Windows XP (Thankfully) Still On The Decline
Making the rounds across the blogs is the fact the decade-old Microsoft Windows XP operating system saw a record decline is usage for Dec 2011. You can hem and haw all day about percentage and points and so on, but the fact is that people are dropping the XP OS in droves; these users are either upgrading to Windows 7, outright replacing their old computer with a new one bundled with Windows 7, or decided to go with another OS/platform such as Mac, Linux or smartphone.
It’s safe to assume a lot of people received new computers (be it desktop or mobile) for Christmas and that probably contributed a lot to the record usage drop for XP.
It will most likely be corporations that will continue to use XP until the bitter end, with said bitter end being when Microsoft finally stops supporting it. By the time that happens a whole bunch of us (myself probably included) will have moved on to Windows 8 by then.
On the consumer side of things – and this is particularly directed at you PC builders out there – remember that Windows 7 and Windows 8 basically have the exact same hardware requirements. This means whatever you build for Windows 7 now will run Windows 8 without issue, and you won’t have to throw out your newly-built box for Win7 once Win8 is here. So go ahead and build that new PC box with confidence because it will run Win8 when it’s released.
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8 thoughts on “Windows XP (Thankfully) Still On The Decline”
And thanks for your suggestion of “UltraSearch”.. I downloaded it and it puts XP’s search engine to shame.
I haven’t even considered Windows LiveID.
My three XP machines work beautifully. To avoid complications, I use each for very different usages.. one has a complete stereo attached for capturing and editing music from my old LPs and 78rpm records; on one I do all my video and photo-editing (lots of photos with having eight grandchildren), and one for everyday functions. All are wirelessly networked. I still have two computers with Win98 working well (with a KVM switch), and actually have an old DOS/Win3.1 computer still working flawlessly. Use it for some old games that I liked and for keeping the fun of Basic programming in this old brain.
Thanks again.. keep posting.
cuzzzzz
One thing I really hate is that 7 uses up a lot of ram (2gb) vs. XP64 (1gb). Besides doing the usual spreadsheet/internet stuff, I’m also a gamer so I’m not going to waste a gig on the OS. Windows 7 is pretty much bloatware that I don’t need.
I’ve been using XP/Office 2003 for a long time and going to go back with Linux/Openoffice. I used Linux for 4 years till my laptop died so I know for sure I wont be going to 7.
No, it isn’t. You can’t search your start menu. Icons cannot be resized on the desktop without digging deep into the Control Panel while in Win7 it’s click-on-desktop, CTRL+MouseWheelUp/Down.
“Windows Explorer, which is so usable on XP, is very different in Win7.. can find only a list of “Librarys” in Win 7.. no list of the accessible drives, subdirectories, etc.”
Absolutely flat-out wrong. Expand “Computer”, it’s right there. Wow, how can you miss that. Windows Explorer in XP is awful. No breadcrumb trail clickable directories. Search is horrendous.
“…and stable”
No, it isn’t. The Task Scheduler in XP doesn’t work. File indexing is a joke and slows XP down to a crawl. Third party driver crashes cause BSODs while Win7 easily recovers and doesn’t BSOD.
“I can do anything with XP that I could do with Win7… except get to Target.com.. they require IE9. Stupid.”
Wrong again. The Target site works with IE8 and IE7 easily.
“As for the know-it-all comments of Guest and Rich…”
At least I know how to expand drives in subdirectories in Windows Explorer in Win7. The fact you completely missed that means it’s doubtful you’ve used Windows 7 at all.
It’s stable on my machine… in 5 years I’ve never had a BSOD… I’m very carefiul where I go with it. As for Task Scheduler, I must admit I’ve never used it.. retired 19 years and have no need of it. I’m very happy with Windows Explorer.. it’s NOT awful. As I mentioned, I’ve only used Win7 once loading a 1997 program on my friend’s new computer, so I have no idea what the “breadcrumb trail is”.
I agree.. the search engine in XP IS very slow and inefficient.
Also, with my computer, and several of my friends (all with XP and IE8), when you go to Target.com, we all get a “Problems Viewing Target?” message, and links to IE9 (no good with XP), FireFox, and Chrome. This has been going on for several weeks. I downloaded Chrome, and can browse Target easily now.
