XP users get stay of execution?

[decaro]

from npr's all tech considered:

"Windows XP may have been largely developed in a different millennium, but it's not going into retirement without a fight.

"Even as Microsoft promotes Windows 8, its latest operating system, Windows XP is still the second-most used OS on nonmobile computers, according to Net Applications web analytics. Debuting in 2001, XP lasted through three new Microsoft operating systems and the growth of mobile technology.

"And in a move that seems to lower the incentive for stragglers to move on already, Microsoft announced last week that it will continue to provide anti-malware updates for XP until July 2015. That's more than a year after XP support officially ends April 8 ... But the machine won't receive new security updates. Even with Microsoft's anti-malware updates, it will still be much more vulnerable to attacks"

So keep XP for off-line gaming?

Windows has had a bad/good cycle with ME vs. XP and Vista vs. Win 7, which may be why some are reluctant to go to Win 8.
For what it's worth, I have 8.1.

[catwhoorg]

I just upgraded my wife's computer to Win 7 from XP due to the impending deadline.

Win 8 will in my mind never be widely accepted as a desktop OS. Tablets, phones 2 in 1's sure. Desktops no way.

[SLAAKMAN]

Downgrading from XP or 7 to Win8 is about as logical as throwing a steak & lobster dinner into a septic tank. Dont do it. My contempt for Microscam has reached a new low. [:-]

[Qwixt]

I like Win 7 much better than XP. Drivers, like video, are already starting to get scarce for XP. I don't see myself going to win 8. I don't touch screen UI revolution for my desktop. Plus, I have heard a lot of compatibility with win 8.

[TulliusDetritus]

To be honest I always was on the Anti-Microstuff brigade. Because of one simple reason: they were systematically delivering NON stable, unsafe OS. Incompetent clowns? Maybe.

FACT [:D]

But then Windows 7 appeared. And let's be honest again: for the FIRST time Microstuff managed to deliver a good, safe, stable OS. They were delivering a professional product, er... they were honest!

That's another FACT [:D]

This being said, now W8 appears. We look back and are forced to admit "wait, they needed like 20 years to make a really good OS (W7). Who guarantees W8 will not be another worthless piece of sh**"?

In other words, let the Guinea Pigs try it first, that's what I say [:D] Meanwhile I stick to W7 [&o]

[Aurelian]

Never fear, Windows 9 will soon be here. (2015 or there abouts.)

[KG Erwin]

The main reason I keep XP is to play my older games, most notably SPWaW.

IF Microsoft could get their heads straight and release an OS with full retro compatibility, I might be interested. Their concept of designed obsolesence has not helped them one bit.

[Gilmer]

How are you doing in Atlanta there Cat? Over West of you, we're having big issues. Very big.

[catwhoorg]

The whole family got home safely, have a few friends who are still stuck in traffic.

My wifes work is closed for tomorrow morning already. Daughters daycare is closed the whole day. I will not be at work (no matter if they close officially or not, I'll take PTO if need be).

We have food for the week so it will be a relaxed day tomorrow.

[Gilmer]

I'm in good shape, but a lot of people are out stranded in cars on our highways.

[Anguille]

Our main desktop has windows XP on it. I will change it in april for a new desktop with windows 7. I'll keep however my xp desktop off-line in order to play my older games (at least the ones that can't run on 7 or 8, and that's more than a few).

[aaatoysandmore]

I have to build a Win98 machine. I have the old disks just need the computer so I can run Front Page Sports Baseball 98.....it runs now but always closes everything at the end of a game and doesn't store the information. FPSB was the best baseball simulation ever made...better than OTPB (with no animations) and even that Action PC baseball. There is just something about watching the game that is missed in a pure simulated texted based game. OTPBB is good but it sucks without animations.

[Riso]

If you have a halfway modern PC you can just download Virtualbox and install your copy of Windows XP in a virtual machine to play games that don't work natively.

[decaro]

ORIGINAL: catwhoorg

I just upgraded my wife's computer to Win 7 from XP due to the impending deadline.

Win 8 will in my mind never be widely accepted as a desktop OS. Tablets, phones 2 in 1's sure. Desktops no way.

"Once again, Wzor.net has the scoop, with the site reporting that the most recent build for the Windows 8.1 update indicates the desktop interface will become the default.

This means that the Metro-style tiled touch-optimised Start screen would be bypassed entirely during startup. At the moment, you can specify this as an option, but the default remains the Start screen.

If accurate, this is a sizeable shift away from Microsoft's touching vision of the future and would seem to indicate that the company recognises that a large number of uses still prefer a mouse and keyboard, even when working with a touch-enabled laptop or desktop.

Given that the last crop of 8.1 update rumours pointed to a greater integration between the two modes, a desktop default doesn't seem too unlikely. As always, we'll have to wait until Microsoft formally unveils the update in April."

[Perturabo]

I can run SPWaW on Wine.

[Jeffrey H.]

Even some old Win 95 titles didn't run well on XP. I seem to recall. BUt DOS box works fine on Win7 so I'm fairly happy with some of the old titles still being accessible. Win 8 ? Naw, no thanks.

[TulliusDetritus]

ORIGINAL: Jeffrey H.

Even some old Win 95 titles didn't run well on XP. I seem to recall. BUt DOS box works fine on Win7 so I'm fairly happy with some of the old titles still being accessible. Win 8 ? Naw, no thanks.

Are you sure Dos Box works fine under W7? I could not manage to play Alone in The Dark 2 with full screen. Only a tiny screen. When I tried the full screen mode the screen was simply black. Nothing [:(]