebook experience, native Windows apps aren't available. There are, however, equivalents for many other popular titles, and you can use Microsoft's browser-based Office Online. Major enterprise vendors such as Cisco are extending services to Chromebooks, meanwhile, and if you really need to access legacy Windows software, Chromebooks make virtual machines an option.
One of the Chromebook's greatest attractions is its sub-$400 price. It also boasts fast startup times and a portable, light design. Some early models were clunky, but the latest Chromebooks have nicer HD screens and better build quality.
Just be aware that Chromebooks might soon have a competitor on the price front: Microsoft reportedly is working with OEMs to make Windows 8.1 devices that can challenge Chromebooks on price, and is expected to announce more details at Build, its conference for developers. Build will be held in San Francisco less than a week before XP loses support.
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