I’m considering getting a Win7 laptop just to learn it, as I frequently help others with computer problems (install new drives, save data for them,etc.) but I’ll probably wait now for Win8.. unless Rich can give me a good reason to buy now.
I’m 76, but still sharp enough to find XP excellent, and very intuitive.
As for Rich, have you seen his latest rant against us (XP defenders)? He says that WE all hated XP when it first came out… amazing how brilliant he is to know what’s in our minds. I actually loved it immediately. Yes, I think he does have issues. Did you see his reply to one of my posts ? ( You’ve committed TBG violation #4. Congratulations. http://menga.net/12467 )… really rude and childish. I don’t understand why David lets him take up so much of PCMech’s space.
Thanks again for your input. My XP machines will be used for another 3-5 years. Was glad to see the latest input by Kagusaki.
cuzzzzz
I got to study a different laptop (non-HP) with Win7… Windows Explorer works perfectly on this one… shows all drives, etc. I really think that the first Win7 laptop (HP) I tried has problems.. Tried the first one again, and several other normal and standard functions don’t work consistently or at all. Possibly a poor install at the HP factory? I may do a full restore from it’s backup partition and see if the problems are corrected.
If you want an operating system that provides a no bullshit straight-forward way of computing stick with xp, if you want ur os to be pretty and bloated and caked with makeup and lipstick go with windows 7.
XP Advantages:
– Small footprint
– utilizes a lot less memory
– no microsoft spyware
Windows 7 Advantages:
– Pretty Looking
– Has all sorts of unnecessary features (snap, aero)
– Annoying and ineffective account control system
The primary driver to upgrade for me might be the end of official support from Microsoft but in reality “so what”? I’d be interested to know what might justify me buying a new machine or Windows 7 when everything is working fine already? What can I do with Windows 7 that I can’t with XP (and I’m not talking about the UI, I’m interested in core user functionality)?
It can take hours/days/weeks to migrate to a new machine or O/S. Why exactly would I go through this pain “thankfully”?
And to David Risley – what “trouble” do you mean?!
Carol
Native support for 4K sector hard drives. Automated task scheduling that actually works. Extended battery life on laptops/notebooks from better software management. 128-bit home network sharing encryption by default. Much better support in the 64-bit environment. Jump lists. HAL-less environment for far fewer system crashes. Better wireless networking management. Searchable start menu. Superior security features to XP.
The above is a small list of things 7 can do that XP cannot. Were I to list them in entirety, my comment would scroll several pages.
An exception might be the “superior security” you mention but the up-to-date versions of Comodo Firewall, Avast Anti-virus, Sandboxie, WinPatrol, MalwareBytes all run fine on my XP box. As do the latest Firefox and Opera browsers, Flash, Java etc. I have a long random character WPA key on my home wifi network which works nicely. What “superior security” am I missing out on?
Jump lists and searchable start menu – are you serious? Can’t say I’m feeling too deprived here in XP land…
I’m still trying to understand what’s behind the “thankfully” in the article’s title!
Carol
To do the same in XP requires you to download software like you mentioned which slows down your computer significantly – with the exception of Microsoft Security Essentials that runs on XP and completely blows other security suites away because of ease-of-use and speediness.
After Win7, you don’t go back to XP. Operates like a dinosaur compared to Win7.
However it still seems that there is nothing I could do with Windows 7 that I can’t do with XP – it’s just that with Windows 7 it would be “superior” or “easier” or “more” or “better” – none of which I have reason to dispute.
XP does the job for me and it’s not like it’s broken or anything so I’ll choose to decline the cost and migration hassle of changing without a compelling reason. However, I’ll look forward to using Windows 7,8,9 or whatever when the day comes that I have no longer have a choice.
Or maybe I’ll settle on Linux Mint instead which is very fab. Thanks for an interesting discussion.
Carole.
(1) control over my own computer and data
(2) ability to customize my own computer to my liking
(3) freedom from spyware/controlware…from my own OS!
(4) freedom from a layer of insulation between me and my PC!
All of these things XP can give me – and Windows 7 cannot!
When M$ finally manages to stomp out XP (and they are trying hard, and STILL haven’t succeeded), then I will be moving to Linux. I will never put M$ spyware-controlware on my machines.